Connor These Days

Before the moment passes .... what Connor is up to these days.

He is working on a full set of teeth. White tips are poking through the gums all around.

Being with Connor all the time, I can really appreciate how young kids observe and absorb everything. He knows where everything goes and takes pains to put it there. If I start to sweep the floor, he brings the dustpan. When visitors say good-bye in anticipation of leaving, he leaves the group and returns with their shoes. Although we keep the trash can inaccessible due to his curiosity about its contents, if for example a diaper needs to be discarded, he will take it over to the garbage can and indicate that he wants to place it there. He also brings his empty dishes to be put in the sink. If you ask him to put away a set of toys and demonstrate, he will take care of it. In fairness however, you have to be sure he doesnt start unpacking again, if you really want the things put away.

One of his favorite books is "The Little People Farm Book" which features flaps that open to reveal numbered objects, shapes, colors, opposites, etc. He knows "cat," so about a week ago, seeing a cat on a page, I thought I'd test him. "Cat? Where's the cat?" I asked. He studied the page for a moment, then went for a flap. "Oh, he doesnt understand," I thought. But then there was a CAT behind the flap. That freaked me out- I didnt even know there was a cat there! That had to be luck, I figured. The same thing happened on another page when prompted - he opened a flap to uncover "six frisky kittens." And the first cat feat has been repeated, so apparently it wasnt a coincidence. I suppose he is simply more familiar with the book than me.

"Beep-beep!" is his latest cute expression, mimicking what we say to him when he is in the way of something.

We went to the park yesterday (after what seemed like endless days of rain), and saw that Connor can move at nearly a run now.

The photo shows his current reading selections. It just happens to include most of the basics: shapes, colors, ABCs, modern Greek ... haha. (That's the Pooh book. We just listen to the tunes and look at the pictures.) He has other books but is generally confined to the board books for now, to prevent prematurely torn pages. Sleepy Me and All My Little Ducklings are the only two storybooks in the collection... Ive got those memorized. And, if you say the title or recite a few lines from either of them, Connor will bring them to you. Isnt that clever? (Elizabeth)