When did he learn that?

Toddlers are little sponges. They absorb new words, skills, and expressions so quickly. As parents, we try to teach them positive words, productive skills, and feelings that foster independence and compassion. Jackson takes in most all of what we try to teach him, but he also constantly shows us something randomly amazing that he has learned. Sometimes it makes us question when we have done that and how we act. Other times we want to give him a pat on the back for problem solving or drawing conclusions on his own. And many times I feel a small bit of pride followed by sadness, sadness that these are all signs my little boy is growing up. Any way though, the older he gets the more I find myself asking "where did he learn that?"

On New Year's Eve we were out for an early New Years Eve dinner. We were waiting around for the check and Jackson was getting antsy. He had his toy train with him so we let him down to walk around the table. He spent a few minutes going up to each of us and saying hi then pushing his train. Although there was no one in any of the tables next to us, Jackson wanted to start going across the isle. I stood in front of him, trying to be a blockade. My stance was wide, my arms were down to seem even bigger. I side stepped left, right, left a few times to get in his way, when all of a sudden...he kneeled to the ground and CRAWLED UNDER MY LEGS! His determination and ability to assess the situation absolutely stunned me! I about died laughing and had to give him some credit.

We were sitting on the family room floor trying to match colored heart cards (we are still struggling with colors). I asked to find a purple heart. His reaction...."ummm....ummm" while calmly looking side to side as if in deep thought. His head tilted slightly and his eyes looked off to the side. He was deep in thought on this complex question I had just posed. He truly seemed to be considering the question and look at the  cards...for a bit. But when he started to notice I was smiling at him in extreme wonder he exaggerated it a bit. He knew exactly what he was doing! When he finally picked a card it was a purple one, were still working on colors.

It was one of those dinner nights where you have a little bit of everything, whatever is in the fridge. One of the foods was broccoli. He finished a helping and surprised us by very clearly stating "more broccoli." I had no idea that word was in his vocabulary! And how amazing that he wanted more of it!

Trying to complete a long winter break list of cleaning/organizing, I was tackling our overwhelming tupperware/bowl/storage containers/baking pans cabinet. Jackson noticed I was sorting and putting objects away and proceeded to organize some containers on the floor himself. When I called my husband in to give him tour of the new cabinet I opened with "Soooo." Well Jackson, right in stride next to me and immediately repeated this. "Sooo, soooo" as he went to the cabinet, took a few things out and put others back in. He would sit on the ground, stand back up and go back and forth to the cabinet all the while repeating "soooo."

Jackson was playing with his Legos when he accidentally ripped the idea sheet. He insisted I fix it then, saying mess and uh oh. I went to the kitchen to get tape, leaving the drawer open while I stood there to fix it. All of a sudden Jackson had pink Post-it's in his hand. How'd he get them? He had to of reached up and over the side of the open drawer and grabbed in it. I asked him to put them back, sure enough he did it with ease. Now it was Mom's turn to say uh oh!! He has since been able to put his cup up on the counter and try to take items he spots within reach. When did our little boy grow to reach the counter?

Caught him putting the water on the counter

We were at my Grandmas house and Jackson was going through all the books in the basket. He had it emptied and proceeded to put his Disney characters in it. When they were all cozy inside, Jackson picked up the basket, put the handle over his arm and said "bye" to my Grandma and I. When we asked where he was going..."shopping, bye."