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July 2, 2003
First of all, I would like to assure everyone that last week’s entry, regarding Ella as she jumps head first into the terrible, controlling, frustrating, crying twos was not, thank goodness, an indicator of how the majority of her time is spent. I do believe she may finally getting in the last of her baby teeth (not her two year molars, we still have them to look forward to-HA) so she had the crank turned on extra high. She followed up the week with more moderate behavior that did include many charming, cute, clever, loving moments that gave Mommy a break and a chance to recharge internal batteries and be ready to handle upcoming onslaughts more patiently. Thanks to all for the kind words of support, it is very much appreciated.
Kiss it better
Taking a cue from ‘everymoms’ handbook, I have very cleverly gotten Ella convinced that all you need is a kiss from mom (actually, I think she’s generalized this pretty liberally beyond me, for better or worse) to make everything better. Her language and self-awareness are good enough that she can come running to me when she has hurt or nearly hurt herself. Depending on the severity of her boo-boo, she will either be crying, doing a high pitched squeal or just have a scrunched up look on her face indicating she wants me to know she COULD be on the verge of crying. It is a funny fake-hurt face that I have to bite my cheek to keep from giggling at. So she will come running up to me and tell me “Hurt finger” or “Bump head” and insist “Kiss it! Kiss it!” which, of course, I am more then happy to do. She will then nod, as if things have been done properly and then say, “Feel better soon” before heading off to her next adventure. It is just too too cute. I have noticed, however, that she seems to be more sensitive now that she has an agenda when she hurts herself. Whereas in the past she used to shake off all sorts of falls and stumbles, now the slightest brush against the table or thump from the dog will bring her running.
These episodes remind me of times I have heard parents of older children lamenting “Remember when everything could be fixed with a kiss?”. It makes me realize and appreciate what a precious, fleeting time these tender years are. I wish I could package them and keep them forever, while also watching her grow and develop and learn more and more.
Hot days and restless nights
Well, we have finally gotten some real summer weather here. As a full-fledged heat wave descends on the Boston area, I delightedly got out the little blow up kiddie pool that I had optimistically purchased back in March. Ella was very interested and intrigued and impatiently waited while I blew it up, changed her into a swim diaper and a cute little blue Baby Gap bikini that I bought for her last fall. She was fascinated watching the pool get filled up with water and, after exclaiming at how cold it was, got in tentatively. While she ended up spending over an hour and a half in the pool, she never conceded to sitting down. Her main game was to fill a bucket with the water and splash it on to her self and then scream at the top of her lungs. By the time she got out she was shivering all over and I could see her pale skin starting to turn a light blue. But she had a blast and has now made the pool a top priority.
Nights in this hot weather are not as enjoyable. The first night of the heat wave we hadn’t set up the AC for Ella’s room yet but set up a fan when we put her down. The poor girl woke up several times screaming. She is usually a very good sleeper so I know this was due to the hot weather, and probably exacerbated by the fan, since she is pretty skittish around things that make loud whirring noises (hates vacuums and lawn mowers, for instance). We tried to sooth her but every time we put her back in her crib she would scream again. Finally I ended up bringing a pillow into her room and laying on the floor next to her crib which she found very comforting. Eventually I moved to the bed in her room and that’s how we spent the night. We are planning on putting in the AC soon but I am worried that, since it is even louder then the fan, that the noise will freak her out even more…. We will have to wait and see, I guess…
Miss Manners
I am very pleased with how Ella’s manners are coming along. We have been prompting her to say “Please” and “Thank you” for months now and she seems to be catching on well. She will say please without prompting maybe 35% of the time. The rest of the time if we ask her to say please or just ask that old parent stand by “What’s the magic word” she will burst out with it, happy because she knows her request will be answered. Thank you is harder to get, primarily I suppose because she already has gotten whatever it was she was clambering for, so we don’t have anything to bribe her with. All the same, she does well when prompted and has come up with it spontaneously on occasion. She picked up saying “Bless you” whenever anyone sneezes and will also often say it if you cough or even clear your throat loudly. Very cute. We are also working on saying “Excuse me” not only when she wants to get by, but also when she burps or farts. Right now, whenever either thing occurs, she will just pause, then look at me and announce “Burp” “Fart”, so I figured now is as good a time as ever to redirect these pronouncements (even thought they are pretty funny, I have to admit). So now when she looks at me and says, “Burp!” I will ask “What do you say when you burp” and she will grin and say “’Cuse me!”. Wow! Do I sound like a mom or what? Talk about repeating phrases that practically defined being a parent!!! All the same, I am very proud of how nicely she is learning her manners. It makes me feel like I’m doing a good job, and it also doesn’t make me feel as though a little tyrant is running the place. That’s not to say she doesn’t still have orders and demands coming at me rapid fire, but it’s just a little nicer when they begin with Please and end with Thank you.
Don’t you agree?
Zoo
Last weekend we all went to the zoo. I was a little worried that Ella wouldn’t be able to find any of the animals or see them well enough but we ended up having a blast. Ella did insist on getting out of her stroller and walking everywhere but I had to agree that to really see some of the animals to had to manipulate yourself to certain vantage points around rocks or on ledges that could not be done in a stroller. We kind of ended up following her from exhibit to exhibit, but it worked out well. I was particularly surprised and pleased because, unlike in the past when I have gone to zoos and seen every animal in the exciting state of sleep, almost all of the animals were up and moving around--much more interesting, not to mention easier to find and point them out to Ella. Her favorite exhibit seemed to be the bat area. You walk into a dark cave like area to view them and she just didn’t want to get out. Every time a little kid would come in and say ‘Bats’ she would promptly repeat it, and often this went on for three or four repetitions. She also really liked a chipmunk that was on the path—she chased it back and forth three times before it ran into the bushes and then she kept looking for more. My favorite was the jaguars that were wrestling with each other. Such beautiful animals—what a treat to see them in action!
Muppet Room
Well, after less then two months at her new day care, Ella has been promoted from the Peanut Room (infants really) to the Muppet Room (Young Toddlers). This is definitely the more appropriate room for her but we agreed to start her in the Peanut room since that was where there was an opening, with the understanding that she would move up in September. But a spot opened earlier and so she transitioned last week and started this week. While I didn’t mind the Peanut room since most of the kids were only slightly younger then her, I like the kids and teachers in this room just as much.
One nice thing is that none of the kids in the Muppet room use a binky during naptime. Upon the teacher’s suggestion, we agreed to just put Ella down for her nap with everyone else and just not offer the binky unless she asked for it or was unable to sleep. Sure enough, with absolutely no problem she started napping like that and has every day since. She still requests and uses it at home, since she has grown used to it, but I think that by napping without it at school it should be that much easier when I do take it away at home. Yeah!
The Muppet teachers are great, very friendly and very good with Ella. Every day when I come to pick her up they say how sweet and nice she is and what a great day she had. While I love the praise, and I know what a precious girl I have, sometimes I wish that I could listen in on when they say to other parents so I can be reassured that she really is just THE BEST kid they have ever laid eyes on!!!
Well, . I guess that’s all for now… I hope everyone has a fun, safe holiday weekend!
Thanks for reading!
Bonnie
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