Atticus very clearly said "bubbles" last night in the bath tub--several times. Eleanor taught him last week to say "uh-oh." He tries to say "blue" when I go over the colors with him, but I'm less sure he knows what that means. He's not saying much else yet, but he seems so close to language, what with all of the noises he makes.

Atticus reading

Atticus plays basketball part 2 (video)

Basketball part 2

Atticus plays basketball (video)

Atticus plays basketball

It's not easy to get a good look into Atticus's mouth. Turns out a third tooth has erupted--his lower left first bicuspid; and both of the lower canines appear to be about to poke through.

May 11, 2011 6:09 PM

Dancing... and trying to find just the right tune. (got the camera oriented correctly this time, but I guess I need to turn up the volume next time)

Btw, I don't think I reported yet that Atticus's lower left second bicuspid has come in and that his upper right first bicuspid has halfway come in (I think I have these correct).

Or that lately he pretends to put toothpaste on his toothbrush before brushing his teeth--so cute! And did I mention that he pitches a fit when I grab the reigns of the toothbrush? Not cute. And he's gotten so strong that fighting him to brush his teeth is kind of a nightmare.

Atticus is officially now in Toddler 1 full-time. He'd been spending a lot of time over there in recent weeks, making his transition. Now he's with the big kids all day. I think he really likes it. This has brought some challenges though. He will not allow me to place him onto his cot after I nurse him to sleep at lunch. The crib--no problem. The cot--he screams and cries and grabs for me. And it's not the co that is the problem really. I'm told that when I'm not there, as soon as his cot comes out, he crawls onto it and collapses--that, in fact, he is the "easiest" baby about going to sleep. Not a peep out of him. Today was so awful; I've had my fill. I'm just going to have to give up visiting him at lunch. My consolation prize is that there is a little window high up in the toddler room through which I may spy on him if I wish. So my plan is to do that from time to time--visit Atticus without his knowing it. On the plus side, perhaps I'll get to see an Atticus I wouldn't otherwise be privy to.

The other source of conflict is meals. Atticus has refused his lunch the last two days and is instead grabbing at the other kids' meals. This isn't altogether unexpected, of course. He always notices and wants what other people are eating, and in this case, everyone in the room but him is eating the same thing. I told his caregiver today to try giving him a little bit of what the other kids have, but also what I prepare for him. I'm thinking that as long as he isn't excluded and what I've packed for him is yummy he will want to eat it. Now I suppose I'll have to be extra conscientious about packing meals I know he loves--like salmon and sweet potatoes or pasta with carrot marinara sauce.

The same goes for his milk cup. He's refusing that too--as far as we know it's because it doesn't look like the other kids' cups, which are supplied by the daycare. So his caregiver is now going to pour his milk into one of their cups.

And now for some baby art...