Oliver update: 25 months

I'm going to declare Oliver's current pace of language development a "language explosion." Every day he's saying a new word, as well as practicing new sounds, which allows him to pronounce yet more words. He's typically had trouble with many sounds, like ck/k, r or j, so "more" has been "mo" and "monkey" has been "mon," as if he just gave up with the rest of the word once he hit the "k" sound.

If he's not practicing a new word, Oliver is probably just saying "No," which he says to EVERYTHING it seems. We used to employ the popular tactic of offering Oliver choices in order to engage him or get him to do something, but wording those choices in the form of a question (Do you want graham crackers or fig newtons for snack?) has been backfiring on us lately, because the answer, even to two otherwise popular choices, is often, "No!" It's taking some discipline on our parts as parents to practice rephrasing as a statement (You can have either graham crackers or fig newtons for snack.) and then moving on if he's not going to cooperate, instead of desperately trying to find something he'll agree to.

In addition to language, Oliver is developing understanding of concepts. Although Chris and I had not been actively teaching him his colors, we realized he's picking it up on his own, so now we like to pick up random objects and ask him what color they are. We're just starting to help him grasp the concept of opposites, like open/shut, on/off. Oliver likes turning the light switch on and off. But the one concept he's been having trouble with is correctly using "you" and "me." Oliver will point to a picture of himself and say, "You." We realized he picked this up because when we'd point him out in the same picture, we'd tell him, "That's you." And then I'd point to myself and say, "That's me." No wonder he's confused.

Oliver is becoming more interested in playing with other kids. If there's a ball to play with, he initiates some semblance of trying to kick or throw the ball back and forth with the other kid. He's not immune to developing an obsession with wanting to play with whatever has become the desired toy of the hour among a group of toddlers, but if there's more than one of the toy, he'll offer one to the other kid, or at least "let" him or her play with it.

He develops obsessions with certain toys and activities. In the spring and early summer, all he wanted to do was go outside. Then he discovered coloring and now he's into bubbles. He likes blowing bubbles and also trying to catch them or pop them. Chris accidentally knocked over a bottle full of bubbles and Oliver collapsed onto the floor in hysterics.

Oliver also has an obsession with snacks. Just a few weeks ago, a mom in my ECFE class mentioned how her son (who's just a little older than Oliver) discovered where the snacks are kept and stands in front of the pantry and whines. Now Oliver has started doing this. We actually have to be careful that we don't even say the word "snack" in front of him, even if just in conversation with someone else, because the words sends him either running for the kitchen or demanding a "sna" (Again, still working on the "ck" sound.)

Although Oliver showed little interest in his new brother at first, he's slowly starting to pay more attention to him. He likes to try to give Soren toys, even when he's sleeping or nursing. One time I looked over at the couch where Soren was swaddled and napping and there was one Goldfish sitting on Soren's chest.

I don't know if this was a result of Soren's arrival, or just coincidence, but Oliver is starting to show his understanding for the meaning of family. He got a set of Matchbox cars for his birthday, and he's picked out a car for each member of the family. He'll pick put a car and tell you if that's the Uncle Andy car, the Pop Pop (Grandpa) car, the Baby car and so on. And he always names the same car for each person every time. When he sees groups of animals, such as at the zoo, he likes to point out the daddy, mommy and baby.