Natalie takes pictures with this little toy camera that we have. She holds it up (in your direction), says "Cheese" and then says something like "pretty".
Natalie also knows that the word "two" comes after "one" though I don't think she is counting. But if I say "one", she then says "two".
Each day or so, it seems like Natalie is saying more and more words that we can understand. It's pretty exciting. She definitely says sentences: "I want more", "I no like", "Need help", "I like."
Other known words and phrases : Night-night, I'm fine, Bye-bye, Sisa (for sister) or LaLa for Lexi. We think she calls herself "Na-na". "I want down." Up, Mine. Ball.
She can tell you the sounds of the following animals: lion (Roar!), dog (woof-woof), cat (moow), cow (moo).
Natalie is definitely figuring out how to claim her space. She was riding in the stroller, got out to walk with Lexi and me and when Lexi said "I can ride now", Natalie promptly got back in the stroller. There are also squabbles over toys and places to sit.
Natalie also likes to put on the fancy dress shoes that Lexi plays with. She knows that she has to walk slow and reach out for things to hold onto.
July 7, 2013
June 7, 2013
Lexi's class leads All School Meeting
All School Meeting is held every Friday and the whole elementary building gathers together. It's kind of like a pep rally. Lexi was excited that I was able to come and see her sing with the class about being ready for 1st grade.
June 4, 2013
Natalie's latest antics
We have a Norwegian Stokke high chair for Natalie. Now that she's able to get around better - up and down places - on her own, we removed the plastic parts to the seat that make it a high chair. It's the type of chair that grows with the child. You can move the seat down as the child grows bigger. So now it's basically a stool - a chair with a high seat.
And now that it's no longer a high chair for a baby, Lexi wants to sit in it too. The jealousy, the sibling rivalry, has come back a bit from Lexi. Sarah had to say very seriously to Lexi last night that it is Natalie's chair. Lexi was upset and cried because she feels Natalie is getting a lot of new things, that she is getting all of the attention. (Don't tell her that we're about to buy Natalie a new dresser, which she needs now.)
So Lexi went to bed upset last night. I was surprised that first thing this morning, Lexi had remembered how upset she was last night. Both girls woke up early and were lying on our bed with me as Sarah was showering and as I listened to the news first thing, like I do every morning. And I was surprised at how smart and sophisticated Natalie has gotten. Lexi asked her several times, each time adding a "please" or "pretty please," the question: "Can I sit in your chair?" Natalie answered each time with a "no." She is understanding more and more words and instructions from us by the day. She is saying many words now, although they are still not as clear as an adult would say them.
Then, when I came home from work today, I rounded up the garbage and recycling so it can be picked up tomorrow. I took the recycling bin out to the curb and left Natalie in the house, since she had already taken her shoes off. Sarah was picking up Lexi from school. Normally we go out the back door and take a key that hangs above the door and unlock the screen door, leaving the key in the lock until we come back through the door. Well, while I was outside taking the recycling bin to the curb, Natalie played with the key and somehow locked the screen door. I could see her and talk to her through the door, and I tried telling her to turn the key the other way. She tried, but she couldn't turn it hard enough. Fortunately, I knew Sarah would be home any minute with the keys to the house so she could let me in, which fortunately she did. We thought this was funny, but we know now to take the keys with us when we go outside, even just to take the garbage out!
And now that it's no longer a high chair for a baby, Lexi wants to sit in it too. The jealousy, the sibling rivalry, has come back a bit from Lexi. Sarah had to say very seriously to Lexi last night that it is Natalie's chair. Lexi was upset and cried because she feels Natalie is getting a lot of new things, that she is getting all of the attention. (Don't tell her that we're about to buy Natalie a new dresser, which she needs now.)
So Lexi went to bed upset last night. I was surprised that first thing this morning, Lexi had remembered how upset she was last night. Both girls woke up early and were lying on our bed with me as Sarah was showering and as I listened to the news first thing, like I do every morning. And I was surprised at how smart and sophisticated Natalie has gotten. Lexi asked her several times, each time adding a "please" or "pretty please," the question: "Can I sit in your chair?" Natalie answered each time with a "no." She is understanding more and more words and instructions from us by the day. She is saying many words now, although they are still not as clear as an adult would say them.
Then, when I came home from work today, I rounded up the garbage and recycling so it can be picked up tomorrow. I took the recycling bin out to the curb and left Natalie in the house, since she had already taken her shoes off. Sarah was picking up Lexi from school. Normally we go out the back door and take a key that hangs above the door and unlock the screen door, leaving the key in the lock until we come back through the door. Well, while I was outside taking the recycling bin to the curb, Natalie played with the key and somehow locked the screen door. I could see her and talk to her through the door, and I tried telling her to turn the key the other way. She tried, but she couldn't turn it hard enough. Fortunately, I knew Sarah would be home any minute with the keys to the house so she could let me in, which fortunately she did. We thought this was funny, but we know now to take the keys with us when we go outside, even just to take the garbage out!
June 1, 2013
And down she goes...
Stairs, that is! Natalie has gone down both sets of stairs in our house on her own for the first time. She faced forward and sat on her bottom and scootched down, placing her hand on the wall or the bannister where is was at her height. She even managed to navigate around the corner on the upper level stairs. She started down on the right hand side, but when she got to the corner you could tell that she felt slightly insecure so she slide over to the left and continued on down around the corner.
Guess she can graduate to the toddler bed now. I wanted to make sure she knew how to handle the stairs before giving her a bed she could get out of easily.
When I was outside weeding this morning before the day heats up too much, I also watched her go down the slide on the swingset all by herself. She climbed up the steps, got herself in the right position with her legs out front and down she went!
Guess she can graduate to the toddler bed now. I wanted to make sure she knew how to handle the stairs before giving her a bed she could get out of easily.
When I was outside weeding this morning before the day heats up too much, I also watched her go down the slide on the swingset all by herself. She climbed up the steps, got herself in the right position with her legs out front and down she went!
ttMay 30, 2013
Lexi and the field trip
The kindergarten classes are having several field trips this month and today was the day that I volunteered to chaperone. We went to the nature center in Rock Creek Park. There was a scanvenger hunt for things like leaves and sticks. I was in charge of Lexi, her friend Ruth and this boy called Randolph. Everyone seemed to have a good time running in the woods and picking things up. It didn't feel very educational to me but good for the kids to be out in nature.
I also learned that Lexi is something of a mediator in her class. The teacher called for the "Special Friend" and Lexi cam running up. Ms. O'Connor told her which two friends were having a problem. Lexi then went and talked to the friends and I guess, straightened things out. Ms. O'Connor said she plays this role a lot; all the kids listen to her and they do what she tells them. I did notice that she was kind a of ring leader - leading our little group around, shouting directions, etc.
Lexi was very pleased that I was there. It seemed really important to her that I came.
I also learned that Lexi is something of a mediator in her class. The teacher called for the "Special Friend" and Lexi cam running up. Ms. O'Connor told her which two friends were having a problem. Lexi then went and talked to the friends and I guess, straightened things out. Ms. O'Connor said she plays this role a lot; all the kids listen to her and they do what she tells them. I did notice that she was kind a of ring leader - leading our little group around, shouting directions, etc.
Lexi was very pleased that I was there. It seemed really important to her that I came.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)