You're 16 months old today.
On Wednesday you started making more intentional, novel marks with your crayons... dots, curves, checks. Up until now you've pretty much made the mark that coincides with waving your arm back and forth. You seemed almost as excited as I felt by your work, and kept at it for long than usual too. We bought an "Aquadoodle" which uses a water marker on some fabric or other for temporary drawings. You enjoyed the heck out of it today.
As we visited Papa on the train today, you learned the words and signs for "Stop" and "Go" and we made a game of you telling me to stop as we walked from the train station. Downtown you pointed out one truck ("Tucka") after another. Later we took a bus, thus completing the Simon PeloJoaquin Travel Triumverate. You're not as insane as some little boys are about vehicles, but you are definitely impressed by how big and loud they are. You do not seem to have any interest yet in construction machinery, and you remain interested in local wildlife, pointing out birds and dogs as we walk, and smelling flowers when we see them (rarely, and indoors).
You like the game of making animal noises when we read your books or play with toys. You make sounds for horses, dogs, chicks and chickens, ducks (WHAT a quack, you have, my little one. It is impressive.) elephants (although I think sometimes you think that the giraffe makes the elephant sound) Lions (surprising how many lions are in your wardrobe and library!) pigs and cows (a new development). You have two sets of magnetic toys, and have developed a rudimenary understanding of how magnetism works. You are delighted by these toys and work with them every day. Our favorite is when you roll a magnetic ball across the floor and then chase it with the stick, effortlessly connecting.
You are still CRAZY about the mozart music box that your Grandpa gave you for your birthday. You just began to figure out that you can play one instrument, or two, or the whole song and you'll switch it up in the middle as you listen, signing "Music". Today, you discovered that you can sit on the box and it will play. (We joke a lot and enjoyed this one together.) You ask to play guitar everyday. When you ask Papa, he plays for you and you dance or play along. When you ask me you mostly strum while I struggle to make chords (you don't notice my struggle). When we clap together you always clap with the beat. You hardly ever stick the pick into the soundhole. (You say "PickAH!" and "Gui-gui" for Guitar.)
Son, you are insane for baths. We are not one of those "nightly bath" families. There are usually a couple of baths a week. You say "Bah Bah" for Bath, and we've learned that we can not say or spell the word in front of you without you recognizing it. In fact, if we say it at dinner time we can just kiss the rest of the meal goodbye. You will carefully stack your dishes and clean your tray, periodically pointing toward the bathroom and calling out "BAH! BAH!" Today, I wanted to suggest a bath to your Papa, but wasn't sure because it was a little close to your bedtime. I said "I was thinking about..." and jerked my thumb subtly bathward over my shoulder. "Sure." Said your Papa. You started stacking... "BAH! BAH!" How did you know? We know that you are incredibly observant and that we say things that change your whole reality so you pay a lot of attention to us AND that you undertand far more than we think you do. But we are still dumbfounded. Bathtime it was, then.
We thought you should have a bath because you got your haircut today. People ask from time to time. We haven't been avoiding it on purpose (although I do take perverse pleasure when people call you "she" when you are wearing some SUPER butch lion driving a firetruck type hand-me-downs. I always think; "It's not THAT long!" It definitely just passed into the "Get this boy a headband" zone, actually IN your eyes, and Z and I agreed that it was time. I just happened to be walking by our salon, and they had their "Walk-ins Welcome" sign up, so in we went. We got a stylist who doesn't usually do my hair, but she did an admirable job, as did you.
You sat solemnly in my lap, peering into the mirror on the antique vanity in front of the chair. For most of the time you had a comb in each hand. You didn't complain much or show any fear. (A little anxiety, I think at all the noise and smells of the place.) Laura, a mom and the owner of the place shouted occasional coaching as we worked. That last snip of your bangs, Simon, I swear it took about 10 minutes. She'd have the hair all set in her hands and you'd look up to see what she was doing, or grab her comb, or turn around real quick. She was remarkably patient. They handed you a weird transparent purple bunny (?!) and we played the "Which hand is it in?" game a lot. We also played with your Valentine's balloon (We are such suckers for your love for balloons, I know. I think this is the first one since your birthday, though.) In the end, it's not short, just a little bit shorter, but my goodness how it changes the way you look.
The other thing that changes the way you look are the scabs on your face. You were standing behind our new nanny as she was fastening your nanny-buddy (?... We just started sharing a nanny with a baby 9 months younger than you.) into the stroller and when she turned round she knocked your sweet face into the pavement. It's healing quickly, and I was less freaked out than I thought I'd be. You are so happy to have a little friend at the house three days a week. You learned her name right away, and you kiss her and bring her toys.
We kiss you and bring you toys. We are so pleased with you, Simon. You are clever and thoughtful and SO funny and pleasant. You climb up all the stairs to our third floor apartment most days, saying "Puh, puh puh." (You say the word "Up" backward, I have theories about why, but it's stuck.) You are still very self-determined, and we try to support that while keeping you safe and everyone happy. You are a very thorough boundary tester, checking with a different hand, or a different colored spoon, or what have you to determine exactly what we mean when we say "No." which I hope means that you feel you can rely on us to be consistent. As you grown more interesting, it is awesome to watch your father grow into his role. He is so compassionate and intuitive and creative. At night he sets up "provocations" (what Reggio Emilia inspired teachers call collections of materials designed to invite you to think and play and work) for you to discover each morning and his instincts are excellent.
Thank you for today and every day.
-Mama
Ps: Pictures will be added to this later.
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