IMAGINATIVE PLAY (28 MONTHS, 1 WEEK)

S is starting to do more imaginative play. Last week, at the playscape, she scooped the barks in a pile, placed on the counter of the playhouse, and pretend it was french fries. Today, she pushed her shopping cart, loaded with books and animals, and asked momma if she wanted to go to the beach with her. Momma and daddy are amazed to see what she comes up with!

PS. Today she asked her first question: "Can I have my pants back?" She wanted momma to put back on her pajama pants, not daddy.

CAMPING (28 MONTHS, 1 WEEK)

Momma, daddy and S tried camping on Saturday night. Momma and daddy set up a tent in the backyard as a test run for a camping trip in two weeks at Big Bend. S was excited at the idea of sleeping in the tent. At night, S fell asleep after some talking and rolling around. She woke up in the middle of the night because she was cold. Everyone else woke up too and we all took a potty break. After some more rolling and tossing around by everyone, S fell back to sleep. We all woke up around 7 am. This was a good test run!

We all learned that we needed more blankets or an extra layer of clothes to keep warmer when the temperature fell in the middle of the night. Next try: Big Bend!

COUSIN (28 MONTH)

Due to Hurricane Ike, 16 month old cousin Sarai was in town last week. She came to play everyday with S. They went to story time together and the park. S enjoyed getting to know her cousin better. Since the visit, S walks around saying Cousin Sarai is S's friend.

Momma tried to explain the difference between cousin and friends which probably confused S more. S now says, "everyone is my cousin." Or, "everyone is my friend." Or, she mixes it up and says "everyone is my cousin. Sarai is my friend."

EMPATHY (28 MONTHS)

S demostrated an act of compassion and empathy last week. S friend, Talia, was laying on the floor crying after someone went ahead of her on the slide. S came up to her and patted her back and offered her a ball.

Later, that evening, S was telling momma that Talia was crying. Momma asked her if she knew why Talia was crying. S responded that Talia wanted the ball.

Momma think S is becoming a sweet compassionate little girl! How beautiful!

I DRINK MILK FROM ... (28 MONTHS)

S has taken up telling momma that "she drink milk from momma's boobies." Sometimes, S wants to touch where the milk use to come from (i.e. boobies). A couple times, S has pretended to drink from it and said "Yummy, Yummy" afterwards.

Just in case, momma often responds with "Yes, you use to drink milk from momma's boobies when you were a baby. But, now you're a little girl." Momma thinks S is just imitating her friends' siblings. But, she think sometimes S misses being held close.

PS. S has been asking where her small bed (i.e. crib) has gone.

POOP IN A CUP? (27 MONTHS, 2 WKS)

S had to poop today while she was in the tub. So, she took one of her bath-tub (toy) cups and put it under her and did her business. She happily told mama that she had pooped and stood up. What could mama say but "good job." After all, S did the best she could without a potty.

TODDLER BED (27 MONTHS, 2 WK)

S, momma, and daddy are adjusting to S's "big" bed. The good thing about moving to the toddler bed is that S can get in and out when she needs to go potty. A couple times in the morning, she has gone pee-pee by herself and gone back to bed again (without any pull-up or pants on).

On the other hand, both momma and S are getting less sleep. S wakes up around five o'clock in the morning now. Most of the time, she goes and gets momma and momma helps her to the potty or back into bed for a short while. One morning this week, S woke up at two o'clock in the morning to get another "blankie" for herself from the kitchen.

Bedtime and naptime still hasn't gotten easier. Both momma and daddy have gotten into the habit of laying next to her bed until she falls asleep. Momma and daddy are not sure if this is the best thing for S or for them.

On a bittersweet note, there's no more crib in S's room.

FUNNY QUOTES FROM S (27 MONTHS, 2 WK)

- Daddy, stop feeding me potatoes