17 months
Having a toddler is a blast. Challenging at times, but overall so much fun.
Katherine, you are really becoming a master communicator. I am so glad that we decided to do sign language with you. It took longer than I had hoped for it to catch on but now you are doing so well. Not only is it fun to see you do signs for all the animals when reading a book, but it is also so practical as you have many words that sound the same but with the sign we know exaclty what you want. It really helps ease frustration. I look forward to you learning even more. Today after swim lessons someone saw me signing with you and they hesitated but asked if you were hearing impaired. When I explained why we are doing sign language with you even though you are hearing, they were so impressed and thought it was a great idea.
You love the sign for “swing” (see above photo). What amazes me is how many different things you realize swing. When we went to visit Charlie, you saw his baby swing and signed. At Nana’s house you went to your room to see the swing and signed. Of course every time we are at a park you find the swing. When we read a book with a monkey you do the monkey sign followed by the swing sign. Today it was rocking in the rocking chair that prompted you to sign swing. I guess it is a swinging motion.
My favorite sign that you do is the sign for “dirty”. it is my favorite because it has made me realize that you are aware of your diaper and when you are using the restroom. You do the sign for dirty and point to your diaper and say “poopoo” and usually either you already have a dirty diaper or you dirty it pretty soon. I am now trying to take you to your little potty when you do this and we have had some success. It would be great if you were potty trained early.
You are very aware of what is dirty and what is clean. Today you took off your diaper cover, said “dirty” and walked from the den to your room to put it in the diaper champ. Amazingly you knew to put it in the hole and to turn the handle so that it disappeared. It was a cloth diaper cover though so Mommy had to get it out. Now we know where to look when something is missing. You have also started to throw trash into the trash can and then you sign “thank you” because that is what we always say next.
As an infant you never had any kind of special binky or lovey. There have been several times that we tried to get you to attach to a blanket or animal by putting the same one in your crib all the time or traveling with the same one. You never seemed to care at all. Recently however, you have finally become attached to two things.
If you take a look at this picture of your stuffed animals and blankies, which one do you think is the likely lovey? Katherine, when you saw all of the animals in your crib, you started crying, “bear, bear, bear”. You wanted in the crib. You grabbed your favorites and threw the rest out.
A pretty dramatic way to tell mommy which one is your favorite. “Mr. Bear” and the pink “play silk” are your favorites. You usually carry them around as a pair even wrapping Mr. Bear in the play silk. Mr. Bear and the pink play silk were not my first choices of loveys because there were several cuter ones but I guess I am glad you finally have one if it helps you to go to sleep in new places. We will see. They help you fall asleep at home.
You want to be such a big girl now. For a few days you did not want to get into your high chair. Instead you want to sit in a regular chair. The problem is that you often want to stand in the chair. You can climb on up by yourself so we are learning to make sure the chair is always pushed in. We are trying to make you always eat in your high chair and it has helped to lower it so that you can sit at the table without using the tray.
You are really enjoying coloring. Last week I bought you a small table and chairs set at IKEA and we leave your special toddler crayons and paper on the table so you can explore it. You think it is a lot of fun but your favorite is to use my pen and my paper.
We are having to work on discipline a lot more which is no fun. You have an independent and strong willed streak which is probably common to all 17 month olds. I love seeing your independence but it is not fun when it manifests itself in disobedience. I pray that your daddy and I would be able to know how to best discipline you and help you to grow into a godly woman.