Boasting

You know that I'm pretty pleased with just about every aspect of Isaac. (He could improve his ability to fall asleep on his own, however.) In addition to writing about his all-around coolness, I thought I'd sum up a few recent cool things he has done. I don't know when these things are supposed to happen, developmentally speaking, but they are cool anyway!

• He is fundamentally toilet trained. It was all voluntary, very smooth sailing, beginning when he got his new underpants. He still wears a diaper to bed at night, and sometimes during his nap, but the rest of the time he wears underpants. I knew he had succeeded in making the transition when he began asking, "Am I wearing a diaper or underpants?" With this new awareness, he hasn't had an accident for many weeks.

• He can sing in tune. This ability developed so gradually that I can't remember a time when he couldn't do it, although apparently it was less than eight months ago. I didn't even realize it was remarkable until his Music Together teacher pointed it out, sounding rather impressed. She was singing a few notes in call-and-response form as the kids put the instruments away, and Isaac was absently copying her. (I don't think he knew he was doing it, because he doesn't usually sing in class.)

• He can rhyme. If I give him a word, he can provide a rhyme or two for it -- cow and plow, duck and truck, pig and big rig. (Yes, those are all vehicle-related. Welcome to my world.) I think a lot of the rhymes are examples I've previously provided for him, but he definitely understands the principle -- once he runs out of real words, he can make up a nonsense word that rhymes. (That strikes him as even funnier.) And if we're reading a book with a rhyme in it, he points it out.

• He can tell a story. Previously when I've told him a story, I've prompted him to fill in a few key aspects -- what color is his new Prius, for example, or where does he want to drive it? But recently I was telling him the story about the new Prius, and when I asked him where he wanted to drive, he hijacked the story completely. He told me that he drove the Prius to Yosemite, where he put on his footy pajamas and threw rocks into the river. He looked mighty pleased that he had made up this narrative all on his own.
  

And what about his physical accomplishments? Clearly I'm not as tuned in to those. A few days ago, he voluntarily climbed into a wading pool for the first time ever, but I guess that's more of a temperamental accomplishment. I really should pay more attention to his ever-improving running, jumping, throwing, and so forth.
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