Ralph has turned out to be the best vacuum cleaner we have ever had. He'll find the smallest of items on the floor or carpet and put it in his mouth - edible or not. It is incredible what he can find. Knowing that his dexterity is pretty good we decided to let him start finger feeding himself - we were a little slow at giving him this much freedom, mainly for fear of him choking on something. For the most part, he has proved capable and has transitioned to eating most of what the big kids eat at daycare. He seems willing to try about anything. The first time at daycare he was given the chance to feed himself he sat happily in the chair for 45 minutes eating away. I have caught him a few times at supper take a piece of food in his hands, innocently stretch out and release the food, letting it fall to the floor. He will also take a piece of food and try to make it stick in his hair (he still has a "thing" for putting things on his head). I think its his way of telling me he is done. He also will take some food from the center of the tray and separate it into the cup holders on each side of the tray. It's amazing how side tracked kids can get.
He likes to open and close anything he can get his hands on - the barn doors on his Little People farm, the little playhouse at daycare, cupboard doors, bedroom doors, dresser drawers . . . We haven't had any pinched fingers yet, though its only a matter of time. He really is "Mr. Grabby Hands". He'll try to reach for whatever is in his reach when being held and his hands are constantly opening and closing. He has developed a "thing" for hats, as there are many hanging in our house. He also likes to point out photos on the wall.
Ralph is still pretty content to combat crawl along. Lately he has been getting on his knees more but once he starts moving he is back down to his tummy. He is starting to get a little more adventurous in trying to move along things (couch, exosaucer to couch, etc). He doesn't pull himself all the way up yet but can once he is helped to his knees. He can pull himself to a standing position from his tummy when he is offered two hands - and likes to walk when he is holding on to our hands. He is turning into a little climber and is determined to make it over nearly any pillow or person laying in his way. One evening last week we played a little game . . . he'd lean forward against the couch, bend his knees, then end up on his bum - and it was funny so we kept doing it for awhile.
Now that he has hair, we finally have something to brush. The first couple of days we brushed his hair it kind of tickled and brought a big smile to his face. When he is offered the brush now he will hold it and take it to his head like he is trying to brush his hair. Sometimes he just hits his head, other times he does make the sweeping motion.
Ralph pretty much has bye-bye mastered. He'll wave to Mike when he leaves in the morning, he'll wave to the people at daycare when I pick him up to leave, (as soon as I pick him up, way before he even has he's coat on), he'll wave to Mike when he's on his way to bed.
