So we had a really great weekend. We celebrated Ali’s birthday “Paris Hilton” style with multiple parties over the weekend.

Friday night we had a nice family get together, dinner and ice cream cake from Dairy Queen. Ali really enjoyed that!

He opened a few presents, got some cute new clothes for the summer, books including a Thomas the Tank Engine one! ( We are all about trains these days).

Saturday, my sister came into town and there was more cake and presents.

Sunday two of my aunties, a cousin and her daughter came by and Ali got more books, a very cool raincoat which we will feature in another post and a little guitar (and yes, there was more cake)

I was starting to get worried that we were starting a trend, where he was going to expect presents every day!

We had a really lovely time. And so now that the terrible twos are officially here- Game On!

So only two more days until Ali turns 2.

He has come so far, and learned a lot in the last 12 months- walking, talking, increased comprehension, better communication, improved co ordination etc etc.

I know that these coming 12 months will see us discover a lot together! Can’t wait!

So whilst I was working this morning online for a bit, Ali was drinking chocolate milk and watching  Little Einsteins.

I would look up from time to time but must admit I wasn’t really paying attention…  I did at one point notice that the penguin they were helping didn’t ’speak’ but every time he opened his mouth a few bars of classical music would come out.

Now, I really like that each episode feature an artist and a composer.  It is very informative.

But what I realized is that I have seen a few episodes where the animal that the Little Einsteins are helping doesn’t speak but only communicates in classical music.

So this leaves me wondering… is the subconscious message “Anyone who likes classical music needs help!”

The potty came home with us from Wal Mart yesterday.  Ali has already spent some time sitting on it and basically giggling like crazy.

Let the games begin!

So sometimes getting dressed happens for us in stages…

Like yesterday for example, we got as far as a clean diaper, an undershirt (onesie) and then… we were overcome with the desire to put on our new rubber boots.

And so this is what we ended up with:

It’s a look. And I hear it is all the rage in Paris this season…

I bought this set of Crayola Finger Paints from Wal-Mart not too long ago more or less based on their promise that there wouldn’t be any mess.

The “paints” are little pots of a waxy substance that is completely clear. Only when the paints are applied to the special Crayola paper does the color appear.

I must admit it is very cool! The waxy paint is a little sticky but is very easy to wipe up. In fact, today after he had painted a picture I just used a baby wipe to clean his hands. No need for soap and water, and no need to worry that the paint might get on the table, the floor or him really.

While Ali doesn’t quite get the idea that each pot contains a different color, he just indiscriminately sticks his chubby little fingers in which ever one he likes, I think that as he gets older this will be a great way for us to be creative without the requisite mess we expect with finger painting!

Bottom Line, for less than $10 a really fun product!

Ali is quite the little parrot these days. Seems he is constantly repeating after us. It got me thinking, “I wonder at this age, just how many words he should know?”.

Now I realize “should know” is a somewhat relative term, as each child develops according to their own schedule, but I was curious to get a benchmark number.

A quick search in Ask.com revealed a number of sites with suggestions, and one of them, called Baby Center had this posted:

“At 19-24 months- Though he probably says about 50 to 70 words now, your child may understand as many as 200 words, many of which are nouns. Between 18 and 20 months, he’ll learn words at the rate of 10 or more a day (so watch your language!). He’ll even string two words together, making basic sentences such as “Carry me.”

By the time he’s 2, your child will use three-word sentences and sing simple tunes. His sense of self will mature, and he’ll start talking about what he likes and doesn’t like, what he thinks and feels. Pronouns may confuse him, which is why he might say “Baby throw” instead of “I throw.”

Very interesting I say!  And actually, somewhat reassuring

I know that Ali can come up with more than 50, and probably over 70 words, on his own.  By that I mean, he uses them, not just repeats what he hears.

He is starting to put together mini sentences like, “Where are you? and “What’s that?”.  We try and read together every single day, and I know that he understands more than he can speak at this time.

Will be interesting to re-visit this particular topic in a couple of months and see the development!

I am really, really tuckered out today. Last night was really rough.

Part of the problem is I am 26 weeks pregnant and it is starting to become uncomfortable to sleep (back aches, hips hurt if I lay too long on one side, have to get up and pee, am too hot and then too cold etc.).

But last night Ali was my nightmare…

Now, he has never been what you would call a ‘good sleeper’. I think he has slept once in these past 2 years continuously through the night and I woke up in a panic thinking that he must have stopped breathing… how else was it that he hadn’t woke up!! (a good case of be careful what you wish for I guess).

You would think that after 2+ years,  I would be used to the sleep deprivation by now… but it still catches up to me sometimes.

I don’t know if he has bad dreams, or what it is but he verbalizes a lot during his sleep. Not really words but more like a cross between a moan and a groan sound. And it isn’t just a subtle sound, it is bloody loud! Really, really loud!

Right now our sleeping arrangements are such that I am sleeping in a bed beside his crib (this is temporary and I will explain more about this in another post sometime…sometime when I am not so tired).

So, as I am in the same room, right beside him in fact trying to sleep myself, his ‘noises’ wake me. Last night I think there may have been 2 hours max between “episodes”.

Not only is he loud, but he thrashes about as well. He kicks at his covers, kicking the side of the crib in the process. I’m really at a loss as to what is going on with him and why he can’t sleep straight through.

I hope he quits this before he get married otherwise his wife will hate him!! lol

I think I will ponder this some more, when I am not so tired

P.S. He does look angelic when he sleeps though doesn’t he…Just wish it was more often (insert sigh here).