girlfiend

When I last posted about the Fiendling I was distraught. I didn’t recognize him anymore and didn’t know how to help him. I was scared I’d lost him. Just a few days after the 27month update he came around. A few good days in a row led to a few more. Since then we’ve had some typical toddler meltdowns, nastiness and tantrums, but my sweet boy has returned. Boyfiend and I agree that he pretty much stopped developing and regressed during the first five weeks of the baby’s life. By week six, the Fiendling’s brain kicked back in and now his vocabulary, sentence structure, and ability to communicate returned full force.

He uses pronouns properly now and corrects himself if he accidentally says, ‘carry you’ instead of ‘carry me.” His sentences have grown more complex and he’s often unintentionally hilarious saying things like, “No I won’t say cheese, I’m playing with trains,” when we try to take his picture. Now he’s getting too smart for us and we have to be careful about what we say around him. It’s not just that he repeats what he hears, it’s that he’s able to draw conclusions. He knows who we’re speaking with on the phone and can figure out what plans we’re making. He also knows when we find something funny and tries to repeat it.

One night he was running around naked after his bath and Boyfiend was taking pictures and videos. Of course he peed on the floor. It didn’t occur to either of us to put a diaper on him as I cleaned up the mess and Boyfiend continued to record him running in circles around the train table and playing with his trains. In mid-recording I looked up and realized he was peeing on the floor again. We laughed and laughed. The next night after his bath Boyfiend tried to get him in a diaper. The Fiendling yelled, “No! I’m going to run and pee on the rug.”

The Fiendling is much better with the baby, even helping me burp him and change diapers. He’s been gentle and understands that he’s not supposed to hit, kick or bite the baby, though he does climb on him and squish him a bit now and again. He’s also been much better with me and tells me he loves me and gives me kisses unprompted.

He sings to himself often, sometimes even in tune. His repertoire consists mainly of songs from Thomas the Tank Engine though Baby Beluga has been a recent favorite. He plays imaginatively for real now, and his trains talk to each other and even argue- “No, I’m not a green engine, I’m a blue engine.” or “Don’t pull this tender, it’s my tender, not your tender.”

His favorite activity is still playing with trains but he loves the playground and the sprinklers and the library. He loves to run, and will run around the block rather than walk or ride in the stroller.

He’s still bossy, telling me to stop singing or stop talking when he’s tired, cranky or just wants my undivided attention. He’s also still a toddler which means he’s unpredictable and insists on doing things all by himself which leads to screams and tantrums.

He’s so big. He’s lost his baby roundness- he’s now this sticky, dirty, skinny little boy running around with skinned knees demanding cookies and popsicles.

But he’s back. He’s sweet and smart and funny and lovable, and spending time with him is fun again.