Milestones

Hi Shira,

You turned 3 a couple weeks back and it’s time write an update about you.  You’ve hit a few milestones recently that will be worth remembering. 

I think the most important rite of passage is you beginning regular pre school.  At the start of the fall you were only going on days that your mom was teaching ‘Tuesday Tumbling’ at your school because it was convenient day care wise.  But now you are attending regularly and even stay all day on Thursdays.  The ignition for that was turning the corner on potty training.

The weekend we went to the pumpkin patch we broke the ice.  I took our little ‘porta potty chair’ with us that day and set my watch to remind me every 45 minutes to have you tinkle.  It was a huge success.  You had only one accident each day that weekend and you haven’t worn a diaper during the day since.  Qualified success, I should say.  We still don’t have 100% compliance on #2.   At least you haven’t had any #2 accidents at school, which is curious.  Enough detail on that.

You’re doing great in school.  You seem to really like the routines and can function very well in the group.  You’re at the same school as Sidra, but in a different room.  There were some hiccups the first few days, like refusing to shake your teacher’s hand and say “good afternoon,” when you left one day.  But for the most part you’re adjusting well. 

One of the byproducts of your going to school is better adjustment to swimming lessons.  We tried to start you in swimming last spring but you wouldn’t sit still and listen to the teacher, would get out of the water, and not complete the lesson.  Now, you will sit, wait for instructions, participate in the activities and actually derive some benefit from the class. 

There are some things I want to report that are cute and should be recorded before you out grow them and they fade from memory.  One is that you have a phrase that I think you intend to use in lieu of “yesterday.”  You say, “last morning.”  At your age understanding of present, past and future is sketchy at best but when you say this I think you’re trying to refer to a day in the past.  As I said, very cute.  Another is your shoe fetish.  You love plastic, high heeled, “dress up” shoes.  You often have them on the wrong feet (partly because you don’t worry about a matching pair) but you love prancing in the fancy shoes. 

Another milestone that recently had me feeling sad happened at JJ Jump.  JJ Jump is a play place that has several air filled “bouncy” houses/slides.  I’ve always escorted you up and down the slides and through the mazes but now you seem ready to do it on your own.  I let you go in a few times alone and kept track of you from the outside.  On one hand I was proud of your bravery but felt the first pang of not being needed at the same time. 

You have another habit which might not fade soon.  It might become a personality trait and be expressed differently as you mature but still be part of you.  Two examples:  1)  The first is an everyday occurrence.  If we put a spoon or fork on the table at your place, you object to that because it’s something you can do yourself.  So, you will take the utensil back to the drawer, put it in, close the drawer, open the drawer, take out a utensil (maybe not the same one), and return to the table.  2)  Yesterday on a hike with the family and grandma and grandpa, there was a difficult section of trail, steep and slick.  Your mom thought she should carry you down it.  You returned back to the top of it and then came back down.  I believe you did accept the assistance of a held hand on the second trip.  Moral- you can be pretty damn stubborn sometimes.  I realize that this behavior may have roots in my own behavior as a youngster.  I recall insisting on a ‘tic-tac-toe’ style cut on my waffles and pancakes and I’m pretty sure that I often had a particular order in which those pieces should be eaten once cut. 

Something else you did recently that I thought was very cute was another ‘dress up’ incident.  You had on one of the ‘dress up’ dresses which is a little longer in the back so as to be a ‘train.’  You came down the stairs looking over your shoulder so you could watch the ‘train’ drag over the stair behind you.  You liked it so much that you repeated the action many times.

Love, Aba

I was stunned when I first saw this photo.  I've never seen you more composed and glowing.

Posing with the birthday cake.

mismatched shoe girl

Determination

Hi Shira,

Your actions in the last few days have inspired me to post again.  Additionally, I left a couple things out of the last post that I should have included.  You've started to get the hang of your runner bike in the last week.  You have been having a speech issue recently.  I'll comment on your new enthusiasum for the bike first.

Your sister has recently made friends with a couple of brothers up the street.  They showed up one day when we were out on our bikes in the driveway and sidewalk.  Seeing your sister get all that attention and seeing the extra independence she got by being able to ride her bike really inspired you.  All of a sudden you've decided that this bike riding thing might be fun.  And you've been making a lot of progress.  Until the last few days you would only throw your leg over the bike and basically walk with it between your legs.  Now, you'll sit on the seat and pick up your feet a little to coast a few inches at a time.  Each day, no each minute you get a little better and a little more confident.

It's our conversations about your bike riding that brings me to this story.  When I was 4, not quite 5, we were spending the summer in Corvallis where my dad was attending graduate school.  Just before we moved there my big brother Terry had been given a new bike.  I thought it was really cool and wanted one.  I asked my dad, repeatedly, if I could have one.  Graduate students with a four and six year old and a newborn living in a small campus apartment can't afford much.  My dad chose to silence the begging by saying he would get me one if I could ride Terry's bike which he thought was too big for me.

