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Wednesday, October 3, 2007 Dear Koen, You turn 20 Months Old today and your Mom and I were starting to become used to your continuous development into a fine little Hellion. Your love for saying the word "NO!" would transition into a 3 second whining cry to let us know that you were either dissatisfied or frustrated with something or our parenting skills. Next was your over achieving ability to launch yourself backwards and slam your head on the floor or whatever object was behind you. I almost bought you a helmet, which you could proudly wear in public and I would let everyone know that you were indeed a special little boy that possessed such a talent. Then there was the jumping and leaping off of the couch, chairs and our bed. Yes, Mom and Dad suffered multiple mini heart attacks and my blood pressure went sky rocket. And there was your ability to pull things off the kitchen counter top. Then there was the constant emptying of your toy boxes just before company would come over. The cat and dog stayed clear of you for fear you might pull their hair or decide to ride one of them like a pony. Oh, and don't let me forget the countless times you would run in circles around your Lola and Lolo's house, screaming and laughing as though your were on crack cocaine. Sharing your toys with other kids? Yeah, right. You wouldn't hear of it. What's yours is yours. And finally, you are getting seriously strong. A week after your vacation in Montana you picked up a little something from your gymnastics class that made your nose run like a river with green gummy bears floating down stream. With a constant flow for more than two weeks your Mother decided to test her luck and put Saline in your nose. Umm, yeah, bad idea. Your strength had proven to get the best of her and she had to place you in a headlock to get not even a half-drop in one nostral.
Then something incredible happened... the week of September 9th you suddenly turned into a sweet little boy. You love giving hugs and kisses to family and friends. You make sad little cries when someone says goodbye. You would then wave goodbye and give that person a cheesy smile. You are also patient with us while we try to figure out what you are talking about when you practice your verbal skills mixed with your sign language we've been teaching you since day one. And when we finally figure out what you were talking about, you smile at us and give a look of "DUH!" Then there is the overwhelming excitement that comes over you when you see your Grandma and Grandpa or Lola and Lolo. You also love to help vacuum the house and throw things in the trashcan. You even let me put you to sleep one evening when your Mom went out to dinner with some friends (something you wouldn't let me do for over three months). You still possess the curiosity that naturally will lead you to more bumps and bruises. And there are times when we tell you not to do something and you give us that sideways glance as though you heard us, but wanted to see what would really happen
Your Mom and I have noticed that you phase in and out of your Hellion/Angelic periods every so many weeks. Perhaps it's just you testing your boundaries on what you can get away with and what you can't. Perhaps you have reached the TERRIBLE TWO's early. Regardless of how you act your Mom and I cherish every little bit of growth, headache or not.
With your current Angelic period in full affect, you are still infatuated with Thomas the Tank Engine. Curious George, Dora the Explorer and Diego have all taken the back seat. I can see that you have your Mother and my obsessive behavior when it comes to something we really like. To help with your enjoyment of trains, you have had several rides on an actual steam-powered excursion that departs from the Central Pacific Railroad Freight Depot in Old Sacramento. You and your Mom also take weekly trips to the Train Museum. You have even taken trips to the zoo where you can ride on a mini train. And yes, you do have interest in the animals too.
The biggest surprise of September is that you have now joined the ranks of a fanatic consumer. There have been occasions where you didn't want us to read to you a nighttime story. Instead, you wanted us to read you the Thomas and Friends Yearbook Catalog that proudly displays a large collection of Trains, Trucks, Accessory Packs and more than 5 ways to build the entire Island of Sodor with just a simple purchase of a Train Table, your choice of Building Kits and the additional Extension Packs (each sold separately). Dare we tell you about the Recall on some of the Thomas Products that you own? NOPE! A simple ninja-like swap of the toy and you are still in your world of euphoria with Thomas and Friends right by your side.
For me, the best part of September is when you would take my hand, pull me to your bedroom and want to share your fascination of your Thomas Trains by having me sit down next to your train table and you go into a long babble speech Love, |
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