Jekyll or Hyde?

We have entered the frustrated-toddler time. We knew it was coming, but were still unprepared for what has been unleashed upon us. Sure, you may think I’m being hyperbolic, especially because Felix is such a good boy when others are around. But … argh.

Felix is getting frustrated by not being able to get what he wants, do what he wants, or communicate with us. Coming in from outside before he wants to results in a puddle of boneless, grunting Felix on the floor. Frustration at not being able to use a fork results in the fork and as much food as he can get a hold of being flung on the floor, and whatever’s left on his tray being smeared around by flailing arms. Knowing the animal crackers are there, but me insisting that he make even the most half-hearted “more” sign before I give him another results in even more grunting and bonelessness.

There is a bright side. His desire to communicate means he’s picking up on words and signs pretty quick. The other day, he overheard a neighbor say “eat” and he signed “eat” (I wisely, IMHO, took him inside for dinner then). I’m trying to work on “please”, “thank you”, and “hurt” now.

And then there’s the sitting on other kids. This week, Felix has decided that he wants to sit on his classmates at day care. Where he’s getting these bullying tendencies from, I don’t know. Is he trying to get his pent-up frustrations out? Is he truly not able to differentiate between “gentle” and “hard”? In any case, his daily sheet from Tuesday had the note that he sat on at least one child's head during naptime. We don’t let him sit on us at home or hit us. I know this is probably just a phase, but is I’m hoping we can break him of this sooner. Unfortunately, I only hear about it after the fact, so my saying "friends are not chairs, cushions or pillows" doesn't have a great effect. I'm considering buying a doll for him to play with to help model gentle behavior.

He can be such a sweetie, but there are definitely Mr. Hyde tendencies in him.

He's also getting bumps and bruises like it's his job now.  Yesterday, I signed two accident reports at his day care.  On Tuesday, he banged the bridge of his nose on a table (second time for that in a week), causing it to bleed and get a little bruised.  Yesterday, he was bit on the hand by another child.  I left him at day care this morning saying that I did not want to sign an accident report today.  Days since last accident: 0.

Felix: 14 mos

Tempers and Tantrums

Felix threw his first tantrum this weekend, when we wouldn't let him have more cinnamon roll.  And again yesterday, when I wouldn't let him go outside at that minute.  Cue the grunting, flailing, stiffened back, and screaming.  I suppose I'm glad it took a nice long time for the temper tantrums to begin, but I still could have waited longer.

It probably hasn't helped that he's teething again.  Here's the best picture I've gotten so far with his bottom two teeth.  He cut his top right front tooth on Saturday.  After reading a bulletin board post about the effectiveness of dark versus light Baltic amber for teething pain (apparently light is better), I took his necklace off after his bath last night.  We proceeded to have the worst night of teething we've had since I got the necklace for him (presumably for the upper left front tooth).  I put it back on at 4 am, and he was better after that.  I think there's something to it.  I ordered two more for him, light yellow amber this time, so we'll be set with the next teeth.

Felix: 14 mos

Where did my baby go?

Sometime in the last few weeks, someone snuck in and replaced my baby with an adorable little man!  Maybe it was his grandparents on their recent visits.  Or maybe the start of football season is the cause.  Either way, Felix is a baby no longer.  He's getting better at walking, and currently has two speeds (stop and RUN!).  He loves rolling on pillows or cushions on the floor.  He's starting to sign when he wants something (yesterday morning he signed "food"), and has a few other simple words in his vocabulary.  He is a total boy, preferring to play with balls and cars.  He's also showing other preferences, like not wanting to sit in his car seat or wanting something we've just taken away.  Trying our patience, in other words.  I'm getting very good at distracting and toddler-wrangling.

Felix is also 14 months old as of Sunday, and still only has two teeth.  He's been working on the top ones for over a month now, and they're so close to cutting through.  I'm not used to seeing him with any teeth in his mouth, and I think having top ones will continue to throw me for a while.

I'm glad that fall is coming with its cooler weather, because we can dress Felix in his many, many pairs of overalls, and he looks so gosh darn cute!

Felix: 14 mos