celebrating toddler style

I think I've mentioned before that Charlie and I hang out with Alaythia two mornings a week. As it happens, Alaythia is potty training right now. Charlie, being the insightful person that he is, has studied the process with great interest, and has made some changes in his behavior accordingly.

He now informs me "potty" and grabs his diaper most times he makes a messy diaper. He also requests to have his turn on the potty after someone else uses it and sits there quite happily, stuffing small pieces of toilet paper into the toilet between his legs. I appreciate this because I think this makes him closer to being ready to potty train...though we're not all the way there yet.

The biggest lesson Charlie has learned is that going potty in the potty is a great event worthy of celebration. He has started cheering with me for Alaythia when she has success. This has had some unforeseen consequences in our household. The minute he hears anyone's tinkle hit the toilet water he starts clapping and yelling "yeay!" It's a little bit disconcerting. Yet so sincere. I'm pretty sure the last time anyone cheered for me peeing in the toilet was my mom, and I definitely don't remember it!!

Sabbath Meanderings

Well, friends, I have more Sunday pictures to share with you.  The pace of our weeks has picked up significantly since the summer and I’m finding that Sunday is the only day there is enough space in my heart to want to take pictures…. Today was our first beautiful fall day.  The cooler temperatures are so refreshing!  I put on a scarf, Charlie put on a long-sleeved flannel shirt, and Jonathan, of course, wore a t-shirt!This afternoon, we went for a walk with Charlie through our apartment complex.  The soccer ball came with us because one small member of our family thinks we cannot go on a walk without a soccer ball.  Did you not all know that a soccer ball is essential to a good walk?  No?  Well, now you do!  And now you will see why.  A “walk” really means a long soccer scrimmage through the parking lots.  Goal!--prounced here as “Dooooooooooo!”    Pinecones make somewhat less successful kicking targets. I know the parking lot backdrop is not picturesque, but if you could have felt the air—just cool enough to make us welcome the strong sun on our backs—you would have thought, as we did, that it was wonderful to be out!

We wandered past the playground to try out the swings. Dada really is so much fun at this sort of thing! And yes, soccer balls are also essential to swinging.  I’m not sure why, but I am sure this is a fact. While we were at the playground we had to pick some clover.   (I included this picture to show off Charlie’s mullet.  He is growing it in hopes of not having to wear a scarf this winter. ) Picking clover takes a lot of concentration. Does it smell good? Soccer balls are also essential to good naps.  This, I now know from experience! Can’t go home with out going down the slide once or twice! Walking home… And now this is how we really know Fall is here--Hot chocolate in a Charlie-sized mug to warm up our toes!(Look at his little pinkie sticking out!  After he saw me using the handle of my mug, he had to hold his mug that way too, even though his fingers wouldn’t fit through the hole in the handle!)  “Yep, I definitely approve of this stuff!” “Bottoms up!”

Thanks for meandering with us!

passing on enjoyments

Sometimes it is funny to see ourselves reflected in Charlie, but most often I get a kick out of seeing him learn to enjoy something I already think is wonderful.  Jonathan and I love food.  We especially love tomato soup with grilled cheese after church on Sunday.  I’m not sure when that habit developed but its a really good one that makes us happy.  Charlie has been rather noncommittal about this meal—until today.  Today he decided to pull out his soup spoon and become a full-fledged, soup-eating member of this family.  It made his parents proud.  He even dipped his grilled cheese in the soup!  yum!

helping

Jonathan and I are realizing that being helpful is very important to Charlie’s mental health. He fusses and frets when we are trying to get a job done, but as soon as he has a related task to do all is again right in the world.  Sometimes letting Charlie help is a joy.   Sometimes it means means letting go of efficiency, which can be hard on the die-hard optimizers that we are. 

Laundry is a prime example….I took a picture story the other day.  Try not to count, as I was at the time, all the extra effort and minutes that it took for Charlie to ‘help’ me!   Because once we were done, his little chest puffed up and there was an important swagger in his walk all the way back up those stairs! 

I’m realizing that the struggle between my own convenience and loving someone else is actually a life lesson I need to learn.  This is good, this is God disciplining me, and I am learning.  It makes me truly be in awe that the Lord lets us, no, wants us to help him in bringing the kingdom of God.  Wouldn’t it be so much easier—so much more convenient-- for him to just do it for us?  Yet wouldn’t we miss out on SO much learning about who He is?! How he loves us!  Thank goodness it is much better than I love Charlie, I’m thinking!

Charlie and Alaythia sitting in a tree….

Ok, so my title is probably a little misleading, but Charlie has become fast friends with the little girl I babysit two mornings a week.  She is a little older, a little bossier, a little smaller, and has a spunky personality to match her cute button nose.  Charlie is smitten with her, and she with him.   They are both learning good lessons about taking turns and sharing…about asking before grabbing.  I’m learning toddler friendships have their own unique sets of rules.  Imitation is the name of the game.  I know that they love each other because of the way they watch each other across the table at snack time.  If Charlie eats a gold fish, so does Alaythia.  If Alaythia needs more cheese, so does Charlie.  And if anyone is drinking milk, then everyone had better be drinking milk.  All that to say, for better or for worse, they are inseparable in their hours together.  Here are a couple “case in point”  pictures.   Are they not just adorable? 

the art of imitation

The best thing about this little scene is that no one suggested it to Charlie, he just wandered in while Jonathan was doing some reading for class.  He stopped to watch for a few seconds and then went to his room, got a couple of his own books, plonked himself right down and ‘read’ with Dada for the next  20 minutes! 

Why you should never leave a toddler to eat lunch alone…..

Why yes, that is half a banana smeared all over his head and hair, the placemat and table.  And it is true, his plate and cup have both disappeared.  And I’m really not sure how to estimate how much peanut butter and jelly actually made it inside.   I will never try to load the dishwasher while he is eating again!  Until next time, I mean!