Quinn Growing Up Too

We were at lunch last week and a person said that Quinn was quite independent.   I'm not sure how he could tell that in such short observation, but it is hard to argue.    And while Quinn's "independence" is a bit different than Liam's these days, I guess it is all relative.

Quinn likes things his way.  He doesn't have much tolerance for being told no and can throw one heck of a tantrum.  The biggest battle these days is about his darn bottle and the quest to transition him to a sippy cup. Somehow at school they seem to have moved him to a cup, but at home it is still not happening.  Perhaps we are too soft, but those fits are just too much to take after a while.

At lunch last week he was all smiles and happy because I let him stand on the chair while eating his hot dog and fries.   He felt like he was a 'normal' kid as he didn't have a high-chair or anything that would constrain his mobility.  He doesn't care that it wasn't the safest thing and most parents were probably cursing me -- especially when I left him there to go pick up food and drinks. 

Quinn contorts his body in all directions when he isn't happy and makes it very hard to hold him.  And when you give up and let him onto the floor he will just drop to his back.. slam his head on ground.. and roll around like a mad man.   It is a bit out of Poltergeist or maybe Exorcist.   It all seems a bit over the top to get milk in a bottle instead of a cup, but he seems to think it is worth it.

Communication is starting to appear for him and not always via tantrum.  Hopefully as this develops a bit more, we can avoid some of the battles.  Like Liam, we are trying to do some sign language with him and he is certainly getting it ---  I think we worked on "more" too much as he does that sign a lot and usually when he is trying to get a bottle.   Hopefully we can get him to recognize difference and start to do sign for "milk" when he wants a drink, "eat" when he is hungry, "more", and maybe even "thank you".   Seems a ways off now, but he is doing more and more of that.

He isn't talking per se, but he certainly makes sounds that are similar to those we'd make for things like "bye-bye".   He does a good job waving and even started to blow a kiss.   Speaking of kisses, this is something he is also starting to do and was making out with some toy last night (but that is a different story) -- he does a very open mouthed kiss, but it is very cute.   

As we get through Xmas, it has been very neat to see him light up when he sees Christmas lights like those on trees across the street.  He really seems to love them!  He also seems to know that Santa is a good guy and fixates on him whenever he appeared at mall, sidewalk, or on TV.   Funny how he can already sense that being friends with the jolly fat guy can pay huge dividends.

So while he is a challenge, he is certainly getting a bit easier to be around.  He still climbs a bit more than we'd like, but he is also more stable with it most of the time.   Unfortunately he still manages to take a couple tumbles when he (and I) get overconfident in his abilities.