Not a typical toddler...

Austin certainly has his toddler moments. He throws a major tantrum if you make him come inside when he wants to stay outside and play. He still squirms away on his changing table, at times making it nearly impossible to get his diaper changed. And of course, he gets into things we wish he wouldn't.

But overall, I have to say that Austin is definitely not a typical toddler. Maybe it's because I'm a mom and I'm biased to think my kid is wonderful. Maybe it's because I'm a pediatrician and toddlers don't like going to the doctor, so I see them at their crankiest. Who knows? Either way, I think Austin is a great toddler and I hope he stays so well mannered as he hits the "terrible twos."

A few illustrations of how Austin is not a typical toddler...

He doesn't know the word "No," and he requests things by smiling and saying "please."

He has very little interest in watching TV (though he does like to push the buttons on the remote and walk up to the TV to push the power button to turn it off).

He loves taking his medicine! (yes, he is back on Augmentin because he has periorbital cellulitis AGAIN, one month after the first bout). I tell him it's time to take his medicine and he gets excited and says "aaaah" with his mouth wide open, ready for me to give him his dose. I don't know many toddlers who do that!

He also goes to bed amazingly well. Our bedtime routine consists of having a bath (about every other night), then getting his jammies on, brushing his teeth, giving daddy bedtime kisses, then sitting quietly with mommy in the rocking chair reading stories for about 15 minutes while snuggling his blanket and sucking his thumb. Then I bring him over to the light switch and he turns it off and smiles proudly. Then he snuggles on my shoulder or lays in my arms while I say the bedtime prayer from nanny. Then I put him in his crib, snuggle his blankie in with him, say goodnight, and leave the room. He just rolls over and goes to sleep! For naps, I just put him in his crib, and he goes right to sleep! It's amazing and wonderful! I have to pinch myself sometimes because I can't believe he goes to bed so well.

Today, he was such a delightful child! First of all, he behaved very well in church, which was a nice change from the squirmy, fussy baby he has previously been at church. Later at home, he had lots of fun playing with mommy and daddy and was completely content to run around the house and entertain himself with his toys. He even went on some errands with us without a peep of complaint.

Here are some fun pictures from the past few days...

Recently, he has occupied himself for 20 minutes at a time, just sitting quietly playing with his Noah's Ark! 

 

He is such a sweet, affectionate boy. He gives daddy and mommy lots of hugs and kisses and will stop playing momentarily and just lay down next to one of us and snuggle up for a minute before going about his playing again.

 

Also, when we read him stories, he sometimes kisses the mommy or the daddy in the book. He also gives Mrs. Noah kisses when he plays with his Noah's Ark.

Tonight, he had lots of fun playing with his building blocks...

Here he is building his tower (the cylinder blocks are his favorite).

And showing me how excited he is about his blocks.

He likes to hide and then run out to "surprise" mommy. Yesterday, he was delighted to hide behind the couch or down the hall and wait for me to say playfully "Where's my boy? Where did Austin go? I don't see him. Austin, where are you?" He would wait for a bit while I inquired as to his whereabouts, then would run into sight giggling and smiling and fall into my arms. Then he would get back up and go hide again. It's fun to see how long this entertains him. Here he is as he appeared from around the corner...

Yestday, we got Austin a potty! We know he is not ready for potty training yet, but he is sooooo interested in the toilet when mommy and daddy go to use it that we figured we could get him a potty so that he can get used to sitting on it. Hopefully that will make things easier once it comes time to actually potty train him.

Here he is checking out the new potty... 

And sitting on it...taking it for a test drive...

He seemed intrigued, but is still more fond of the big toilet. He likes to flush it and say "bye" as the water goes down.

It is so amazingly, wonderfully exciting and joyful to watch Austin discover the world. He amazes me every day as he shows how much he has learned and picked up just by watching us and playing and exploring. It seems like these days, he makes a new discovery, or plays with a toy in a new creative way, or says a new word, or identifies a something new, or does something unique and wonderful every day!

Parenthood is such a beautiful adventure! Even when Austin is being a little troublemaker or throwing a fit, I can't help but marvel at the fact that I love him more than I ever though possible, with a love that I didn't even know existed until he came into our lives. And I love him more with every day that goes by! I look at his little face or watch him sleeping peacefully at night, and I feel like I have proof that there is a God and that big miracles come in little packages!

On that note...Congratulations to the Schahl family on the birth of Carly Jane Schahl.

1 comment:

Mike said...

I'm sure Austin is wonderful but all the things you describe scream "good, loving parents" to me.