Dear Catalina,
This week your focus seems to be stringing nouns and verbs together. Instead of just learning new vocabulary, you seem to be forming sentences. I know I've said this before, but its really amazing to watch! I first noticed this past weekend when you and I went for a hike in the woods. Daddy was helping a friend do some work around his house and you asked for Daddy. I said, "Daddy is helping Josh." and you repeated "Daddy elping (sic) Josh" over and over. Then you said "Mommy elping Josh" and "Rizo elping Josh" so I knew you weren't just parroting me--you actually understood the structure of the sentence. It is so hard to believe how much you've learned in such a short amount of time. I wouldn't have thought it possible had I not witnessed it with my own eyes (and ears).
Your potty training is also coming along quite nicely. If we let you run around without pants, and remind you to go pee pee in the potty, you're pretty good about doing so. If you wear a diaper--well then all bets are off. I'm not sure how we're going to make that transition to having you tell us every time you have to go, but I'm sure one day you will show us the way. You're good like that.
In other news, you seem to have developed a crush on our neighbor, Rob. We went to a music festival with he and his wife a few weekends ago and you kept asking where he was. At home, you bring up his name quite frequently. Please don't grow up too fast, sweetie pie!
Ok, sorry no pictures on this post. I'll do better next time.
Love you, darling
Mommy
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Monday, September 17, 2012
Empathy
Dear Catalina,
I sure wish I could sleep when you do. You are lying next to me sound asleep and I am wide awake. I know as soon as I fall asleep, you will wake up crying. One day our schedules will match (I hope).
Tonight we witnessed something pretty amazing. So before you were born I got your Daddy this book called "Brain rules for babies". In it the author talks about things to keep in mind that will be for the benefit of your child's brain development. He says the single most important thing to teach a child is empathy. I don't think we "taught" it to you, but for a few months now, you will cry if your Daddy or I pretend that we are crying. This ces in handy when, for example, I would like you to stop hitting me. All i have to do is cry and you will stop what you are doing and give me a hug. It is so sweet. Tonight, however, you were watching a little video about a honey bear...let's see if i can find it....
About halfway through when the bear starts talking about his mistakes, you just started to bawl. It was so sweet and so heartbreaking all at the same time. You wanted to watch it over and over, but you would always cry at the same point sometimes making us pause the movie just before. It made both your daddy and I cry to watch you!
Truthfully, I think you learn it from the dog, Rizo, who howls every time you cry, but maybe we're actually doing something right in this parenting game!
I love you, sweetie.
Mommy
I sure wish I could sleep when you do. You are lying next to me sound asleep and I am wide awake. I know as soon as I fall asleep, you will wake up crying. One day our schedules will match (I hope).
Tonight we witnessed something pretty amazing. So before you were born I got your Daddy this book called "Brain rules for babies". In it the author talks about things to keep in mind that will be for the benefit of your child's brain development. He says the single most important thing to teach a child is empathy. I don't think we "taught" it to you, but for a few months now, you will cry if your Daddy or I pretend that we are crying. This ces in handy when, for example, I would like you to stop hitting me. All i have to do is cry and you will stop what you are doing and give me a hug. It is so sweet. Tonight, however, you were watching a little video about a honey bear...let's see if i can find it....
About halfway through when the bear starts talking about his mistakes, you just started to bawl. It was so sweet and so heartbreaking all at the same time. You wanted to watch it over and over, but you would always cry at the same point sometimes making us pause the movie just before. It made both your daddy and I cry to watch you!
Truthfully, I think you learn it from the dog, Rizo, who howls every time you cry, but maybe we're actually doing something right in this parenting game!
I love you, sweetie.
Mommy
Monday, September 3, 2012
Anti-social tendencies
Dear Catalina,
This weekend we went to the county fair and you rode your first pony. You were pretty nonchalant about the whole thing (you really wanted to ride the rides--but you were too small), but mommy was so proud. I can't believe how much you've changed. You just sat up in that saddle and waved as you went around (of course they had a special seat belt thing for wee ones like you, but it almost looked like you didn't need it. There may be more horses in your life later on-or maybe not-but now you know you rode your first at 18 months!
The other thing we did this weekend was go camping with our friends Jamie and Cinnamon and their baby girl, Aspen. Aspen is 4 months younger than you which is quite a difference at your age. You have so many more words than she does (in fact you have many more words than most kids your age). She was fascinated by you, but you seemed less than thrilled with her. She would grab you're things and you would stand behind her saying "please please" or "all done, all done". It was funny. At least you seem to default to polite tactics rather than hitting or screaming. At one point you two did hold hands while we were out hiking and at breakfast Aspen was feeding you potatoes and eggs which you happily took. I asked of you would feed Aspen and you said, "no". At one point i think you got a little tired of me giving Aspen too much attention and you just said "all done, all done" over and over and headed for the tent. You called to me and insisted I come in with you. You just wanted me all to your self. You're not used to the being social thing. I guess that's our fault. You'll learn with time. You have quite a good memory for people though, so i know your at least interested in interacting.
You are my little sweetie pie. You give threw best hugs and kisses now and you are starting to play with your dolls and stuffed animals worth great imagination. It is so fun to watch. Your current favorite characters are your stuffed baby panda, your teddy bear, a little plastic alien, and Boxie the space dog. It will be fun to see how this changes.
Well darling, I love you more than ever,
As always,
Mommy
This weekend we went to the county fair and you rode your first pony. You were pretty nonchalant about the whole thing (you really wanted to ride the rides--but you were too small), but mommy was so proud. I can't believe how much you've changed. You just sat up in that saddle and waved as you went around (of course they had a special seat belt thing for wee ones like you, but it almost looked like you didn't need it. There may be more horses in your life later on-or maybe not-but now you know you rode your first at 18 months!
The other thing we did this weekend was go camping with our friends Jamie and Cinnamon and their baby girl, Aspen. Aspen is 4 months younger than you which is quite a difference at your age. You have so many more words than she does (in fact you have many more words than most kids your age). She was fascinated by you, but you seemed less than thrilled with her. She would grab you're things and you would stand behind her saying "please please" or "all done, all done". It was funny. At least you seem to default to polite tactics rather than hitting or screaming. At one point you two did hold hands while we were out hiking and at breakfast Aspen was feeding you potatoes and eggs which you happily took. I asked of you would feed Aspen and you said, "no". At one point i think you got a little tired of me giving Aspen too much attention and you just said "all done, all done" over and over and headed for the tent. You called to me and insisted I come in with you. You just wanted me all to your self. You're not used to the being social thing. I guess that's our fault. You'll learn with time. You have quite a good memory for people though, so i know your at least interested in interacting.
You are my little sweetie pie. You give threw best hugs and kisses now and you are starting to play with your dolls and stuffed animals worth great imagination. It is so fun to watch. Your current favorite characters are your stuffed baby panda, your teddy bear, a little plastic alien, and Boxie the space dog. It will be fun to see how this changes.
Well darling, I love you more than ever,
As always,
Mommy
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