Good Signs

JCG is napping so I am writing while I can...we are starting to create a daily rhythm around here, I am so glad. The best thing from my point of view to happen the past couple of days is that he is starting to sleep on his own for a nap. I used to lay with him until he fell asleep, yesterday he was goofing around, so I just said sleep (and signed it) and left the room. It was quite a risk b/c I didn't know if he'd think I was leaving him forever. He didn't! He cried an angry cry of "don't make me take a nap" but there was no fear in it, he went to sleep in about 20 minutes. We repeated the process today, except he cried less and fell asleep more quickly. I am so relieved by this, this is a big milestone for us. He knows I leave but that I won't leave forever. He was a little more clingly when he got up from his nap, but he was o.k. His twin bed is next to my double, and lower to the ground. I'll roll down there with him in the middle of the night if he cries, then get back in my bed. Last night was the first night he slept through the night, no crying. I feel good about my instincts with him. A week ago I wouldn't have attempted leaving him yet for a nap, this week he can handle it. It's good for me too. I so need the time to myself when he naps! Also, today he pointed to his pants when he needed to poop. I was so excited by this! We don't have a consistently shared verbal language yet, but really I'm amazed at how unimportant that has been. He is signing more and more, and enjoys it. I have a Baby Einstein signing video that we watched this a.m., he just joined right in. Predictably, he was much more interested in the Play/Pause/Rewind buttons, and figured out he could manipulate the screen with them. He needs to get to pre-school, he is just ready to learn learn learn. Tomorrow we'll go to the library for our first story hour. He's starting to figure out the whole concept of books, we read them before he naps and bed, he knows it's for more than throwing but hasn't quite grasped the concept of a story or a meaning attached to it. He is babbling like crazy, all the farm animal sounds.

Next Tuesday 9/30/08 we hit the pediatrician, then Friday 10/3/08 is his 1/2 day cleft lip/palate evaluation. I am so curious to know if he is actually closer to 2 1/2 than 3, if there is a way to verify age. Apart from the fact that he is tiny, he seems younger developmentally. He is walking and running great now, I try to give him a workout at the park every day.

He is getting really social, just loves having people give him attention and play with him. Thank you to everybody who has stopped by, the door is open to all so don't hesitate to contact us and get on over here if you live in KC! Mommy is definitely needing grown-up time as well! I'm looking into some playgroups and other regular activities at the library, etc. so we can build them into our schedule the days I don't work. I've met a couple moms with 3 year olds at the neighborhood park, which has been so good for us as well.

That's it for now, look for a slideshow of China pictures this weekend, Aunt Becky is coming over to help get that all set up for us...