Ari -- one year old
I can't believe it's been over a year since Ari was born. Every morning, when I take him into my bed to nurse, I can't help thinking how big he is! (Although compared to some of our friends' kids, he is actually quite small -- you know who you are:) ) In terms of his development, Ari is just about to start walking. He can take one or two steps on his own already; then loses his balance. He loves walking when someone is holding his hands, and that's what he wants to do all day long. Well, O.K., he CAN be convinced to do other things as well. Like read books, for example. We have lots of them, both in English and in Russian (because I keep thinking of more and more books that would be fun for him to read and can't stop buying them), and Ari will pull them out of the box, one by one, and look at them for quite a long time. If I am reading to him, he sometimes wants the same book read four or five times in a row. I have already memorized quite a few children's poems that way. That helps when we are out walking and he wants to be entertained.
In terms of his communication skills: he doesn't have any words yet, but he does understand a few words in Russian, and possibly some in English too, although I wouldn't know. Ari knows Russian words for "no," "bathtime," "doggie," "tractor," "hat," "hello" and "good-bye," and probably a few others. I still don't know if he understands "mama" and "papa" -- those things just don't seem to be important to him. To the question, "Ari, are you a trouble-maker?" he will emphatically shake his head for "No." He also does the "raspberries" when asked, "what does a tractor say?" Oh, and he will make fists and a scary face when asked to show how strong he is. It's quite cute, really. So overall, I am not worried about his development, although I am eager for him to start talking.
The big step for Ari will be starting daycare next week. He will be going to a family daycare three days a week. To be perfectly honest, I am terrified of how the first few days are going to go, since he is right now at the height of his separation anxiety stage. And he is not a mellow child by any stretch of the imagination -- when he is mad, he is MAD! I hope that once he adjusts to the new place, though, he will love it. We'll see.
Well, I realize I could write a lot more, for after all, which mother does not enjoy talking about her child? But I think I shall stop here and perhaps write another entry at some other time.
In terms of his communication skills: he doesn't have any words yet, but he does understand a few words in Russian, and possibly some in English too, although I wouldn't know. Ari knows Russian words for "no," "bathtime," "doggie," "tractor," "hat," "hello" and "good-bye," and probably a few others. I still don't know if he understands "mama" and "papa" -- those things just don't seem to be important to him. To the question, "Ari, are you a trouble-maker?" he will emphatically shake his head for "No." He also does the "raspberries" when asked, "what does a tractor say?" Oh, and he will make fists and a scary face when asked to show how strong he is. It's quite cute, really. So overall, I am not worried about his development, although I am eager for him to start talking.
The big step for Ari will be starting daycare next week. He will be going to a family daycare three days a week. To be perfectly honest, I am terrified of how the first few days are going to go, since he is right now at the height of his separation anxiety stage. And he is not a mellow child by any stretch of the imagination -- when he is mad, he is MAD! I hope that once he adjusts to the new place, though, he will love it. We'll see.
Well, I realize I could write a lot more, for after all, which mother does not enjoy talking about her child? But I think I shall stop here and perhaps write another entry at some other time.