This past weekend, we went to visit Grandma and Grandpa. We stopped at the mall on the way, so we could buy an Easter suit for Eric. We found one!
As we were leaving the store, I opened the car door as usual. Eric started climbing in on his own. I usually pick him up and put him in his seat, but today he was feeling adventurous, so he started climbing. The first step up is a long one, so I gave him a little help…not much. Eric climbed up onto the back seat and then into his car seat. Pretty good, I thought, for a not yet 2-year-old. I started to get him buckled in, and he insisted on helping. He snapped the buckle across his chest…half of it anyway. I buckled the other half and his lap belt. Wow! Such a big boy! He did this again when we left Grandma and Grandpa’s house. Mommy and I were impressed…and very proud!
Actually the buckle thing was no big surprise. He has been experimenting with the buckle in his high chair for a couple weeks. Mostly, he gets frustrated when he can’t get it to buckle or unbuckle. But these last few days, he is getting pretty good at it. Once he gets it buckled (after much trying and crying), he then unbuckles and re-buckles it repeatedly without letting go of the pieces. He is so proud of himself every time he gets it to buckle! When he is struggling to buckle it, he refuses any help. Mommy and I have tried helping him, and he gets very stubborn and will not let go of the buckle or let us help in any way.