The months go by so quickly and Gabriel continues to learn new things every day. It's happening faster than I can up with these days. I try to jot down notes when I can to remember for later.
He loves to make you laugh and then he says "That's silly" or "That's funny" afterward. He has the best sense of humor. He is constantly trying to "tickle tickle". He likes knock knock jokes or when you mess up nursery rhymes.
He continues to follow Leah and Louis around and tries to be just like his big sis and big bro. He wants to be where they are and do everything they do. Louis copies Leah, Gabriel copies Louis. One after the other. It amazes me they all don't fight more but they just tolerate and love one another.
We're working on showing Gabriel how to be more gentle. He is definitely the roughest of our three kids. He is physically over the top with the things he does. Nothing is safe around him. If he wants it? He will get it. Whether it means moving a box, stool, chair, stacking toys one on top of another--he will get what he wants. He climbs what I would think is unclimbable but he proves me wrong.
The past month he has shown his more assertive side. Most of his phrases and the words he uses tend to be descriptive of his assertiveness, what he wants, what he needs. He does not take well to being told no. He will get upset and his face will pout up in one of the cutest pouts I have ever seen. It is hard not to just hug him and do whatever he wants. He will throw a tantrum like I've never seen. It usually happens when it is someone unfamiliar to him telling him he cannot have or do something. It doesn't happen often but when it does, he is nearly inconsolable. Knowing that he reacts this way has led us to be more sensitive to his needs and help him try to navigate his feelings a little better.
I often hear from others concerns that Gabriel is too attached to me. I tend to brush those comments off. I'm his mom. He spends all day with me. All night with me. Kind of expected but overall in the entire day? Really not the way people see it in those few moments they are around. He will go to me first when he is tired or upset but outside of that and his need to nurse/for comfort? He is typically on his own, running off and rarely looking back for me. He's very independent. He can go hours being in the house with people, with me around and never so much as look for me. It's an interesting growth to see in him--where as months ago I couldn't leave his sight without him freaking out.
He's very headstrong. And can be stubborn. But always sweet. He keeps me on my toes.
Developmental Milestones (via BabyCenter)
Mastered Skills (Most kids can do)
Uses six words regularly - Gabriel has about 4 or 5 words he uses regularly. A few phrases he uses more often like "Go Away" "That's mine" "I don't wanna."
Enjoys pretend games - Gabriel and Louis play pretend all day long. Pretend pirates, pretend kitchen, pretend daddy. They pretend to talk to one another on the phone.
Likes riding toys - He enjoys riding toys, usually sits backwards on them and pushed back on them.
Emerging Skills (half of kids can do)
Feeds doll - Gabriel loves to play with the "bebes" and he often brings them cups or has Louis nurse them. Or brings them to me to feed them.
Speaks more clearly - I've noticed over the past few weeks that the words he does say are more clearly understandable to others but overall it's still mostly the family at home that understands him best.
Throws a ball underhand - He loves to throw balls, well anything really.
Advanced Skills (a few kids can do)
Dances to music - Our favorite past time is our daily dance party. We have a few a day and Gabriel is the first to get up to dance.
Sorts toys by color, shape, or size - I've noticed that he likes to sort big and little things together but nothing specific to color or shape.
Kicks ball forward - Gabriel is a soccer fan in training. He loves to kick balls around, forward, to the side. He has taken to aiming his kicks too.
