Music!

Today was our free trial of Gymboree music classes. Wyatt loved it! The teacher was great and really involved each kid in the singing and playing. He was engaged almost the whole 45 minutes and responding way more than I expected. I can really see why people pay for this. They know what they're doing.

We were very blessed for some help from my grandma so we can do it through the end of the year. It's not something that I would want money to do long term... I still can't quite justify the cost of our cell phones for a once a week thing for a toddler. Yes, he's learning. But is it significantly more than during the time at the library when we go and sing songs or more than when I sing with him? As he gets older, I know I can't teach him enough but that's a different story.

As a bonus, as an enrolled member we can go to open play time anytime we want! We'll definitely be taking advantage of that!

Arts & Crafts?

(Note: Yesterday was another sick day. I cannot think of anything to post about it other than the hope that Wyatt never again is awake for two hours in the night. Not because he was sick, just because he thought he should be.)

Today we did our first activity from the Toddler Busy Book. One of Cory's co-workers gave us this great book of rainy day activities and other fun, nearly free, things to do at home. In general, Wyatt isn't old enough for it. However, I was going crazy on our third day at home all day. I wanted to make sure this cold was good and gone before doing anything else so we kept the quarantine going. I looked through it and found an idea for making a train out of boxes and string. So, the empty cereal, cracker, and Kleenex box became a train! I was thrilled. My son, not so much. He liked playing with the twine for a few minutes; he sat on one box; he pulled the animals I put in it out. He didn't care when it moved around. Maybe tomorrow?

We also attempted to color. This was harder as we don't have any crayons. Wyatt thinks colored pencils are great... for banging together. It was hilarious to watch because he kept trying to stand up with them. He succeeded a few times. He'll only stand up on his own if he has toys to hold on to. Good help with balance :)

Lazy Day

Some days what's best for Wyatt is nothing new. Today was that day.

We're fighting a little cold here, and so we laid low in hopes it will be gone tomorrow before Bible study. It's nice to relax with him and play all day, getting just a few little things done. Wyatt enjoyed his favorite activities: throwing food, crumpling paper, and trying to get in the toilet. Good day!

Friends and Family

Wyatt has so many people that love him. Unfortunately, they don't all live here. I had an idea a few months ago to create a bulletin board for him with their pictures, and it materialized this weekend. We luckily were able to repurpose a bulletin board my mom had growing up so the total cost was under $5, even with paint!
It matches his room and has pictures of lots of important people, grouped by state. Eventually we can use this to teach geography, maybe reading names, who knows! While I was in the middle of putting it together, Wyatt would crawl over to it and just stare at it. He loves looking at pictures, and hopefully soon he'll put names and faces together :)

(I did realize a picture would be helpful with this post. However, just posting is a triumph for me. Look for picture posts when Wyatt can upload the pictures for me, and the camera is cleared more than once a month.)

Showing off for Daddy

Saturdays are often the days Wyatt tests his boundaries. If I had to guess, I would say his first steps will be on a Saturday. He has always been happier when his dad is home. It may be that he is happiest when both of us are around; I can't judge how he is when I'm gone. What I do know is that he takes little risks during the week. Weekends are the time for shaking things up. He pushes naps longer, just to revel in time with his dad.

A week ago he stood up on his own for the first time. Today, he did it over and over and made motions towards walking. All day it was obvious he wanted to walk. Maybe next week?

Food

In the last 24 hours, Wyatt has attempted to try 3 new foods. Probably, a better way to phrase that is Wyatt has resisted trying new foods. He is becoming quite the opinionated eater. Vegetable? No. Fruit? Yes. Protein? No. Bread? Yes. Dairy? Hives.

In an attempt to bring the balance back towards veggies, I cooked a nice butternut squash last night. One bite in, one bite right back out. Same thing at lunch. Tonight at dinner he managed to eat it... mixed with applesauce and nutmeg. Red plums were an easy yes. Grape tomatoes fared in the middle. He chewed them for a while, then spit the skins out. We're in a rut where he wants to eat with his hands, but 4 front teeth aren't quite enough for some foods. He loves pickles, just can't mush them up enough to swallow. His tastes are a little crazy!

Flush

Today, I wasn't the one introducing the new things. There was a cute new outfit for fall (bringing out the new clothes is the best); an attempt at a new food... but Wyatt decided he would show off a new skill

Flushing the toilet. The shiny silver handle was too much to resist. Mom just pulled it, why shouldn't he? I think we're entering the phase where innocent household items become a huge mess for me to clean up.