Beating me to "Ready"

Just after lunch today, she came into the kitchen while I was putting a recipe away and said, "Mama." As usual I responded, "Yes?"-fully expecting another back-and-forth exchange of "Mama-yes, Mama-yes, etc". But, boy was I surprised when she then said, "Mama. Poo."

I raced her upstairs (forgetting about the downstairs potty), but by then had realized that she wasn't telling me she needed the potty, but that she had gone. Whew. But, wow, she's beating me to "ready!"

I've been a weirder mother, not ever saying "Oh, how fast they grow up." Actually, quite the opposite...usually, I'm so relieved to get to the "next stage." But, alas, I've been "gotten."

NO! STOP GROWING UP. I'm not ready yet!!! :)

The Start

After her nap today, I looked at her diaper and said, "Do you need a change?" And she said in her cute little voice, "Noooo." Knowing full-well that she often answers no to yes questions, I suggested "Want to use the potty?" She agreed with "Pa" and we marched on down to the bathroom. (As our neighbor suggested, I've been putting her on the seat to get her used to the idea...just for fun. This has been going on about two weeks or so. We just got a "little potty" and a "seat" end of last week.) So back to today...I put her on, turned on the water, and we discussed the various things on the seat: Elmo, bubbles, balls, boats, etc...and lo and behold, if I hadn't been watching I would have missed it--but there came 3 or 4 drops! Wow. It was cool. I was waaaaaay more excited than she was. ha ha.

As our neighbor says, she likes to "introduce it casually." So that's what we will be doing...at least for a while. But, really, how cool is that?! :)

I can't believe...

I forgot to list the "prerecorded song" as Chopin's Prelude in D-flat major, the Raindrop. It brought tears to my eyes, as her namesake, my grandmother, loved Chopin!

Dance like no one is watching

She is starting to show an interest in "The Piano." Quotes to highlight my "snobby disdain" for our electric keyboard. Three pianos to our family name and not a one of them in our house. But, alas, better than none and I am digressing...She climbs up onto the chair and presses the various sounds (hmmn, like an organ?) and bangs around...takes a special fascination to the "prerecorded song" and claps after it finishes....oh, and claps whenever mama and dada play something, too.

Tonight, he says "Come downstairs, she can play while we dance." And so, she hits the recorded button and we waltz. Her face lights up like you think the face of a princess would...This is not the first time we have danced, either in front of her or with her, but it is the first time she is starting to understand the relationship of music and dance in her young life! (Though she herself has been "boogying" to tunes for a while now, so I'm not sure the prior statement is exactly true) And how beautiful that little face is...the music stops mid-phrase...and we stop and stare at her and say "Music please." She resumes and we resume. Then, I say "Dance with Dada?" And like a girl going to one of those father-daughter dances, she accepts and he twirls her around. A moment in my dreams. But fortunately for me, real life. :)

Layout

Thanks to college friend Jen for helping me figure out how to make the blog look "prettier!" For some reason, though, I couldn't upload the pics with text, so this is a separate post.

The green gingham outfit was made by another dear friend, Joy! The park pictures are with AK's friend EJ. The picture of her walking is so typical of our days now. She walks whenever and wherever she wants...she LOVES to explore anything, especially different types of terrain. She'll walk a certain step over and over and over and...well, you get the idea. The blue dress pics are from a Sunday before church. It is so difficult to take pics of her...still...these days. ha ha, I know...welcome to the world of a toddling toddler! :)

Enjoy!

Promised Pictures

18 months old = 1 1/2 years old!

Yesterday SHE was 18 months old! Wow! We've come so far together. We're raising quite the little independent girl. I can now empty the dishwasher AND almost cook an entire meal without someone clinging to my leg! wow! And what a helper--she helps emptying the dishwasher (and steals spoons), picks up fuzzes and puts them in the trash, moves laundry into the dryer (from the dryer door top), etc. Life is a lot of fun right now.

A few days ago, the neighbors let us borrow a plastic shopping cart. We had just returned from the grocery store, so it was a great learning tie-in. Boy, did she push that cart with determination! I was still carrying the stuffed penguin (which had to go to the real store and rode in the cart) so I put him in the "child's seat" in the plastic cart. No, she didn't like that and she kept throwing him on the ground. The 8-year old girl then brought out her Am. Girl doll and put her in the seat. Our child was perfectly OK with that. It was like, "duh, mom, penguins don't ride in the child's seat!" So cute.

Tonight she pushed that cart nearly all the away around our neighborhood. Every time I said "Want to ride," she walked faster! Maybe we won't have one of those kids that always needs to be carried...that will sure help save my back! :)

Yesterday was her 18 month doctor's appt. We finally switched pediatricians. I don't know who had a better time...she or I! What a joyful experience. The doc sang with her, kissed her, played with her, and did a wonderful job of the examination. Turns out she had an ear infection and no symptoms (except pus: eeew) so we're treating that. She also has a rather personal finding that I am not going to share on the internet. We are also treating that and the doc will see her again in a month. Most likely, the situation will resolve itself, as it most often does. She is in the 75% for height now at a whopping 33 inches and she remains in the 25-50% for head and weight (22 pounds 6 oz). I bragged on her to the doc that she knew 57 words and the doc laughed and said "Do you know how many I'd expect?" And I said "3-50." And she said, "More like 7-20." So, our social butterfly is right on track. The doc also liked her gait and after she was in her birthday suit and peed on the floor, moved away and said "uh-oh," the doc said, "Oh, and you can start putting her on the potty now, too!" Funny girl.

She is a huge joy. I wish I had the time and energy to write about our daily shenanigans. I will try to post some new pics in the coming days!