8.30.2011

ledger at 21 months...


personality:
ledger is a funny character that we're still trying to figure out. it's still pretty true that he's about 75% sweet and 25% rotten (a good rotten). he is a very cuddly boy who will stop what he's doing to sit on our laps...especially when sleepy. he loves to "be a helper". every morning, he takes canon and his pj's to their dirty clothes hamper. he picks them up and holds up one finger while saying, "right back." cutest thing ever! he entertains himself well. he's super laid back where he's up for pretty much whatever you present him. his 25% rotten side shows itself by not being affectionate. we have to force ourselves on him, especially canon!! this drives canon crazy since he loves to smother his brother with hugs and head kisses. he also has a bad habit of being grumpy when he wakes up. you would never know it if you didn't talk to him for the first hour, but if you do, he's quick to groan and say no over and over. he's inherited "grumpapotamus" as a nickname! he's also very strong-willed which i believe doesn't have to be a bad thing, but right now it's showing itself through defiance. now to figure out the magic trick to channel that positively!
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brotherly love: even though ledger has times where he resists his brother's love, he ADORES canon! his most favorite thing is to go get canon up from a nap. he runs to his bed with a big 'ol grin saying "hi" over and over. canon was one of his very first words. they love to go into a bedroom and shut the door and just play...or get into to things! they're quite the pair. ledger loves going to pick canon up at school. he misses him during the day. ledger copies EVERYTHING canon does. of course, canon loves that! i look forward to watching ledger play the big brother role to knox!
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discipline: ledger's a tough one to discipline. he used to be even tougher. he has such a hard exterior (that sounds funny how its worded, but i can't think of a better word!) when he knows he's in trouble and uses that darn "no" word so much that it's hard to get through to that sweet little heart. he's starting to respond better to looking at us while we are talking to him and hearing what we are saying. spankings are finally working on him, too. one area he has excelled in obeying is staying in his big boy bed. he's been sleeping in it for over 2 months now and always stays in it until we come get him. i think he will do great. he's just trying to figure out his toddler independence!
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eating habits: the boy LOVES his groceries! he's a grazer and would never stop eating if there were food always out. he eats 3 solid meals a day with a couple of snacks thrown in. he's not picky by any means. he differs from his brother in that he's the messiest eater. it can be the "cleanest" meal and somehow ledger has it in his hair and ears and up his arms. i don't get it. he wears a bib, but not a body bib! he's learning to use a fork and asks for one with every meal...even if they're finger foods. he says "poke, poke" when he's trying to get something on his fork. he's a big drinker. he has 2 cups of milk each day then no telling how much water. ledger...not so easy at restaurants. not impossible, but not easy! we always tease and say he has no standards when it comes to eating...he'll eat anything, anyway! little porker :)
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favorite foods: oatmeal. yogurt. chicken. any kind of fruit. crackers. beans. sweet potatoes. any kind of carb. ice is a new one. cereal. pancakes. seriously, anything. (he is having an aversion to cheese sticks right now...no idea why)
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sleeping habits: this boy needs his sleep and enjoys his sleep! he is not flexible when it comes to sleep. he cannot skip a nap or stay up too late. he melts and he melts fast. he goes to bed around 8 each night and despite his brother turning the fan off or kicking the wall or singing for the next 30 minutes, he falls right asleep and can sleep through anything! he would sleep until 10 each morning if canon didn't wake him up by 8 every morning. it's just easier though if they start the day at the same time. by 1:30 each day, he is ready for nap. he's probably been carrying his blankie around or laying in the floor waiting to be put in bed! i seriously don't know when the last time he fought sleep was. at bedtime, we all get on one of their beds, read a book or sing a couple of songs, each pray, then give hugs and kisses. he also is good about going down for a nap still if he falls asleep in the car.
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bedtime lovies: his two, beloved blankies. raschid the scentsy monkey. his pillow. when in his bed, he loves all these things, but his one and only true love in life is this light blue, flannel, duck blankie! when he gets upset for any reason, he immediately wants it. once he has it, then he comes to me. laundry day is a traumatic experience for him. he doesn't fall for the 'ol blankie replacement trick. it goes everywhere with us, but i've started making him leave it in the car because of all the extra laundry it required. this is weird, but falls under bedtime...when he's tired or upset, he sucks on his tongue. when he stopped nursing, he picked up this soothing technique. it's pretty sweet!
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favorite tv shows/movies: not too picky. he will sit through anything you put on, even a feature length movie! but sesame street, clifford and barney seem to make him pretty happy. he, also, LOVES any toy story movie. he is a big time buzz and woody fan...still.
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speech: he's very bright, and understands/follows commands. he still has the sweetest soft, high-pitched voice that makes me smile everytime i hear it. his speech is very clear and he is able to make a variety of sounds in the beginning, middle and end spots of words. he has about a 50+ word vocabulary. he loves to count to 3 by himself or 10 with our help (the way he says 9 is my favorite). when you ask him what color something is, he ALWAYS says blue. once we say what color it really is, he repeats us correctly! he loves reading books...especially vocab ones. he is content to look at a book by himself or have someone read to him. i'm loving the one on one time we have while canon's at school.
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favorite activities/toys: books. cars. buzz and woody characters. running. balls. wrestling. dancing. watching tv. playing outside. taking baths. can his blankie be an activity?
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good habits: saying please and thank you. brushing his teeth. eating well. sleeping great. smiling generously (he has a great smile and laugh)!
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bad habits: being grumpy when he's tired. saying no. not always being kind to his brother.
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sizes: diapers-5. shoes-6 or 6.5. bottoms-18-24 months. tops- 2t.

ledger,

we are so thankful god chose you for our family! you bring so much joy and laughter to our home. i love your chubby, sweet self so much! there is nothing in this entire world you could do to make daddy and i love you less. we are so proud of you!!

love,
mommy
xoxo

1 comment:

Lauren said...

I love you ledgie! You are such a sweet boy and I'm so glad you love your blankie too! I could sit and hold you for hours and kiss your sweet, chubby cheeks! Xoxo LaLa