For the next week every time Terry put his bike down I pounced on it.  I tried over and over to stand it up by the curb and sort of leap on to it.  I developed a good set of scrapes and bruises.  Finally, I was able to land on the seat and keep the pedals turning with my toes pointed like a ballerina.  I was pretty proud of myself.  My dad, who really didn't have two dimes to rub together, found a way to make good on his promise.  I'll never forget the feeling of accomplishment.  Or the respect that I have for my dad after I became old enough to understand his sacrifice.  I thought I should share my version in case you never get to hear my dad's perspective on those events.

Fast forward to the new generation.  A couple days ago you were riding around the driveway and sidewalk and stepped over to try to pick up your sister's bike.  I told you to leave it alone because it was too big for you.  You said you wanted a bike with pedals.  I decided to show you the pedal bike you will ride when you are ready for it.  It's right there in the garage, the one Sidra first pedaled on.  It's hanging up high so you can't get your hands on it.  I said when you were good enough on your runner I would get it down for you.

But I think there was a disconnect between your hearing "good enough" and my meaning of "mastery."  Each time you would make another turn around the driveway and hear me tell you how well you were doing you would come back in and ask for the pedal bike again.  Finally, I resolved to take your mom's advice and tell you that you can't use the pedal bike until you are 4.  I don't doubt that your determination will match mine but I hope to coax you to your first pedaling experience with a little less injury.

Here's another anecdote that describes your persistence and your love of dogs.  At your sister's soccer class last week someone had brought a black lab puppy.  You kept repeating, "I want to hold him."  There was no strain in your voice, just an incessant mantra.  Even after you had had a chance to hold him you would restart the chant.  When you were reminded that you had held him already you cooly changed it to "I want to hold him again."

Now to the speech issue.  You've been stuttering a little.  I think some days you stutter a lot, and some days hardly at all.  I did some checking and found that it's not that uncommon and your age and that it often disappears in a year or so.  Chances are, you'll never remember having done it.  But it's one of those things parents worry about.

Stats: Age 2 yrs, 9 months, 38 3/4 in tall, 33.5 lbs.

 

Learning to balance

 

Driveway Laps

More soon, 

Love, aba

Growing Pains

Hi Shira,
About a year ago I wrote a post called 'Daddy's Girl.'  I think we completely debunked that story a couple months later.  I have been able to gain your confidence with more time spent with you but Mom is clearly your choice when you need comfort.  At times when your mom needs to be engaged in something else but still in the house it can make things difficult.

I've got a couple of stories that illustrate your devotion to your mom. While we're sleeping if we pass the limit of three people in the bed, I take Sidra back to her bed and stay with her there.  If she comes to our bed first I usually automatically go to your bed and sleep with you there.  If I tried to take you from mom's bed back to your bed you would come unglued.  Once you are in bed with mom there's no reversing that.  At your second Kinder Gym class you had bonked yourself and were upset.  The teacher tried to comfort you without slowing down the class too much but it wasn't working too well.  The teacher brings you over and says "maybe you want to be with your daddy for a while."  Sidra was right there and announces to the whole room "No, she usually wants Mom."  I said, "but your mom isn't here right now."  Sidra answers, "Yes, she is.  She's right over there," pointing out where your mom had tried to hide after sneaking back in the room after attending  to some business downstairs.

You are having a tough time growing out of a couple of things.  I noticed also from a post about a year ago that you were keeping a tight grip on something all the time.  You can see in these pictures that Spots or some other stuffed animal is a frequent companion.  It doesn't have to be something soft. You've been known to go to sleep clutching a little hard plastic blowfish.  You haven't met a stuffed animal that you don't like.  Yesterday we were in a toy store and you went from one animal to the next trying everyone you could get your hands on.  Later in the day we were at the library where they have a small bin with a few stuffed animals.  You took out each one, gave it a hug and then declared, "I love all these."

Potty training.  This is where the pain is.  At least for your mom and I.  You seem so grown up in so many ways but also seem to fight the potential independence of potty training.  We've had some minor and sporadic successes in this area but you actively resist some of our efforts.  As I write this I am thinking that perhaps your strong independence is one of the stumbling blocks.  It's something that you need help doing right now and you (like me) hate to ask for help.  The frustration is this- you could be attending preschool in the fall where Sidra goes if you are potty trained.  So the pressure is on!

You have locked on to yellow as your favorite color.  I am not sure if someone suggested it to you and you followed the lead but you are pretty solid with it.  We now encourage it, too.  We've bought you some yellow clothes and I've even bought some yellow shirts for myself.  I just realized I haven't included any pictures that show your yellowness.  I'll have to find some to add.  When we did the children's parade at Mountain Festival, we decorated the wagon with yellow streamers, dressed you in yellow, and added a sign that said "I love yellow."

