What Natalie is up to

I often think - I need to write on the blog - and just don't get it done.  Feeling slightly guilty that we did a good job documenting Lexi's growth when she was this age but haven't been able to keep it up for Natalie.  Woe being the 2nd child.

Cute things Natalie is doing are:

Asking to go upstairs for her nap.  After lunch this weekend, she initiated nap time herself.  This is SUCH a blessing. 

Saying "I love you." Sometimes she says it back to you and sometimes she just says it herself.

"I do it myself!" is said proudly ALL the time - after any accomplishment, big or small.

Copying her sister exactly - Lexi whispers "can I go watch a video?" And then Natalie whispers the exact same thing.

Saying "Bobby (from day care) is my friend" - over and over again.

She picked up a book the other day, said she was going to read it and then starts out "This book is about..."

She loves Christmas lights: points them out and comments on how pretty they are.

Natalie is also asking lots of questions and sometimes seems to be in constant motion as well as chattering constantly.  She is a busy little girl.

We did get a little bit of snow on Tuesday (about an inch) but Natalie wasn't so sure about it.

Still working on potty training though not progressing too much from my way of thinking...

Natalie's speech

Lately Natalie has become quite the talkative 2-year-old. For a while now, she has understood us when we've given her instructions, for example. We can tell her to throw something in the trash or recycling, and she has understood the difference and acted accordingly. But now she is doing a lot of imitating of words and sentences and telling us a lot of thing on her own. Some examples:

• "Daddy, the baby is sleeping." - when she has put her doll to bed in the living room
• This morning she sat at the table with us at breakfast and went back and forth between me and Sarah saying, "Read it" while holding up cards from a deck of go-fish cards with an aquatic theme.
• "I have pockets!" she has declared after putting on a certain top in the morning.
• When we're in the car at a stoplight, she'll ask, "Why stop?" or say, "Stop."
• Also when we're in the car and Sarah or I sing to a song on the radio, she'll tell us, "No sing. Listen, Daddy/Mommy."

This means her vocabulary has taken a huge leap. We still often have trouble understanding her, however. Here are a few of her latest words and phrases:

Vos                  (get) dressed

I can (can’t) do it myself

Sasi                  Lexi

Pants

Hat                  Hat/helmet

Tha’one           That one 

For the last several days, she has been quite chatty almost constantly. 

Many times a day, when she is with either Sarah or me, she asks, "Mommy/Daddy, what doing?" We answer her, and often she'll ask again a few times. Or we'll tell her what we're doing (flossing our teeth, eating dinner, washing our hands) and then ask what she's doing, but she doesn't respond.

We're so impressed by her recent gains in speaking abilities, and it's great to have a new level of interaction and understanding with her.    

 

Natalie's stats

On Sunday, Natalie turned 2. On Monday, she had her 2-year checkup at the doctor's office. Her vital statistics from that visit:

• Height: 36.5 inches
• Weight: 31 lb
• She's in the 97th percentile for her height
• She's in the 94th percentile for her weight

As part of her doctor visit, she also had to have a blood test. Part of what they were testing for is lead. Yes, she had to have blood drawn, and they did it like they do on an adult, except it's with a smaller needle. She didn't make a peep when they stuck the needle in her arm!

Now entering the terrific twos!

The baby of our family - Natalie - turns two today! We had a family birthday celebration last night. Uncles Andy and Russell came down to D.C. for the weekend from New York, and they and Auntie Michelle came over for dinner. We had raclette and, for dessert, a cake (really brownies) baked in a pan the shape of Hello Kitty; frosting and sprinkles made the character complete.

We're so proud of our two-year-old!

Kids and their quirks

Natalie seems to have the need to have blankets for her babies laid flat on the ground, just like her big sister.  If you don't put the blanket on the floor just right or on the baby stroller, she lets you know it!

Natalie has also decided that yogurt should be eaten with a fork...and while she is sitting on Mom's lap.

We are about to head into potty training.  The day care wanted to start her about a month ago but I had bought too many diapers and wanted to use them up.  They still won't be used up but Natalie keeps wanting to pull her pants down so I think we had better just transition her.

Lexi is reading up a storm but getting nervous about math.  She is also not liking fitness though I know she spends the majority of recess running around and swinging.  I am not sure exactly why fitness upsets her.

She does not Natalie crying...it really upsets her.  This makes it worse for me as then I have two upset kids.  I keep trying to tell her that Natalie is going to get upset but that doesn't mean Lexi needs to get upset.  Then she says all sorts of mean things about not liking Natalie and that no one loves her.  We are struggling to get her out of this mindset.  I hope it is just a phase and not an integral part of her character.

Almost Two...

Natalie is two in two weeks. Hard to believe.

She is an incredibly strong willed child, certain of what she does and does not like.  Most of the time, she wants to be just like her big sister.  She wants to eat what Lexi eats, play what Lexi is playing with, sit where Lexi sits.

Most of the time this is ok with Lexi - sometimes it is not.  And when it is not, boy, Lexi lets us all know how she feels. Lots of yelling and "I wish I didn't have a baby sister!" and things along those lines.  We really don't think she means it - and Natalie doesn't seem to understand, which is good.  We hope that Lexi learns to express herself differently soon so we don't have major issues.

Natalie, just like her sister, likes to lay her blanket flat on the floor. No bent corners or rumpled bits.  :)

Moving on Up!

Three weeks before she turns two, Natalie has moved up to the highest floor at the day care.  I was kind of surprised to find her there when I went to pick her up this evening. They asked me to bring in her toothbrush/paste so they could work with her on brushing her teeth after lunch.  I thought she wouldn't be moved to the upper floor until after being fully potty trained - and we haven't even started. They wanted me to bring in pullups two weeks ago but I want to use up the rest of the disposal diapers. I had purchased too many.

I don't if it was moving to the upper floor but she did not want to leave the day care today. I had to carry her kicking and screaming all of the way home. Good thing Stephen was picking up Lexi - I don't know if I would have been able to wrestle Natalie into her car seat.

I hope tomorrow is a better day.

Flashback to summer vacation...