Fun with Jet Tub

It's practically a swimming pool for him! And the thrill of the bubbles multiplying in jets was so much for DHH.

Potentially Embarrassing Photos for Big Brother

Its really rare to see these two in the tub together these days.  Elsa always wants to get out when he is getting in because they have a hard time cooperating with sharing tub space and tub toys.  Here's a rare glimpse of a happy bath over-lap.

More Sister Love Evidence!

Daniel really IS affectionate with his sister.  He barely gives her a moment's peace! The children are getting to large to fit in the small tub together, but that doesn't mean they have distinct bath times... they kind of mesh together.  I am happy to see they love each other so much!

New Toy - More Bath Time Fun!

Nana's friend Miss Sue bought a special gift for Daniel.  Its a toy boat that floats and scoops water.  (Its also made of recycled plastics!)  He really enjoyed scooping the water in this bath time because the more he scooped, the more the bubbles frothed up!

Look of concentration!

Working.

 Bath time is a serious time for Daniel.  He has a lot of work to accomplish, and usually just 20 minutes to do it in (we have to draw the line somewhere.  He just loves his baths and could go for an hour!)

 Most of his duties include transferring water from one container to the next.  He has been doing something like this since about 9 months old, but recently he has been more intent and much more proficient at it.

Shower!

Daniel has loved showers for over six months.  He doesn't get the chance to take many, but he loves to tell us about the shower head and use big gestures to demonstrate what he is thinking.  Here are some photos I took of him while he was pretending to shower.  I put him in there so I could tidy up the bathroom and keep him out of the way... but he stayed in long after I was done!

Note: He still calls the shower a "Sha!!!!".  He does recognize that its also a bath tub, but he points to the lower faucet and says bath like  "bab" or "bah" or "bat".

Bath Time Show Off

Bathing is still one of Daniel's most fun activities. 

 Usually the scene looks  like this:

Daniel gets scrubbed by his father for about two minutes, and then spends over ten minutes playing with bath toys.  He especially likes playing with these cups and transferring water from one cup to the other.

He only lays down when I come in and then he starts some monkeyshine business.  He bats his eyes, pretends to sleep, giggles, beams with a big smile, and acts so sweetly silly.

He could play this game for hours.  But usually the bathwater gets chilly and his dad grows tired of this super long bath routine, and we are ready to move on to jammie and story time.

Current Daniel Past times

Bathing.  He knows the word bath and gets very excited about bathing just as soon as he has finished dinner.  He points to the bath and runs into the bathroom.  He spends much of his time filling up bottles and cups and transferring water from one container to another.  He really likes the nesting cups we have that have different hole patterns on the bottom and enjoys watching the water run out of them.


Library - We attend a story time for new walkers at the library once a week.  He really enjoys walking around in the library, pointing to the art and clocks, and then trying to get to the play center.  He enjoys the story times less.  I think the other children are distracting.  He likes when there are stories, finger plays, and songs, but he gets too distracted by the other kids anytime puppets are involved or there is a sing and dance time with a CD.  He points to the exit and tries to leave!  He spends a lot of time playing at the library's toddler kitchen and doing their puzzles.  We do not often read at the library because there are too many fun things to see that we don't have have home (lots of books at home!).


Drumming- Daniel makes most objects into drums.  We have several old formula cans and oatmeal canisters that he uses. He lines up various sizes and plays on them with a plastic mallet and a wooden chopstick.  He enjoys making different pitches of sound, but has only mastered one volume - LOUD.  He also keeps a constant beat and does not deviate into erratic rhythms or songs.


TV - Lately, Daniel has slept through Curious George at 7 AM, so he doesn't have that show to delight him.  We usually watch an episode of Sesame Street every day, usually from DVD and from the 70s.  He enjoys the muppets and the number cartoons. I think he pays attention for about 15 minutes at a time, then does something else, then comes back to it.  He also enjoys Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, but since we don't have cable, he can only watch if we get it on DVD or he is at my parents' house.  He really enjoys dancing to the Hot Dog Dance at the end of the show.


Nesting Cubes - He started to play with six boxes that we got as a Christmas gag gift (all wrapped inside another with a present in the very last box).  He likes putting them inside each other, stacking them, taking lids off and on, and putting objects inside the boxes and then trying to find them.  This holds his attention for a VERY long time.


Reading - Usually we read four times a day, but Daniel sometimes goes to get books on his own and reads them to himself.  He especially likes to read books to himself that have animals (cute, furry ones like kittens or monkeys) inside.  He brings us books that he wants to read, and he helps us pick out three books for before bed time and naps.  He often wants to start his day, even before diaper change and breakfast, by reading books.


Laughing - He makes himself laugh by tickling his belly.  He laughs when other people laugh.  He laughs at stuffed animals.  He laughs at the TV.  He laughs so often.  We sometimes encourage the laughter with tickles and silly games, and he LOVES this.  He loves chase games, sneak up on another person games, and wrestling games that are ticklish in nature.  


Pretty much, his other hobbies of sleeping, pointing, dancing and singing, and jabbering, eating and looking for snacks, watching the washing machine, and playing with my hair fixing accessories are the same as in the last three months.

Dad's Summer Bath Time Idea

It was Dan's idea for an outdoor bath, not mine.  I thought it was a little too hoosier, even for us.  However, Daniel found the whole experience to be delightful.

He really likes baths, so this one outside with the hose! was just a blast for him.

He is trying to catch the water droplets here.

What a good idea, dad!