* I was told that Tristan has begun to climb on dining room chairs and lie across them. I am looking out for this so I can get pictures.

* Tristan’s sick again. So are James and I this time. We all seem to be on the tail end of it. Tristan’s still cranky as shit. When he feels bad, he throws doozies over very insignificant things. Seriously, I think this evening he threw a 10 minute tantrum because (I think) I did not screw the cap onto his sippy cup and hand him the milk fast enough. I am proud that I managed to cart him off to his room before handing him said milk to let him get the screaming out of his system (and not teach him to scream to get things!). We’ve had a few more instances of him breaking down, in public and at home. I am sick of this aspect of toddlerhood.

* I am working the bugs out of myself; I am ill-equipped emotionally to handle toddler tantrums. They make me panic and need to escape.

* For the first time, he is showing interest when I point to stuff and say what it is. He actually seems to be studying it when I do that, rather than the typical disinterested look he usually sports when we try to get him to pay attention. He’s also been saying “Hi!” (or ahhhhhhhhhhhh! in Tristanese) upon hearing people approach, because he’s started doing that when he thinks we’re going to come get him from his crib.

* Tristan and daddy have had lots of fun playing with both Duplo and Clipo blocks together. Daddy puts them together and Tristan rips them apart and then puts them in the center of his gear toy to see if they spin.

* I don’t feel like we’re making much progress on the “Come with mommy/daddy” command. I feel like he understands it but is compelled to explore instead (or is being sweetly defiant? or is a typical toddler?). He will perform well when he wants something out of the transaction, like a cup of milk.

* He does not point with his fingers, but he does indicate with his feet by tapping on an object. He does this to the little transmitter boxes outside (they’re round plastic things that look like Smurf manholes). Any imperfection/change in a floor has always fascinated him, so this does not surprise me.

* I personally am struggling with the “Attachment Parent” part of me and, well, the opposite aspect. I suspect that seasoned parents would giggle at this. I will giggle at it when Tristan’s older, too.

* We are well on our way to making it to 18 months without having pooped in the bath or shower, by the way! I’m sure that calling it out will jinx it, but fuck it. That’s a milestone! Now, if he will start to request diaper changes or at least be more than reluctantly cooperative, I will be stoked.

* I am in desperate need of toddler stories and advice. I need to read about daily life with a toddler. And more than just the sweet stuff. I need to read that people went through bullshit, and that it’s expected and normal bullshit, and everyone came out OK.