2010-03-28: License plate numbers

Nigel was running back and forth between the cars in the driveway, pointing at their license plates. Dad started saying the numbers as Nigel pointed at them, and Nigel thought that was hilarious. He laughed so loudly each time that neighbors across the street heard him and started laughing, too.

2010-03-19: Saying words, counting and looking at tents

There are not many words Nigel will not try to say, and most get a good rendition. He says the names of almost all his Aunts and Uncles, Grammy, and other family members. Mom and Dad can no longer keep track of all the objects Nigel recognizes, there are now so many.

Mom counts with Nigel's toes before putting on his socks in the morning. Nigel enjoys practicing counting with Mom or Dad while going up or down the stairs. He likes to take the stairs on his feet, rather than crawling, and only needs a finger or two to hold. After practicing at home, with six stairs on the upper set and seven on the lower, Nigel was walking up the stairs at Kirkham's Outdoor Products with Dad, and immediately after Dad said "seven", Nigel said "eight", then "nine" and "ten", unprompted. Mom and Dad were very surprised! Dad had no idea Nigel even knew those numbers, let alone where they came in order.

The family was looking at getting a new tent for camping during the summer, and Nigel had a great time climbing in and out of the tents and shelters, and running around. He found stickers on the water jugs, put his hands up against the mesh windows, and practiced rolling inside tents. Dad was getting anxious to go camping. Mom and Dad have been planning the first trip of the year, either to Goblin Valley or to Moab and Arches National Park.

2010-03-13: Nigel vocabulary update

Recent additions to Nigel's vocabulary:
Blanket
Shark
Truck
Goose
Pigeon
Two
Six
Bus
Beep beep
Noodle
Sizzle (or a good try at it)
Crayon
Color

Less recent additions:
Wheel
Car
Whale
Cheese
Milk (signed or spoken)
Up
Down
Apple
Banana
Bear
Bird
Side (as in outside, inside or other side, when breastfeeding)
Cracker (of course)
Hat
Train
Choo-choo
and others...

2010-03-11: Danna, Austin and Ashley

Mom worked today, so Dad got up with Nigel this morning. Nigel actually slept later than Dad did today - Dad may have woken Nigel up, rather than the other way around. Nigel went to Danna's house while Dad went to work. Nigel is always sad when Dad or Mom leave him with someone else, but he has gotten more and more accustomed to being at Danna's house over the past several months. Nigel plays with with Danna's children, Ashley and Austin. Austin and Nigel are good friends, and they all have a lot of fun together. Dad came to pick up Nigel after work, and Nigel ran over and gave Dad a big hug, but then turned around and went back to playing with the other kids. They giggled and played for a few minutes while Dad talked with Danna, then it was time to go. Dad had to pull Nigel out of Ashley's car (Nigel particularly enjoys playing in cars) to leave, but he wasn't upset, just having fun where he was.

Dad and Nigel stopped on the way home to pick up a pizza for dinner (mushrooms, olives and pineapple--Dad and Nigel are eating vegetarian). Nigel was very hungry, and at first ate every part of the pizza. Then, as he got more full, he got more picky, and started eating only the saucy under-crust. He ate one entire slice, then three more slices of just crust! Dad was happy to take care of the toppings that Nigel didn't eat.

Nigel and Dad played the rest of the night. There was plenty of roly-poly time on the couch, and Nigel practiced his rolling (he says roll while rolling, and enjoys being helped along, laughing as he goes). Blocks, balls, and cars were all played with. Dad showed Nigel about 'yellow' (which Nigel said) and 'green' (which Nigel did not say). Nigel said "ready, go" numerous times while playing with a wind-up car.

"Ready, go" is what they always say when practicing peeing in the potty. Right now, it is Dad peeing in the potty, and Nigel helping by saying, "Ready, go," along with Dad, but this morning, Dad took off Nigel's diaper and held him up over the potty, and Nigel did get a drop out! An excellent start to peeing in the potty!

Mom came home just as bedtime was beginning. The bedtime routine involves reading a couple of stories every night, and Nigel really enjoys story-time.

2010-03-07: Muffins and the Drum Bus

Mom came home from work in the morning and went to sleep soon afterward. Dad and Nigel played in the toy room with Rokenbok toys, then went to church together. At church, there was a magician for the older kids, but the pre-schoolers played in their classroom through most of the service. Nigel has been reading "If You Give a Moose a Muffin" a lot lately ("muhhin"), and finally got to eat a muffin during snack time at church. He recognized it immediately. At the end of the service, the pre-schoolers went outside to the Drum Bus, where there was a drum for each child, and an instructor led everyone in drumming games. Nigel seemed to have as much fun driving the bus and saying "beep, beep" as he did drumming, which took a little bit of time for him to get used to, but he certainly did some great drumming once he got the idea. Nigel loves to point out wheels on vehicles (steering or otherwise), and said "wheel" for Grandpa while he was over helping Dad.

2010-03-06: Shark and bike

Nigel woke up very happy at 6:30, playing in his crib for several minutes by himself. He started calling out "shark," and Dad went in to bring the shark to him, and to get him up. They looked at sandals for Nigel, then took the train downtown to Discovery Gateway, a children's museum. Nigel played with many different things, but liked the vehicles the best. Train home, then Dad went for a ride on Brandon's (Blaire) bullet bike. Nigel said "bike," pointing at Dad's bicycle in the garage. The night before (2010-03-05), Nigel learned to say "clock".