Milestones

Every month I receive an email from some parenting website about what my child "should" be doing in regards to development. The emails can really throw a parent into a panic. Most of the time I don't read them because when I've done so in the past I thought my child was either a genius, or should be receiving psychological help. Neither of course were true. Lately however I've been paying closer attention to Jack's development. He doesn't use many words yet, although he clearly understands EVERYTHING we say, so I thought I would give this email a read.

Here are the milestones:

• At 20 months, your child should be able to run, though not as smoothly as he'll be able too later. - CHECK - He's mastered this, although he's 33lbs, what do you expect when you take a corner too fast and you're a little top heavy.
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  He may also go up stairs by himself - CHECK - Does opening the baby gate, walking up the stairs, and opening my bedroom door while I'm on a work conference call count for advanced skills?
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  He can probably kick a ball - CHECK - The word probably is a joke. If anybody knows Jack that's "probably" his BEST skill.
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  Small children frequently resort to hitting, pushing, biting, tugging, and other frowned-on actions- CHECK - The four little teeth marks on Nate's arm are proof of Jack's mad skills.
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  Takes off own clothes -Really??? I can barely get my 4 year old take off his clothes. We'll need to work on this one.
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  Washes and dries own hands with help(An advanced skill)- CHECK - He does wash and dry dishes, and of course wants NO help.
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  Dumps an object in imitation, such as garbage. - CHECK. Although I wish it would make it into the garbage. Usually it's a bowl of spaghetti on the kitchen floor or a box of dry rice.

I'm tempted to write back to BabyCenter.com and say where do these toddler milestones fit in?

• Can unlock a baby latch, pull out the liquid soap and proceed to squeeze it all over the kitchen floor.....at 6AM. (Now that's true talent)
• Can open a complicated tupperware bin with 300 stickers inside and scatter them across the carpet.
• Can fill a bucket of water and dump it over the side of the bathroom tub in zero to 20 seconds.
• Can throw dangerous objects like a fork or a hard baseball and hit someone with amazing accuracy, but has a hard time using his spoon.
• Can smear peanut butter into crevices that you didn't know a solid square table has.
• Can cry, I mean blood curdling scream at the top of his lungs for 3 straight hours on a 4 hour car trip. (I would imagine this level of persistance must be a predictor for future success.)
• Can set an alarm on the clock radio for 2:30AM on full volume. (He must be Doug's son with a love for high tech toys.)

Jack is a true joy. His michief is worth everthing we get in return. He's kind to other children and has a silly sense of humor. He loves music and dances with his arms in the air. He's truly gentle to dogs, and hasn't met one he doesn't love. The first thing he does in the morning is stand in Nate's doorway and wave hello, (even though Nate is sleeping). It's not enough to carry around one blanket, Jack needs to carry at least three at a time.

When I write about him, it makes me so happy! I love you Jack. xoxo