Otso's 34th Month

Summary
This month consisted of the trip to Finland (and his first week without äiti), and then start of a new barnehage year. He seems stressed with the changes and we see some significant separation anxiety.

Learning/Development
He can count consistently to 5 and maybe a bit higher (but not consistently). For example, if we ask "how many apples are there?" he will count the apples and report the number.

Language
He still copies most things that Lumi says.
The final "n" doesn't come easily (e.g. ice keem, lightning mckeem).
When they came back from "kielikylpy" (language bath) in Finland, Otso's finnish vocabulary is definitely expanded. English is still dominant but there are words that come in Finnish first (and some that he doesn't really know in English yet).
He seems more verbal than before, especially with us. It is very important to him that he tells us what is going on (even if we already know). He also really knows his colors in English now and he likes to inform us about what colors things are.
Phrase of the summer : "I did a maali!" (maali = goal)
7.8 when he didn't like something, he said "ei oo kiltisti".

After dinner he has been politely thanking us with a blended expression : "Kiitos for maten!"


Toys/Games/Other
Favorite toys: cars (especially the racing track at the mökki), little figures, balls, Pikku Myy game
He's getting better and better at memory games. He even tried to trick Vaari by telling him a pair was in a certain place, when he knew it wasn't.
He still loves the Fantorangen app.
8.8 we rented a Dora video from the library and he loves it. He shouts along where you are supposed to.

Social
The kids and Kimmo were in Finland for a week without äiti. This is the longest yet without äiti. It went well, especially in Nakkila where Mummu was there to guide and provide extra love.
He started in the "big kids" group, Mango, at barnehage.
He seems to be experiencing significant separation anxiety and cries like hell when äiti or isä leaves, or when we drop him off at barnehage.

Eating
Favorite foods: watermelon
He isn't eating the summer peas in Nakkila, but is happily eating everything else.
6.8 first milkshake (McDonald's)
15.8: Happily drinking milk : "this tastes like ice cream!" Minutes later, happily eating ice cream : "this tastes like watermelon!"


Sleeping
Some days he goes without a nap and it's not too bad (though he can be really cranky in the evening). If it works for our schedule, perhaps we will stop the nap on the weekends.
He is, however, back in the crib. He seems comfortable and safe there. We have had a couple incidences where we didn't get there fast enough to take him out and he peed in the crib in the morning (standing up by the side).

Health
first week of August: wetting his pants at barnehage a lot. They are implementing a system where he has to try every hour and hopefully this will fix it.
He is refusing sleep a lot and shouting "not tired!" right at bedtime. He also really wants äiti to stay with him.

Stats
Clothes: size 98/104. Shoes: 26.

Teeth: all 20! the last one came through sometime in the last week of July (right upper second molar)
Weight: 15.8 kg on 31.7
Height: 93.5 cm on 1.5

Events
23.7 trip to Heureka science museum
24.7 äiti left, travel to nakkila
29.7 MuuMaa
30.7 drive back to Helsinki
31.7 fly home
1.8 back to barnehage!
5.8 äiti's birthday (out to dinner)
7.8 very rainy picnic in the park with lumi's friends
14.8 suomikerho
20.8 Mela festival

Random
4.8 (to äiti as she was running the food processor) : "you are doing loud!"  4.8 "what's going on?"

6.8 when checking out a Christmas movie at the library, he pointed to Santa 's sleigh and asked "where are the kangaroos?"
A: what?
L: he means reindeer.
A: otso, are you asking about Santa's reindeer?
O: Yes.

He has a new-ish habit of cupping someones face with his hands. Often this is how he wakes äiti up -- by gently but firmly grabbing her face.

15.8 when i was trying to soothe him and remind him of all the people who love him (Äiti, Isä, Lumi, grandparents, cousins, etc) he enjoyed the recitation of the names but then after i finished the list of family members he kept going like this: "... and my blanket loves me, my hair loves me, my shirt loves me, ..."