The Grout Family: Mr. Strummer Growing Up

Usually I update what the kids have accomplished after their well-child visit. HOWEVER - Strummer's next visit isn't until he's 2!! So in continuing w/the trend of every 3 months, here's some updates on the little guy.

From what I have measured and weighed he is now up to 35 inches and 30 lbs! He is still trying to be very helpful. Sometimes - when he's trying to be helpful, he's really not being that helpful...but hey - he's only 1-1/2!

He eats just about everything. He's become a bit more picky on things, but I'm guessing it's an age thing. He still loves his spicy food! We made nachos one time and he was eating everything - and we had jalapenos in it. FORGETTING - that we didn't chop them up, Strummer ate a sliced jalapeno, then all of a sudden, tears started rolling down his face b/c of the spicy factor - we forgot to give him his milk! Sorry little buddy!!

He takes one nap that lasts typically for 2-1/2 - 3 hrs. He always goes down at 12:30 and will typically sleep til 3 or 4!

He LOVES being outside! He always points and says 'side, side?'. Depending on the weather, we usually let him go and play in the backyard on his own - keeping a watch on him, but it's all fenced in and he can't get out. So he enjoys playing w/his slide, kicking balls around, drawing w/his chalk, blowing bubbles and from time-to-time, playing w/some sort of water feature - whether I turn on the water for the slip-in-slide or I fill up his sandless sandbox w/water! Speaking of his sandbox, he did have sand in there and enjoyed playing w/all his sand toys...however Brad found that a family of ants decided to invade and so his sand was dumped! Next year, we'll do a better job of keeping the lid closed on it!

He still loves books! He has dozens and dozens of books! He likes 'reading' books and listening to them. Sometimes he'll just keep on going to his book basket in the living room and brining you more books to read. Yesterday, he wanted me to read the same book 6xs! When I was done, he grabbed the book and said 'book?' (Meet the Puppies - 101 Dalmatians) What's totally cute is sometimes whether he's at home chilling in the living room, sitting in his crib or sitting in the car, he'll just grab a book and it appears like he's reading it b/c he looks at the pages for a bit, then turns the page.

Some other things he has learned are numbers and letters - kind off. He will 'count' usually to 3, and will sing his abc's. He can say all the letters, but he knows most of them. And recently started recognizing letters and numbers in other settings. For instance, the pool, he recognized 'F' 'T' '3'

This may be surprising, but he loves music (i know you are all shocked! hee-hee-hee). During some songs or theme songs, he will usually clap or slap his hand on his leg to the beat of the music. Another new thing is he recognizes themes and will sing along - for example the 'NBC Studios' tune of 3 notes. He'll hum the 3 notes, pretty much on key! If there's a good song playing in the car, you can look back, and he'll be 'head-banging' in his car seat. He's also opinionated. Within the last few months, if we are in the car, and there is a song playing - usually when Brad has his oodles of CDs along, Strummer will tell you if he likes it or not. If he does, he smiles and dances...and if he doesn't he'll say 'no-no?'. As in, I don't like this song so you need to change it. Who knew it would start so young! Of course, he is his father's son :P He of course, still enjoys getting his guitar out and playing it, as well as playing the piano!

He has started this stage of 'I want to do what you are doing'. He's getting very good at just copying things. If I'm brushing my teeth, he wants to brush his teeth. If I am cooking, he wants to be in the kitchen doing the same thing. So on. I guess he's a big learning kick! Along with doing things on his own, he typically prefers to do things by himself. He will sometimes get upset if we do something for him. For example, I went to go peel his banana, he got upset, so I gave it to him, then a few minutes later, he came back into the living w/his banana in hand, and the peel in the garbage! He will also help w/unloading the dishwasher. He will take the silverware and put it away. He will also grab the dishes from the bottom rack and hand them to me to put away. (A lifesaver for my back!) He also prefers to put toothpaste on his toothbrush. Usually, I'll put it on, give it to him, he'll brush his teeth for like 5 sec, then take the toothpaste and put more on. Usually he doesn't get to much on there, but it's the whole "I'm Independent" thing.

Other things he LOVES - CLIMBING, sliding, getting his own ice or water from the refrigerator (now i know why they invented the LOCK mechanism on the fridge), helping cook, moving the dining chairs around the kitchen to reach things, playing w/friends, and much more!

His vocabulary has increased! He says SO many things now - that you can actually recognize! These are just a sampling. He he starting to repeat words after you say them and it's hard to keep track!

People he can say and recognize

Mommy, Daddy, Papa (grandpa), Gama (grandma) Sister, Edyn, Sara, Scott, Bosco, Mindy, Jim, Jessi, Amy, Jackson (these are friends at the Y),

Characters and shows he can say and recognize

The Off (The Office), Monk, Sid (Sid The Science Kid), Elmo, Why (Super Why), Pooh (Winnie The Pooh), House

Characters he recognizes, but doesn't always say

Michael, Jim, Pam, Dwight, Ryan (the office), Larry David from Curb Your Enthusiasm.

Fun Facts: We were at my bro's house a few months ago and we were asking Strummer to point out people - then we asked him to find the characters of The Office on Mike's game box. We asked "Strummer, where's Michael" - then he pointed to him, the asked "Strummer -where's Dwight" - then he pointed to him and so on!

Apparently, Larry David looks like Papa. Not sure which one - or maybe it's a combo, but every so often, when we are watching Curb, Strummer will say "Papa"

That's all for now! He's growing up so fast and learning new things everyday!