Temporal experiment

He's been doing a lot of imagination play these days. For one thing, he likes to pretend that he's Norm, our ice cream guy. I'll have to talk about Norm's ice cream in another blog, but for now, suffice it to say that Dex does a lot of pretending. He'd drive around the house singing a little ditty and ask us if we want ice cream.

The other new thing is pretending to go for a drive. He'd pretend to pack up the car (or a taxi) and load it up with books and blankets. Then he'd ask me to get in and pretend to strap him in, so we can go driving. Sometimes we go to Cobourg. But most of the time we go to Blue Mountain.

I really noticed that he's been experimenting with time concepts. He's been using the word "yesterday" which usually means sometime in the past -- could be this morning, could be a few months ago.

Yesterday, during one of his pretend driving trips, he told me to hurry up because "we have to get there by 7:30." I'm not quite sure where he got that. I guess he understands the concept of deadline, but he's not sure about time yet. He also said "we're leaving in 20 seconds" -- another time concept experiment since I'm sure he has no idea what a second is.

Peeing in public

Ah yes, how apropos that the fine points of peeing outside have been passed on from father to son this Father's Day.

We were at waterpark at the zoo today and as we were getting him out of his wet swimwear Dex announced that he wanted to go pee. We were at a bench by the chamois and mountain goat exhibits at the time when he made the announcement. To those horrified that I'm encouraging my son to pee in a public park, I like to say in my defense that I did not expect this. I actually thought it was going to be a quick diaper change -- just pull out the wet swim trunks, remove the wet diaper and replace with a dry one -- but obviously, he had other plans.

"I have to pee," he said so I tried to stand him up and there was this awkward moment when I was holding him under the pits and I was trying to balance him but he wasn't cooperating. I realized then that he's only ever peed sitting down on the potty so that's what he was trying to do! Once we got him on a good sitting position, he actually did his little tinkle on the grass and I was ready to put on his diaper when he said "I have to pee some more."

This time, Dad took over and told him how to do the deed standing up: the importance of finding the right spot, how to stand feet apart, then hold it and point it just so, then pee without dribbling on the leg. Such a sweet little father/son moment.

Father's Day

Ten Reasons Why I Love My Husband

1. Because he understands me.

2. Despite number one, he still loves me.

3. Because he makes me happy.

4. Because he's witty and smart and interesting.

5. Because he's a cat person.

6. Because he doesn't let the little things bother him.

7. Because he makes me coffee in the morning and he knows exactly how I take that cup.

8. Because he's a good dad.

9. Because he's a good son to his parents.

10. Because the harshest thing he's ever said to our son is "No, no, NO, NO, STOP" in escalating volume levels.

Happy Father's Day, Jon.

Taking a break

Dexter's teacher had an amusing anecdote to report to Jon today.

A substitute teacher entered the toddler room. Dexter walked up to his regular teacher and said: "someone is here so you can take your break."

I told you he listens to adult conversation.

Gross motor

You can tell he listens to adult conversations because he comes up with the most astounding responses.

A few weeks ago, in response to repeated calls for "go to the park, go to the park, GO TO THE PARK!!!" for the last few days, I thought I'd come through on the promise when the weather (finally) turned hot. I rummaged through his toy box and found his sandbox toys and emerged triumphant with the small bucket filled with two molds (a bunny and a butterfly), a shovel, and a rake. I held it up and said teasingly "do you know what this is for?"

He smiled shyly and said "sensory."

Most kids will just say "sandbox" but I guess Dex has figured out that playing in the sandbox means sensory time. Let me explain.

At the daycare, they make sure that the children have time for sensory play. This usually means exploring and learning with their hands and other senses. Some days they have water play, some days time in the sandbox, some days playdoh, etc. I'm sure the teachers don't say to the kids "it's time for sensory," but perhaps they say that when talking to each other. Oh, and that reminds me: last winter Dex watched his Dad cleaning the snow off the windshield and he said "Daddy's doing sensory."

This also explains why when Jon asked him last week what Dex did that day, he said "gross motor." We asked the teachers and yes, when it's too cold or too wet outside, they stay indoors for the "gross motor" portion of the day. This usually means bringing out the bikes and wagons and running around indoors. He's outside right now doing "gross motor" this fine, beautiful day in Toronto.

You say potato

We were at a restaurant this morning and as my "Big Breakfast Special" was being placed before me, Dex said excitedly: "plantains!"

He thought the homefries were fried plantains! So cute.

His perspective is a little different than other two year olds. How many two year olds can identify plantains, can say plantains, and would use that as a frame of reference instead of potatoes?