Friday, June 20, 2008
17 month update
D: The boys turn 17 months tomorrow (one day before I turn... um, 30 something!). At 17 months they have really shown us their individual personalities and talents. We are being careful not to place them into rigid, separate boxes, such as O is more this and F is more that. Even if we wanted to it would be really hard to do, since they are always changing and learning from each other. We try to say "at this time...”, allowing them room to change and become who ever they want to be.
However, as we use this blog to truthfully record our children’s toddler years, I realize that there will a fair amount of comparison as well as several descriptions that they both will share equally. (With the hopes that they don’t use this to competitively compare themselves when the get older!)
So, “at 17 months” I have definitely observed F to be a bit more adventurous with new things, always barreling towards something that interests him even if he's never seen it before. O is a bit more timid when it comes to new things, especially large blow-up things, vacuums, and showers. He takes the time to study something first and sizes it up to determine if it’s safe.
Both are very social at this age and I have yet to see any stranger anxiety in either child. They babble-talk to everyone and point at people as they walk by. Both love to dance and have their own fancy moves they are working on. F jerks his whole body suddenly with each beat, bending his knees and stomping his feel. O wildly claps his hands and loves to bounce up and down. Both sway their bodies back and forth in a full-body swing.
Both kids have an impressive obsession with balls and are equally talented with their handling skills. O prefers the one handed throw and F usually throws two handed (like a shock-put) unless he's faking you out by thowing it behind his back. They are both just now learning to catch. They have a blast with the baby basketball hoop and I've even seen them pass the ball to one another before making a dunk. Throwing the ball for our dog is F's all-time favorite thing to do.
“Where’s …?!” is their favorite game. They will each hide behind a wall or in the closet and giggle as I call out “where’s … ?” And then they will literally come running out from hiding and declare their presences with a triumphant “HAA!” Then they will run back into hiding again. It’s a riot.
At this time, F is more interested in holding our hands, as we walk down the street. While O will go ‘limp legs’ and drop to the sidewalk any time we try to hold his hand. O’s independence is a little more important to him at the moment.
While playing in the sand box they both enjoy burying things. Once the object is hidden they will throw their hands up, shrug their shoulders and say to each other "where'd it go?" (or at least it sounds like "where'd it go") This is a gesture they use often, and find it humorous to make things disappear (like throwing food and cups from their trays) and say "where'd it go?" It's really hard not to laugh.
Speaking of language, the Deuce still have a very limited vocabulary. They are 'talking' all the time in what we call 'twin-talk'... the official language here in Twin Town. It is very hard to replicate, as it has guttural sounds that I can't even pronounce. But both boys know it and understand it well. They are constantly talking to each other, us, the dogs, anyone who will listen. We are working hard on teaching them words from the English language and our Au Pair has also successfully taught the boys a few words in sign language. They both say mama, dada, nana and anna... but they usually don't assign the word to it's propper association. However, we are please to announce that recently F has clearly said the word "banana" and assigns it not only to the fruit but also pictures of the fruit! O has not yet chosen his first word but as I said before, O's a thinker and I'm sure he's just hasn't decided which word is going to be the special one.
Instead of using words they both mutter phrases that sound very close to the words they should be. "Where'd it go" sounds like "er-a-oh?" "Here you go" (when F hands you something) sounds like "her-o". And O is constantly yelling "dit-dowe!" which I am sure is "sit down!"... something they hear us say at least 20 times a day.
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Happy 17 months, F & O! And Happy Birthday, Dana!
Our boys like to do the 'limp legs' thing, too....either that, or they will just sit down and flat-out refuse to move. Not cool when we're crossing the street, or in the middle of a trail and a mountain biker is trying to pass.
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hey dana!
i've been meaning to write since i saw your HDYDI comment. this whole language thing is really interesting. i mostly love their gibber-gabber, but now that it's not transitioning into english, i've found myself getting more and more frustrated. like you, i was going to wait until their 18 mo. well baby, but after reading rebecca's comment, i decided to seek out the Early Intervention Services in Austin. every state has a program and i think the evaluation and assessment are always free. so i emailed them and the next day they called, got us in the program and scheduled a case worker and speech therapist to come out and evaluate the boys. their appointment is in 2 weeks, so i'll let you know how it goes.
hope you all had a terrific b-day - 18 months is so close now!
tracey