All Things Toddler

I've been thinking about the definition of toddler. Is a child only a "toddler" when they start to "toddle" or is it a specific age? It probably depends on who you talk to, but I think a 12 month old is technically considered a toddler. Weird. I don't feel old enough to be the mother of a toddler. He isn't really close to walking yet, though. I think he's too comfortable with crawling. He's fast. I know he could probably stand on his own if he tried, but when I try to get him to let go of my hands when he is standing, he automatically sits. He doesn't fall. He does a controlled sit, which is what makes me think he could stand if he wanted to.

What I think is really great about this age is that Oliver is starting to understand. He knows the words Oliver, Zoe, Mama, Dada, Baba (bottle), sit down, clap, wave, no, more, all done, bye-bye, night-night, and probably more. Learning how to walk is a huge step, but I think I'm actually more excited for him to start communicating. I've only started using a few baby signs (more, all done, drink, and eat) with him, but now that he is really starting to understand more, I think he will be able to learn how to do the signs within the next month or two.

This week has been busy with our soon-to-be toddler. On Wednesday, we met up with a couple from our ward at the Layton Commons for a photoshoot. I wanted some pictures of Oliver as well as some family photos for around the house. They volunteered to do them for us, and I'm glad they did. They came out great! Thanks Mark and Aleisha! Here are a few of my favorites.

Thursday was Oliver's first Halloween. We bought him a cute little costume for our ward Halloween party and for trick-or-treating. He can't eat most of the candy, not only because he is young but also because he doesn't have ANY teeth yet! (His gum-my smile is cute, but it will be fun once he starts getting teeth.) Look at this cute little monster!

Today, we went out to lunch with Christina, since she was in the area. We went to Roosters Brewing Co. They have the best. fries. ever. Oliver was pretty cranky, since he didn't take his morning nap, but he warmed up to Christina toward the end. On our way home, we stopped at Target, and Christina bought him some clothes for his birthday. Oliver is still fitting into the 9 month old clothes, and the ones we have are summer clothes. He needed something warmer. He is going to look pretty spiffy!

I realize that this blog is a family blog, and all I really talk about is Oliver. Well, that is because #1 Most of our family never gets to see Oliver, so this is really for them to see him growing and learning #2 I'm a stay-at-home mom, and he is the center of my world and #3 He is the most interesting thing in our lives.

As I was talking to Christina today about how Oliver is the center of my world, she made me realize that I allow him to control me sometimes. I don't feel like I can do anything when he is awake. I can't wash the dishes, because he wants to crawl on the dishwasher. I can't go on the computer, because he HAS to sit on my lap and touch the keyboard and mouse. I can't blow dry my hair or vacuum, because the sound scares him. I can't clean my bedroom, because he crawls up Zoe's doggie stairs onto the bed. I can't scrapbook or read a book or cook. Wherever I go, he goes. He can't be in a different room than me for more than two minutes without crawling to me whining because he didn't know where I was. And I've allowed it to be this way for a while. I thought I was being a "good mom" by doing absolutely nothing, because he didn't want me to. I can't believe I didn't realize it before today. From now on, I won't allow his whining to control what I do or don't do. He can have a play area in his bedroom with his toys when I need to get things done. I can deal with some whining and crying if it teaches him he can't have his way by whining and crying. Of course I'm going to play with and read to him still, but now I can get some things done when he is awake too.

Jan is the only other one with something interesting in his life to write about. Today he flew to Portland, Oregon and is on his way to Tracy, California, where he will spend the night with his cousin. Tomorrow, he will then be flying down to Catalina Island (he fell in love with the island when we stopped there on our honeymoon cruise) and then back up to Ogden. I'm jealous that he gets to travel! Hopefully I will be able to travel more often too when he gets hired by a commercial airline later on.

Catalina Island was beautiful even at the beginning of March!