Griffin and the Apologetic Update.

First, let me apologize to everyone seeing this via RSS, I don't know why blogspot reposted them all.

I realize that I haven't updated this blog in a long time. Christmas came and went, and every month after I meant to continue this page, but the longer I went, the larger the job. If you will forgive me, I will continue as if nothing has changed.

Watching Griffin is fascinating. I can actually see him learning as he goes about his day. In the beginning of December, he was just beginning to learn the alphabet. Now he knows several words (and along with them, concepts), and seems to come up with a new one every day. He knows a few letters, shapes, and recognizes numbers.

I revel in his love of music, and making it with his toys. He has his two xylophones, of course, but he also uses pots and pans, the tables, his own body. I have become nearly immune to the racket he can produce. We will go into the kitchen, and I will cook something.. his lunch, or dinner. He will get a pan out of the cabinet, and bang on it with spoons, or his hands. He has a DVD of Stomp, that he watches over and over again, sometimes playing with them. He is a big fan of percussion, but he also likes other instruments, loving to watch people play the violin, or playing with his own pennywhistle. I know that not many other people can stand to hear the incessant clanging and banging, but I have a lot of patience because Griffin clearly has a passion for it.

With March comes a cessation to the snow, ice, and general evil. While we've brought him out a few times in the warmer weather, I can't wait until it gets to be summer, or even late spring. The return of sane weather and a loss of soggy ground will allow family outings of a more athletic nature. Kicking his ball around outside, swimming in the pool, meeting and chasing ducks in the park.. everything and anything to get out of the confines of the house.

Griffin has started to test my resolve, and we've begun a battle of stamina. I will win, but it will not be easy. His father is involved in this too, of course, but I see Griffin during most of his 'testing' time during the day, so I get the brunt of it. I don't mind this testing, because it does indicate that he's able to accept and understand boundaries and a little consequences for actions, such as having a toy taken away if he continues to bang on the television with it, and so on. Griffin also is capable and willing to tell me when he wants me to come and play with him, instead of just crying. I like this too.

When Griffin wants us to do something, he will attempt to move us to the place he wants us to go, or grab our hands and pull them to the object he wants us to interact with. For instance, he will routinely grab a finger, and pull it to a letter on a poster or a toy. When we say the name of the letter, he will move the finger to another one.. and so forth. Or if he wants to go outside and we're not getting his clever hints (such as bringing us his shoes), he'll move our hand to the doorknob.

Someday, he will speak English. Probably in full sentences, and that will make me very happy.

I promise to update regularly. For now, be well.
-Autumn