July is Warm so pool time!

Michael kept developing fevers after swimming at the local YMCA last month.  Our neighbor with a pool has graciously allowed us to use it whenever we want.  To Steven that means everyday and Michael is in complete agreement.  Michael LOVES the water.  I have been trying to teach him to float on his back as a safety measure.  He can do it, but he keeps turning over to belly and hasn't figured out how to flip back.  When we are holding him, he tries to push out of our arms to go forward, BUT he doesn't close his mouth so ends up with water going in the wrong places.  Doesn't stop him at all.  No fear.  Now I understand why drowning is the number one accidental death in children besides MV accidents.  We shall just keep on trying and feel good about it being the neighbors pool behind a locked gate and not a body of water in our own yard.  He hasn't figured out we have a pond yet (can't get to that part of the yard crawling) and will need to drain in before he does.  Have to wait for the million of tadpoles to evacuate first.

So he pretty much has crawling down though he still gets pretty tired holding head up so tends to keep it down and crawl into objects.  owwwwie.  He signs he has a hurt when he does it.  It is totally cute even though you are trying to kiss the tears at the same time.  You can tell when he gets tired as head drops and the chances of him just falling sideways increase.  He is cruising the furniture and using his toy walker.  We even take it shopping.  He doesn't get too far as he stops a lot to touch.  He grabbed an apple the other day and just bit into it before I could grab it back.  Some people get impatient with us but I keep him behind my cart and to the side so they could get by and honestly I don't care. I don't say anything to them but smile. Unhappy people need to see happiness, negativity just reinforces their behavior.   The majority of people stop and tell him good job, which sometimes make Michael let go of walker to try and clap causing him to drop to butt.  He just hasn't figured out he can't stand on his own with no support.  I have a very determined little guy who just keeps trying.  His therapist always tell me what a great job I am doing with Michael.  Really it is Michael.  He just doesn't stop trying.

So really the only goal I had for July was whistle blowing and he got there.  He has started to say a couple words but we haven't heard him repeat them except for eat.  Since eating is his favorite thing, I am not surprised that word stuck around.  Words tend to be a surprise and then forgotten.  Peppa Pig said, "wow" and Michael said, "Wow, wow, wow" right after.  He hasn't said wow again though even when we say it.  He will always make the sssss sound though if you ask him what a snake says, and he will do a dog and monkey as well.  He will also make his explosion sound when asked what an explosion sounds like.  Uncle Steven is responsible for that one.

So now we are at the end of July and moving into August.  Michael is 18 months old and getting into everything he can reach.  Gates up all over.  Our house is full of happiness with this little guy even when he is not.  We have hit the "Pay Me Attention" phase and when I get on the phone he throws a fit.  Makes working difficult at times or talking to friends to get information.  Oh well.   Not much different from the older boys there ;).