tizimatt.info

We have been now been back a few days, and as always the adjustment has been a little rough: Keegan sleeping has been horrendous, and he also started saying he did not want to go to school, which he always liked a lot. We tried to get him back to his routine and schedule immediately and we sent him back to school right away, and even took him to swim lesson the first day we were back. Definitely, thought, these were a lot of changes for him, especially because he found a new teacher at school. But he is getting adjusted: he still very much in a mommie mode, but after getting over the jet lag, he is back to his “‘normal” pattern of a few wakings each night.

As far as I am concerned, I really did not have the time to worry about my own jet lag, and got quickly back to my routine. I still miss everyone, but I am very grateful I had been able to spend two wonderful weeks with my family and friends, and that I was able to rest and relax. I got a lot of much needed sleep and was able to get back to my ideal schedule: late to bed, late to rise…Thank you to everyone for making us feel so welcome and of course to my parents for helping out and “babysitting” so much. I love you all.

We were gone a little over two weeks, and Matt says that Keegan looks and behaves a lot differently. Is this possible? Well, every trip to Italy brought big changes: the first time, Keegan, 9+ months old, got his first three teeth, all at once. During the second trip, Keegan started talking. Seriously, the day we left for the airport he started adding 6/7 words a day to his vocabulary, in both Italian and English.

What about this trip? This time, I think, the changes are a little more subtle, but still.

• He started, from one day to the next, his WHY/PECCHE’ (still some issues with rolling he R)? phase. Lucky us. He know asks why for everything, even if at this point it is somewhat easy to satisfy his curiosity. He does lock in at times, and he asks for the same whys 15 times in a row.
• He is looking for more independence. Not from mom, mind you, but in doing things. Especially potty time. He often went to the bathroom alone when he had to poop: he required privacy (nothing new) but then he undressed, climbed on the big toilet without the little training seat, took care of business, climbed on the toilet to flush (you need to twist the handle on these toilets), filled in the bidet, took a bidet, dried himself out, emptied the bidet, washed his hands, and got dressed again. The whole process took a LONG time, but still I was impressed. Of course his cleaning and bidet skills need a little refining, but hey I take everything I can get. Good thing we will have a bidet soon in the upstairs bath. Hopefully he will keep on doing it by himself.
• His motor skills (=climbing, jumping, kicking, etc.) are much improved
• His Italian is much better, especially after the weekend he spent with my parents. Now I really have to make an effort to keep it up, as I know it will fade a little in time.
• His spacial skills are very good. I am not sure if they improved, or if I admire them so much because I have none, but he has a very good sense of direction and recognizes things from different angles. He surprised me when, at  less than 2 he could recognize his room or ours from outside.
• I would not really like to brag about this one, but he started developing his bathroom humor, definitely NOT SHARED with any of us. It is a constant talk about poop, in all its variations. Of course he decided it was hilarious to do this in a crowded airplane. Not annoying at all.
• He is also obsessed with his boy parts, or private parts in general. I guess it is a boy thing and the beginning of a life long “love affair”, but we are at least trying to let him understand that there is a time and a place, and a crowded street it neither of these. We had lots of talks about “private parts” and what is appropriate to talk about in public, since he likes to list what private parts belong to the people he sees. Oh well, he will learn.

What did not change s his love for rough playing. He used any piece of furniture, and every human, to jump and climb, causing quite a few tumbles and quite a few bruises.

Any willing grown up is good for a ride

He also still likes to build and play with cars and little animals. Of course his grandpa was more than happy to indulge him and build garages, farms and barns for them.

Princesses (my old Barbies and dolls) were also part of his playing, mainly after they were undressed. And he discovered it is fun to dress and undress girls. I tried to remind him I want him to be an INDUSTRIAL  designer/ furniture maker, not a FASHION designer.

He did not betray his old love of trucks, though, and in Italy he had a field day, since there are construction zones at every corner. His favorite one is the cement truck (betoniera in Italian) and he loudly called it out every time he saw one come by.

He also really enjoyed the “sleep game”. Cruel irony! For as much as he does not sleep when he should, he likes to “pretend” to sleep, and I and all his animals have to join in. He likes to be “snug and cozy” under the blanket and to hide in there.

Watching him play and just go about his day, I often wonder what goes on in his little head. Wouldn’t it be nice to take a peek to see what is really going on in a toddler’s head?