Toddlin' along

We did our "parents as teachers" assessment today with Courtney from day care. She's pretty much rockin' at the 14mo old level.

What she's into these days: Following us around the house, or better yet, having us follow *her* around the house. The recycle bin is still a great place to get "toys" from - things you can bang into each other, blow into, try to put one thing in the other... She likes to bang her new puzzle pieces and wooden block toys together while stamping around the living room. Or carry them up the stairs.

She has: put a cap back on a pen, eaten (sort of) dinner from a bowl with a spoon, figured out about pointing when she wants something, which includes dragging the nearest person over to get what she wants, jackets are for putting arms in, socks go on feet, as do shoes.

Imitation is the thing these days. For example, she makes mom do something, like put two pop beads together, then makes mom take them apart again so she can try to put them together.

She is climbing into laps with books, and has a bit more patience for actually reading them, as opposed to eating them or just flipping through the pages as fast as possible. We've been down to the library the last two weekends to pick up more books for her (and dvds for us). She loves walking through the aisles and climbing up to sit on the children's seat (which is still too big for her) at the children's table. The other kids are cool, too, although adults who smile aren't so bad, either.

She's very steady on her legs now, and can even walk across the bark-strewn playground without falling down too many times. She still trips on occasion, but mostly upright. Slides are great fun - she sits herself down at the top, then Whoosh! down to the bottom. Didn't like the tube, though.

She got into her swim class this time, splashing around and kicking her legs. I think it helped that she was a bit more rested than normal. If only it wasn't such a struggle to get her into, and out of, that swimsuit! She just hates having her clothes changed. There has been a lot more splashing in the bath tub of late, and even some bubble blowing.

She's mostly sleeping in her crib now, or, well, with one of us on the bed if she wakes up a lot, like she did last night. I got her a new blanket - cotton on the back, wool on the front - which is nice and cozy for us adults...

Getting clothes on/off her is a nightmare - you'd think we were torturing her. Screams like crazy, stops as soon as you're done. Sigh. Doesn't seem to mind socks and jackets, though.

There's been lots of "up" - I think I spend half the time carrying her around or being dragged around the house. Of course, we go to day care for her assessment and suddenly I'm chopped liver. I think it's that there are all sorts of "interesting" things above her level here in the house, but not so much at day care.

Things I think she'd like for her birthday: Wooden stacking bowls/boxes, playsilks, wooden bowl and spoon, books with things that can be moved/wiggled/make noise/sing.