Just this morning I had probably the most moving experience I've had with you.  Your mom suggested we go to the local sports club for the kiddie fun run.  Actually, the idea was to enter Sidra in the run.  But after reading the flyer I thought we could all do it together (except your mom who had to be at her Saturday Market). I got to pin numbers on both of you for the first time.  They staggered the start so that families could go together without crowding as the route followed a wooded trail that we've used for Noah's Quest before.  I had thought that it might be hard to get you to do it.  I thought you would walk, I didn't expect you to run.  Sidra took off like a shot and you did your best to follow.  We didn't see Sidra again until the finish.  But you ran for the first 3/4 of the route, all the while bursting with pride of your accomplishment.  It was so much fun to follow you and listen to your commentary.  Your joy and exuberance were boiling over.  I was reminded that while Sidra seems to have an easier time than you with balance and coordination,  you make up for it in spades with determination.

We've got a big family vacation coming up so there will be more stories to tell.

Love, aba

At camp with Spots

My Favorite Ride is the Carousel

In position at Kinder Gym

Cheese means 'scrunch your nose'

Tractor driving at the Zoo

First run with Sidra

This camping is pretty cool


 

 

This is your tandem workout with Sidra

 

This is your solo workout

 

This is your second time at Kinder Gym, and your first "Wheelbarrow."

Jekyll and Hyde

Hi Shira,
I know it may seem harsh to be compared to Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde but I think you're earning it.  You can be the sweetest, most agreeable, lovable, mature, and winsome little girl.  However, in a snap you can become ornery, stubborn, sour,  contentious, and a screaming little monster who can't be pleased by any normal parenting strategy. 

Admittedly, Mr. Hyde was showing his colors more frequently when you were battling a recent illness.  Yet now that you've beaten that he still comes out from time to time.  He mostly appears when you're not getting your way about something.  I've included a video that shows a brief appearance of your dark side.  We have a longer one I could have included but it's not very flattering so I chose the shorter one.  In the video you show your displeasure with your big sister for committing the awful crime of going down the slide with you at JJ Jump. 

I've noticed recently how you seem to have picked up some of my personality traits.  You are pretty stubborn and you like to do things yourself.  In one example you had been battling the flu all week and after a visit to the doctor we had learned that you also showed signs of a developing ear infection.  The flu we had to ride out but the ear infection could be treated with an antibiotic.  One morning you needed incentive to take your meds.  I offered a chocolate kiss.  You countered with "smarties?" (smarties are a like a SweetTart and come in a roll).  I considered that and what the pharmacist had said about foods that would go well with the medicine.  I said, "No, a Kiss."  You responded, "Two?"

I like how your independent streak causes you to want to do things for yourself.  The only problem is when you think you can to more than you really can.  For example, the first time you brought your plate from the breakfast table to the kitchen sink, you turned it upside down before you got it over the sink and your sticky waffles went on the kitchen floor.  You are getting pretty good and putting on pants, slippers, and sometimes socks.  I am leery of the time when you try to take full control of your toothbrush.  As yet, your skills aren't good enough to do a good job of that. 

Some time ago you rejected the assistance of a booster chair at the dinner table.  You've done ok with that and are still using your fork and spoon both righty and lefty.  You've staked out a spot at the table and I was telling your mom just this morning that you will probably sit there as long as you live in this house.

We lowered one side of your crib so that you can get in and out on your own.  You made it out once with the rails up so we decided that it would be safer for you to get out if one side was down.  You can make it on that side because you can go in and out from Sidra's bed that way.  You are pretty good about going in on your own when it's bedtime or nap time.  In fact, you will say "I want to take a nap" when you get tired. 

Sometimes at bedtime you might not be ready to sleep because you napped too long.  In a recent case your sister had gone to sleep and you were still awake.  I noticed the hall light go on (from the motion sensor) and peeked out to see what was going on.  You were tip toeing toward our room.  It was pretty cute, but I convinced you to get back in bed and go to sleep. 

Your speech is getting better.  It's still tough to understand you at times but your sentences are lengthening and you are pretty perceptive and a sponge for new stuff.  Yesterday when you got up, I was downstairs having breakfast.  You were pretty sure that's where I was.  You went to the top of the stairs and said, "can you hear me dad?"  Today Sidra was paging through a CD organizer and you asked, "What are you looking for, Sidra?"  Today after Sidra's piano teacher left you played around on the keys a little.  I wondered what you were up to and you dead panned, "the thumb trick and The Postman." 

You can see from the pictures that your hair is pretty crazy when it's not tied up.  You also like to pick your clothes and show off what you're wearing.  That is, when we can get you out of your two nighties.  You have one that has Tinker Bell on it and the other one is Rapunzel.  When you are showing off your outfit you put your arms out and do a little twirl.  It's pretty cute.  So are your dimples, if you smile. 

We've tried to get you in a swim lesson a couple of times but it hasn't worked out.  Maybe the classes are a little too big, and maybe you're just not ready.  We hope that that changes by summer time which a long way off by your standards. 

Loving watching you grow up,
aba

I have dimples

This is how I show off

I bounced out of my hair tie

This is my wild hair look

I can climb!

I am bushed!

I have a flower