Almost There

I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. We're getting there...

There're a few areas of XX's development which is 'work-in-progress'. One is his toilet training, the other, his saliva control.

He's been pooping in the toilet bowl for at least 6 months now and can tell us when he wants to go 'ng ng'. But when it comes to urinating, he's still not telling us he needs to pee. We try to let him go without diapers at home and let him pee into the potty, but accidents often occur, especially when we're busy. I admit that we're not consistent at times when we leave him in his diapers after we go out or when we're busy. One friend suggested doing a 3-day intensive training which involves bringing him to the potty at regular intervals, until he gets the idea that "Peeing = Potty". I tried that with the help of a timer. We'll reset the timer every 20 mins and when the buzzer goes off, we'll bring XX to the potty. The timer really helps to minimize accidents as it remind us as when we're busy and forgot the time.

However after 3 days, I did not see any significant improvement. XX still doesn't go to us when he wants to pee. Nonetheless, I continued this routine for another 2 more days. Recently, however, we noticed that XX's bladder control seemed to have improved. He still doesn't tell us when he wants to pee but even though we don't use the timer anymore, XX is able to control his urine until we bring him the potty, which is usually more than the 20 mins interval. There have also been a few isolated occasions where he actually said he wants to pee. It was after a little pee came out, but at least he kept most of it back and only lets go when we bring the potty to him. He seems to be getting the idea already!

The other aspect of his development is his saliva control. Since 4 months old, XX has been drooling. We often have to wash as many as 8 - 10 bibs every night. But recently, we noticed that he's been staying dry. There's still drool, but there's no need for bibs or at least he doesn't soak up as many as before. I'm really glad that we can do away with this nightly ritual of washing his bibs. I used to joke that it doesn't matter how cute or how branded his clothes are, cos with his big wet bib hanging in front, people can't see at all. Now, we can at last 'show off' a little....:-p

XX's vocabulary is building faster than houses in Australia. Although he can't speak very clearly, it's not stopping him from talking or blabbering. Any words that you throw at him, he will try to repeat it, of course, not very accurately. He can also understand us perfectly, so many times we'll ask him questions to know what he wants. With this improved communication ability, we're having an easier time understanding his needs.

But we're not having an easy time understanding his mood swings. Are these the symptoms of the 'terrible twos'? I can't remember KK having such tantrums when he was little. When XX is in a bad mood, which can happen when things doesn't go his way, he can be very tempermental and difficult to handle. He will just stand or sit wherever he is and refuse to budge. If you pull him away or carry him off, he'll scream and make a hell lot of fuss. And once he's pissed off, nothing you do or say is right. Everything you ask him you'll get "No" for an answer. It's crazy, especially when we're outside.

He's also pretty possessive. Every toy the brother plays, he'll want the same. He's learnt a new word recently and has been using it a lot. This word is "mine". At this age, he doesn't know about sharing and everytime we ask him to share, he's not the least embarrassed to say a definite "NO". Very often, KK will be asked to give in, which leads him to complain it's not fair. Sigh, that is another headache we have to deal with each day and it's gonna increase in frequency, I'm quite sure about it.

There's one area of XX which I'm still waiting for salvation. That of his holding of hands, or more specifically my thumb, when he sleeps. Now he'll tell me 'hand, hand' when he wants it in the middle of the night. Like those children who needs the pacifier or their bolster to fall asleep, XX needs to hold hands to fall asleep. I've tried giving him the 'cold shoulder', literally turning my back to him, but he'll complain so much and start pulling your arm to get the hand, it's not funny.

Ok, got to go, the boy's woken up from his nap and I may be needed...rather, my hands are needed.