Dr.... umm... Flood (Jason and I weren't so keen on the "Dr. Drew" thing) is taking care of his patient's head wound. And showing off some of his tricks (well... as best as he can when it's past bed time after a sugar and fun-filled day, and while Mommy is distracting with a camera, and the animals are entertaining, too)
And just for giggles, a peek at last year's Halloween video...
Drew got an adorable Batman shirt and pants outfit from Great Bad Awnt Sue. The cape actually velcros on and off! To celebrate Halloween, enjoy Drew playing in his Batman outfit at the lakehouse...
He was having a bit of a rough time with the steepness of the driveway, and the leaves and acorns (both distracting and slippery).
If I get any videos tonight of his actual Halloween costume, I'll try to upload them!
I find it amazing watching children interact with technology. It fascinates me how at such young ages they can maneuver through websites, cell phones, iPads, etc. Part of me dislikes it, "get outside and play in the fresh air!". But the other part of me knows that children will NEED these skills to function in the working world when they get there. I notice huge differences between myself and many coworkers older than me (even by only a few years) and the way we use computers (not to mention the speed...). Don't get me wrong, there are many coworkers who are older than me and can use the computer just fine... but there does seem to be an advantage to having grown up with computers.
I've heard the term "technology native" and "technology immigrant" referring to those who have grown up with technology vs. those who have had to learn to use technology. I more or less grew up with technology (especially computers). I remember my dad bringing our first computer home and setting up Sesame Street games on it for my sister and I to play. I was probably 5 or 6? That would make it 1990ish? Right now, I couldn't even begin to use a card catalog to find a book in a library... And what on earth did you do for research projects before the internet??
When it comes to technology and Drew... the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends NO "screen time" (TV, computers, etc.) for children under the age of 2, even if it's educational. We really don't watch much TV in my house, so it's not a big deal to keep him away from that. But computers and phones? I try my best to keep them off while Drew and I play, but sometimes.... well, you just gotta look up that recipe... or post that picture on Facebook, or figure out what the weekend plans are with Stacey... So Drew has quickly learned that the computer and phone are FUN. In fact, he's learned to "use" the phone pretty well.
Drew texting...
(Speaking of maneuvering technology... I also had another cute video of him receiving a text while typing.... but I think the little bugger managed to erase it!)
And I did download a few games on the iPad for him to play. An ABC song, with a game that he can "type" like he does on my phone and it calls out the letters. Picture flashcards that teach animals and their sounds. Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.... all of them work wonders when he's in the middle of a temper tantrum. He sits in my lap and we play and he laughs and giggles.
I think one of the keys is continuing to interact with your child. We tend to use TVs and computer games as babysitters, "you just sit there quietly while I get dinner cooked." That's certainly not a sin (hey, getting a healthy dinner on the table is important, too!), but I think it is important to limit the time, and, as much as possible, participate with your child. Talk about what your child is watching, or the game he/she is playing. And make sure he or she is actively engaged, and not just an audience needing to be entertained.
But having a three year old that can turn on the computer, get to his favorite game website, and play? I can just feel it coming...
So, I've obviously not been great about keeping things up-to-date around here. Life keeps on keeping on and I'm just trying to hang on for the ride. But I would like to post more. The point of my blog has always been just a fun way of keeping loved ones,especially those far away, in the know of the happenings around here, at first with the pregnancy, and now with Drew.
So, in keeping with that purpose, and to try to force myself into a more regular posting schedule, I've come up with "Monday Minutes" in which I'd like to post a minute-long video of nothing more than Drew doing his thing. You might find it boring. You might find it pointless. But if that's the case, then this blog probably isn't meant for you. I really want for my parents and sister (and aunts and uncles and cousins and friends who care) to have the opportunity to see Drew just as he is, not just when I'm trying to show off his cute tricks.
My wordy posts won't disappear. Nor will my wordless ones. But this is just an addition to hopefully keep things moving around here.
So, without further ado...
What I love in this video is that he had just gotten "in trouble" for eating the crayons (thus the blue crayon crumb on the cheek and the teary look), so every time he gets the idea that the crayons might be tasty, he looks to me for approval, and sees my "mom look" and decides better. I also love the meticulous way he tries to put the little piece of blue crayon back on each of the crayons.
These are the little things I feel are often missed with the "look what he's doing now!" posts. So, I hope you enjoyed spending a little time with Drew today. Come back next Monday! It's Halloween!
I'm having fun watching Drew pick up new words every day. He's like a little parrot who repeats almost everything we say (time for someone.... [cough cough] Jason [cough cough] to start doing a little Spring cleaning in the vocabulary department).
He also loves to act like he's having full blown conversations. He'll look at you very seriously, and say, "abba chee wa wa bubabuba", then he pauses and waits for a response. Each day the language seems to change. One day it sounds like Chinese. Another like Spanish.
Drew having a "conversation" with Grandma on the phone
Do Jason and I do this when we talk on the phone?
I've been told that at school, during nap time, he'll lay down for a minute, then pop up and start babbling. The teacher will say "shhhh.... lie down" and he'll do that for a minute, then pop back up again to continue telling whatever story he imagines he's telling. Gee.... nonstop talking, I wonder who he gets THAT from? 0:-)
His most understandable words are Mommy (not just Mama!), Daddy, and hi, but if you listen carefully, you might also hear...
Afaf= dog
Apuh (more of just "ap" with an airy sound at the end)= apple (or any round food? He used it to refer to his peas the other night)
Awa= water (you'd think I had taught him the Spanish word "agua"!)
Deedee= blankie?
Ditty= kitty
Nanana= banana
Nye nye= night night
Ooee= Lucy
Teef= teeth
Uh oh= "I'm about to throw something on the floor"
Getting out for a run has been hard lately. I work during the day (and leave the house before 7:00 am which means there will be NO morning runs). Jason works at night (not returning until after dark). YOU try and find an exercise solution that fits with that schedule and a toddler!
I tried to convince Stacey that we just needed to suck it up and do the dreadmill thing so I could put Drew in the daycare at the gym. But we hate the treadmill. So I said we'd take classes- aerobics, spin, pilates, etc. But then we realized.... we kinda like running. (Shhhhh...)
Hence...
Freedom!
Drew was already ready to go for a run the first day!
A lightweight jogging stroller (with a break on the handlebar and a tether strap... cuz we run that fast, y'know!).
Not only that, but we also invested in a GPS watch.
This is not my actual wrist, but it IS about that size on me
The two combined have given us complete freedom to run when and where we feel like it (well, God does still control the weather. We don't have control over that.). We no longer have to plan routes ahead of time if we want to hit a certain mileage. No more trying to find the proper "start" and "stop" signs along trails to determine how far we ran. And Drew gets to join us!
And he thinks we're super funny when we run. He never stops grinning at whoever is running beside the stroller. But if you saw us, you'd probably laugh, too.
