James's Favorites

James's new favorite game is "And Who's That?" It is played thusly: James sits himself on the floor alongside/atop a laminated poster of the presidents (yes, you discover things like this around the house when your mommy is a teacher). Usually beginning with Mr. George Washington, James points and says, "And who's that?" and goes sequentially through the poster (which, because it's about 9 years old stops at #43). He now knows many himself, and can provide the last name of several more after I say just their first name. He particularly likes James Polk, Rutherford Hayes, Martin van Buren, and Ulysses Grant. In fact, he was saying "Ulysses Grant. Ulysses Grant. Rutherford Hayes," as he was falling asleep this afternoon. So funny. He'll often say, "And he was president, too!" after I provide a name. Or he'll comment on some feature in the portrait, "There's a chair." Each time we get to Andrew Jackson, he says "What is she doing?" Yep, she.

James is still quite enjoying his "music class music." He's learned a lot of the songs this week. Yesterday he was singing "The Bellybutton Song" and "Busy Bees" while we were out and about. It was super cute because he was just singing in this quiet voice, just for himself, but I happened to hear. Love. He had a great time back in class yesterday morning as well. He was getting more comfortable and spent less time observing from the back of the room. Yea!

James has rediscovered What's Wrong Little Pookie by Sandra Boynton. He now calls it, "The Pig Book" and likes to "read" it to himself. Whether I read it or he does, he always says, "Those are James's cookies!" when we get to the part, "Did tiny green elephants with wings oh-so-blue, fly off with the cookies and leave none for you?" and he "eats" (leans over and pretends to chomp and chew) the cookies. Today we were at the library (VERY fun!), and another mom was reading the book to her daughter. She was reading it quietly in a different rhythm than we do here, but James stopped what he was doing, looked over at them then up at me and said, "The Pig Book!"

He still LOOOOOVVVVESSS his Thomas trains. He plays with them every. single. day. Without fail. Now he makes up little stories as he plays. I particularly love it when one of the trains calls out to another, "Percy! Where are you?!"

James likes painting and coloring.

The letter A. James loves it. He finds it everywhere and says, "That's the vowel A," or "There's the vowel A!" (like it was lost and he'd found it).

Hiding under the dining room table is James's coping mechanism. If he's corrected or scolded, he goes there. Or if we want to do something like put sunblock or shoes or clothes on him. Or really if we want to do anything that he doesn't (eat, leave the house, bathe,...) Lately, he's gone to the rocking chair in his room as well.

Toilet paper is a newfound but much adored "favorite" of James. He loves to unroll it, then roll it back up. Delightful. (Oh-- and since I know you want to know-- he's doing GREAT! Pooped on the potty successfully all week! Wakes up dry every morning and nap! Keeps those underpants clean and dry! He even sat on a "big" potty when we were out yesterday!)