Connections and independence

Matthew's main activity right now is making connections, it seems. Also, memorizing random things like which neighbors drive which vehicles.

For example, he has a book with a bunch of pictures of animals. Near the front is a porcupine. Near the back is a porcupine fish. One day, he excitedly flipped back and forth from one picture to the other. Then he ran to his room and got another book with a porcupine in it.

He has a tiny green four-wheeler toy. He was driving it around, stopped abruptly, then tried to ride on it, saying, "Cat Grandpa! In snow! Matt!" Apparently he remembered riding on the four-wheeler at the ranch in April with Grandpa.

When we go for strolls, Matt can identify which cars or trucks are missing from which houses. He'll point out, "No red car? No big pickup truck? Just Jeep." Or he'll tell me where he's pretty sure the vehicle has gone: "Pickup truck at grocery store. New blue bathmat." (They always go to work or the grocery store. If they go to the grocery store, they're always getting a new bathmat. Because, you know, we got a bathmat one time and it was exciting."

If he sees an Auburn logo, he'll say, "Just like Dada!"

Whenever we go to Walmart, Matthew shouts, "Front row!" when we're pulling into the parking lot. One time I said that excitedly, and now it's the thing to say when you go to Walmart.

If Sam starts fussing, Matt runs to get his pacifier. If Sam's awake but I say he seems sleepy, Matthew will say, "'Am go sleep in bas-net!" then sometimes try to bring the bassinet to me.

Some things Matt can do by himself now: Pee standing up without using a stool. Pull his own shorts and underwear down. Wash his hands, including getting the soap out of the dispenser. Use the bathroom faucets to get water in a cup. Use the outside water faucet. Move his stool around the house to reach things like Sam's sock box in his closet, the light switches, and food in the cupboard. Eat very well with a spoon and pretty well with a fork. Take his shirt off if he already has one arm out of a sleeve. Run for 20 minutes without stopping.

Some things Sam can do: Um... I guess I'll save that topic for a while from now.