Jack @ 26 Months

Jack has adjusted well to our new home. It didn’t really phase him, it seems, expect for a couple of days in which he refused to take a nap. I’m finding it to be a little more challenging, being alone with the two kids much of the day, so it’s always nice when Mom comes over.

Jack has learned the Toddler Rules of Ownership:

1. If I like it, it’s mine.
2. If it’s in my hand, it’s mine.
3. If I can take it from you, it’s mine.
4. If I had it a little while ago, it’s mine.
5. If it’s mine, it must never appear to be yours in any way.
6. If I’m doing or building something, all the pieces are mine.
7. If it looks just like mine, it’s mine.
8. If I think it’s mine, it’s mine.
9. If it’s yours and I steal it, it’s mine.

I’m not sure where he even picked it up, but he’s started yelling “MINE!” as he takes things from Emily. He can’t stand for her to have anything, and it sends him into paroxysms of screaming and flopping around on the floor. You know when you pull a fish out of the water onto the ground and it starts flopping around? It’s exactly like that.

He gets a thrill out of doing things for himself, and has developed a sense of humor, regularly doing silly things just for the fun of it and to get a laugh. He is a big fan of Play-Doh, and I like it too so we bought a big kit that has lots of shapes to cut out and we have a good time playing with it. His funniest word these days is Ding-Gonkers – and I like to give him graham crackers just to hear him say it.