right on track, according to the experts...

Today Miles really challenged me. According to the literature and our Parents As Teachers lady we're right on track. He feels safe enough with me to express his feelings and test limits. I just have to rise to the occasion. Oh, spirits, wise ones, guide me. Help me to nurture him in ways that keep him safe, help him grow and foster a healthy, well-balanced person. Help me to know when to be strict and when to let things slide.

We spent lots of time outside today. He loves wandering in the field. Fearless, he will promptly turn on his heel and walk away from me. Luci keeps an eye on him and I never let him get completely out of sight. He seems especially entranced by seed pods on a couple of low-branched trees. He's also developed a fixation on the rain gauge in the field. He visits it every time we walk and gets mad when it's gone. He also grabs the white garden markers on his journey and often nibbles the dirt off the edges of the marker. Not kidding.