Ethan is 2-years-and-4-months-old today! He seems so old these days...much more like a little boy than a toddler. Ethan is devoted to his big brother. Caleb can talk him into just about anything. Ethan will wake up dry in the morning and we'll go downstairs to pick out his treat. Ethan will excitedly select a big marshmallow as his treat, but then Caleb jumps in and says, "Ethan, don't you want to pick the gum drops so you can have three of them and give one to me?" Ethan changes his choice without hesitation and delightedly hands his brother his choice of gum drops. Then he plays with the other two gum drops for a little while and leaves them on the counter, because he doesn't even like gum drops. (Once in a while, Ethan stands his ground, and I make Caleb back off without a second request.)
Ethan's generous spirit carries over to all his interactions with other kids, too, as long as they ask him nicely. As a rule, he will give anyone anything they want, as long as he is approached politely and respectfully. If someone tries to snatch something from him, or even reaches for it before he has replied, he will shout "NO!" and run away (still a vast improvement on the side swipe the offending child would have received four months ago). As long as he is given a choice, he absolutely loves to make other people/kids happy by giving them what they want.
Ethan's voracious appetite has slowed down some in recent months. He still eats very well, but he doesn't ask for food ten times a day like he used to. Because Caleb practices writing his name every day, Ethan has decided he wants to write his name. For the past two weeks, I've been printing out a handwriting sheet from http://www.handwritingworksheets.com with Ethan's name on it each day, and he traces the letters of his name. He has gotten very, very good at it, and I may start teaching him to do it without tracing. He still loves to color and draw. He thoroughly colors at least three pictures every single day, and sometimes as many as seven or eight.
Ethan is much more opinionated about his clothes than Caleb has ever been. He likes to pick out his own shirts and pants every morning, but, the problem is, he always wants to wear the same shirt and the same shorts. Obviously, the Superman shirt and the "soft" (cotton) shorts that he loves are usually dirty, but he still insists on looking through all his shirts and shorts for them most days. And after he is convinced they are not there, he laboriously sifts through what is there until he makes a decision. About half the time, I tell him that Mommy is going to choose today, and he can choose tomorrow.
Ethan's two favorite toys right now are his Superman figurine and a long, orange Tinker Toy stick. These two toys sleep with him, go on almost every car ride, and even sit on the floor next to his chair during meals. The Tinker Toy stick functions as as sword or a "shooting gun", depending on the play at hand, but it is ALWAYS with him. (I am forever reminding him that he is not allowed to jump off furniture or run with the stick in his hand.) The stick gets confiscated for one reason or another at least once a day, but it is back to being his constant companion as soon as priviliges are returned.
When Ethan was a baby and he cried so much for so many months, I worried about how difficult he might be as a toddler/preschooler. Those worries were like most worries: a big waste of time. He is an absolutely delightful little boy, full of overflowing affection, hilarious antics and unmitigated joy.
2 comments:
Daddy agrees. I also believe that seeing Ethan's generosity has induced more generosity from Caleb.
It is an absolute joy to see them playing with each other. They take care of each other, engage in each other's imaginary games, and deeply miss the other when they are in timeout or otherwise away. Each of them will try to sneak toys, drinks and snacks to the other in timeout, even if the offense was against them.
Too precious for words!
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