Happy 19 months little man.
My little Harry you continue to amaze me every day. This last month I've sensed a real change in you as you become more independent. You like to do things your way, you have started to hilariously 'stomp off' if you don't like something, and you're always very busy playing with certain toys, certain games, certain foods and showing strong preferences in many areas of your little life.
You really love little trains and cars..... they're your absolute favourite thing to play with. Give you a small wooden train and you'll push it around saying 'choo choo' for hours. You'll carry it with you to the car if we go out or to the table for dinner.... anywhere and everywhere if you're enjoying it. Same with little cars..... so much fun driving them. When we go to the supermarket you now demand to go in a trolley with a car attachment on it so that you can 'drive'. Should there not be one available or should I make the fatal error of not immediately heading for one then you make your feelings extremely clear on the matter!
You're a bit less cuddly than you used to be (sob!), and it's hard to get you to sit on my knee for any length of time. You won't sleep without your 'baby' though..... a green frog / blanket that you've had since birth and which you snuggle down with every night / nap time. When you wake up it has to come out of bed with you and you'll carry it around until something else catches your eye.
You rarely seem to go into a stroller these days. When we go out we're usually driving (hills!) and then walking short distances which you love to do.... usually meaning I have to chase you to retrieve you as you decide to walk off in a different direction from the rest of the family! You do walk very far for a little guy though, I swear you walked miles at Disneyland last weekend, and you love it... you seem to sense the promise, the freedom, of being allowed to take those precious steps outside and want to explore your environment as much as possible.
I've made a promise to myself to try to interest you in more books over the coming weeks. We always read to Dylan, every night at your age, and with a 2nd child we've found it's easy to be in too much of a rush or to get so engrossed in snuggling with you and your 'baby' that books are passed over at bed time. You do love being read to though. One of your favourites is a Maisy book which used to belong to Dylan. It's a lift -the-flap book during which we look for Maisy in various places. 'Is Maisy in the tree?'. 'No, not in there!'. As you turn each page you immediately say NO! before I can ask the question.... so sweet.
You call me 'Mum' now in exactly the same tone and voice as Dylan does... it's uncanny but you're obviously copying him and every time you say it I almost double take trying to reconcile the fact that this is my little baby.
You're still bogged down with endless colds and coughs. I sincerely hope that you are building up a strong immune system little man because I have never known anything like it. It must be hard for you too, feeling under the weather all the time. In typical Jones (children) stoic fashion you weather these virii without much complaint.
You're not talking too much yet. I have no recollection of Dylans vocabulary at this age. I know by the age of 2.5 when we moved to Canada he surprised everyone he met by talking fluently and seriously about a wide range of serious adult subjects in a perfect little English accent, but I suspect at 19 months he wasn't saying too much. You definitely understand alot. I'll ask you questions and you'll nod or say yes / no. You'll respond to direction and with excitement at certain proposals so it's clear to me that comprehension is there. I have read that younger siblings often develop vocally later than 1st chilren as the older child will often speak for the younger one thus making you lazy, why talk if you have to! And Dylan definitely does this - the two of you are completely inseperable at times! I'm trying to work on getting you to talk, I'm not too worried about it...I know boys generally speak later than girls do and I think at this age Dylan was limited to a similar range of words.
The best sound that fills this house is the sound of you and your brother laughing and giggling together. Last night you bathed together and were splashing each other and dumping buckets of water over each other, hysterical with laughter. I was busy in the bedroom sorting out some clothes for you and listening to these joyous sounds coming from the bathroom, wondrous at the connection between you, the love and the laughter, the happiness at being brothers , together. It was so overwhelming I can't even begin to describe how happy it made me.
You grow so fast, you and Dylan both. In many ways I find myself almost grieving for what you were, what you are no longer, and how if I'm lucky I'll only have you for such a short period of time before you move out into the big world. But any pain is insignificant compared to the joy that you, and he, bring me every single day.
'Mum'
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Awww, I hope you are printing this for his memory book. What wonderful details!
My sons went through an endless barrage of colds and muck when they were Harry's age. They do seem much healthier than their peers now that they are in school. They hardly miss a day due to illness. Though I remember vividly how awful I felt when they were sick and so little. I hope Harry feels better soon!
Posted by: Lynanne at February 23, 2006 01:27 PMDo trains still go "choo choo"?
Posted by: neil at February 23, 2006 04:13 PM