21 Months!
Life with the 21-month-old is pretty good.
We've bought a zoo membership, and today took Bub for his first ever visit to the zoo. He seemed rather unimpressed for the most part, being out in the rain probably didn't help. However when we got to the Butterfly House he perked up considerably and looked around with rapt attention.
Back outside, he was also quite taken with the elephants, although the huge smile vanished as soon as I pulled out the camera so I can't prove it. He enjoyed trotting through an aviary and pointing out a few ducks.
Back home for lunch, then he enjoyed an epic 3 hour nap. He's mostly sleeping well, and even slept in to nearly 8 this morning (presumably making up for only a short nap yesterday).
David took the morning shift today, so I got to lie-in a few minutes longer. Bub points into our room and says "sleepy" when it's still dark, but knows to leave the occupant alone. That was cute when his dad was the one sleeping, and absolutely adorable when it was me dozing. What a wonderful child ;)
At the park earlier in the week Bub decided he wanted to walk on a low stone wall which other kids often walk or run along. At first he kept trying to stand on it, decided it was a bit scary and got back down to crawl. I asked if he wanted to hold my hand, and he agreed, in fact holding both hands would be better. (He reaches for my hand and says "arm" when he wants to hold hand for any reason.)
So we walked along it with both hands held, then several times with one-hand. Then he tried on his own, reaching out for my hand at times then letting go again. Eventually he walked the whole thing, including ramps at the ends, all on his own, and we both applauded.
He's pretty good about persevering with things once he's decided he wants to master it. He has similarly mastered climbing the climbing frame, and navigating the little kids equipment from one end to the other.
Mastery of the shoes continues to elude him, but he's working on it.
To some extent it is now possible to explain things and reason with him. Doesn't always work, but sometimes. He got upset when I tried to get him back in the pram at one point, until I explained we were going to the playground with swings and slides. "Swings. Slides." he repeated, then was prepared to give me the benefit of the doubt and sit in the pram for a bit.
'X first, then Y' also seems to work.
He apparently knows his way around. Heading out to shop, we were going the same way as his pool. "Splash splash" he suggested hopefully. "Sorry, this time we're going shopping." "Shopping! Yay!"
He says "yay!" a lot, raising an arm as he does so. Returning home is usually worth a cheer, as is the news we're going somewhere he knows about, or other key events in the day.
David asked him if he wanted to take a walk, or get in the pram. "Car." was Bub's firm decision. I think he settled for a walk, but he does seem to enjoy car outings now. Or at least, he likes being out, and he puts up with being "stuck" in the seat.
Recently he surprised us hugely by saying "three cards" while holding 3 cards. Turns out he'll say 3 when he's only got 1 or 2 of something as well, but I think he's working it out. Today he used "two" correctly for 2 things.
That will have to do for now, time I was asleep.