Zach Does It Himself (Sorta)

This isn't news to most of you: 2 1/2 is the "I do myself" age. He's capable and ALMOST capable of doing a lot. He's VERY capable of going into the fridge and taking out stuff. Usually, it's an in-process sippy cup like water because he likes his water cold. Sometimes he gets the cup from the drawer, gets the milk (or water bottle), and brings it over to me. That one makes me nervous but we haven't had any spills...............yet. The other day he was being too quiet so I called for him. He had gotten into the fridge and I knew what he had been doing when I saw the rim around his lips and the coffee creamer in his hand (at least there was no spill there either). He loves helping pack the fridge on grocery day and going in the to get what he likes.

He's capable of cleaning up himself. That one is a nice trick. He enjoys making the mess so it became a necessity when Mommy and Daddy started making those toys disappear to the garage (the ones that were the most annoying that he was making the messes with as mentioned previously). He loves playing with and cleaning up his wooden blocks. Sometimes we will see him quietly playing in his room and check on him later and they will all be back in the basket. Important life skill!

His favorite thing though is dressing himself. He mostly mastered doing the bottom half (sometimes his underwear and pants are on backwards. It's in pictures below). He is getting frustrated in doing his shirt but is learning and determined to do it himself. I lay his cloths out for him now and let him do what he can but he still comes to me for help each day for something. The other day he did get a shirt on all by himself. The problem he has is when the shirt flips over after he gets one arm through he can't undo it. His Velcro straps on his sneakers are tricky but he's learning that too. That will be a BIG help when he can do that ........................ all by himself. Sometimes, he'll try to take it off bu sliding it down his body the same way I take my shower dress off. We're working on teaching him the right way to UNdress too.

That's why clothing is his favorite toy, he's still working on figuring it out. He has not interest in choosing the cloths but he loves putting it on. He'll go into his (neatly organized by Mommy) drawers and pull something out so he can dress himself. People always want to buy him toys for Christmas and he'll probably play with a few, but the cloths he'll get for Christmas will be something he'll enjoy exploring. Especially now that he's in Boys XS/S (4's I put 5's on the Christmas list) size 9 shoes and bigger underwear. The shoes and underwear I hoped to make it to Christmas but he always grows quickly in November (It's like the entire month is a growth spurt as a baby he was only in 6-9 month clothing for 6 weeks!) so he needed them this week. People keep telling me growth will slow down soon but I've heard that for a year. Now, they look at him and use less certain language.

As always he is helpful with what he can help with and apologizes if his help isn't helpful. He simply loves being capable. The other night Josh was with him but after Josh washed his hair, he scrubbed himself down to clean himself. It won't be long until he wants to do the hair too.

I love that he wants to do more himself. It's what's supposed to happen and I encourage him when he's struggling to be persistent. We help partially then encourage him to finish it. When he's older and away from us more that's what he'll have to do. He's learning how to learn. We are so proud of him!!!

On Backwards