Today, RC got to go to the dentist again. She did SO well. She opened wide and looked up so the dentist could count her teeth. She bit down so the dentist could see her bite. She smiled, laughed, talked and didn't cry or act a bit worried. It was a great visit. They all commended her on being such a good patient and said they might even try a cleaning next time.
The room was very comfortable, just two chairs and the dentist and I sat knee to knee with RC on my lap. Normally, they have the child face the parent and lean back, but RC wanted to face the dentist and just look up when asked.
The dentist says she has small teeth and a small mouth. If she gets small adult teeth, we'll be ok. If she doesn't, well, I guess we'll have to make sure she gets good orthodontia. Her teeth looked clean and the dentist saw the bumps for the rest of her molars - whenever they finally decide to peek through.
RC loved the office and loved her balloon that she got for doing everything the dentist asked. She asked about the xray machine and I assured her that they'd take pictures of her teeth someday, but not today. She wanted to lie down on the tables in the normal exam area, but that wasn't on the docket either. She seemed a bit bummed that she didn't get a toothbrush, which I find really amusing since she has quite a collection from the ones we bought for Japan, ones we've been given by family, ones we've been given by dentists, etc. She wanted one more, but was ok with "maybe next time."
Lilypie Kids Birthday tickers
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Monday, April 24, 2006
I wan it WOUD!
Yes, this is the chant of choice at our house. With the new house came a loss of the large over fireplace area that held our TV and all of the assorted stereo gear. It now sits on a 12" high table. Sadly, this means that Pandora's Box of cacophony has opened for our little girl.
"I wan muuuuzic." Luckily, she doesn't know where the power button is yet (it breaks the round, green button rule that helped her figure out EVERY remote in the world). We have to turn it on for her.
She loves BNL.
"I wan it WOUD" precedes her turning the volume knob. Sometimes she does it slowly so it's only a bit louder. Sometimes she manages to find ears bleeding volume very quickly.
"I dancin" accompanies her father-taught dance moves. Mostly, this looks like she's in the middle of a spastic mosh pit. I'll leave any further explanation to your imagination.
"I wan muuuuzic." Luckily, she doesn't know where the power button is yet (it breaks the round, green button rule that helped her figure out EVERY remote in the world). We have to turn it on for her.
She loves BNL.
"I wan it WOUD" precedes her turning the volume knob. Sometimes she does it slowly so it's only a bit louder. Sometimes she manages to find ears bleeding volume very quickly.
"I dancin" accompanies her father-taught dance moves. Mostly, this looks like she's in the middle of a spastic mosh pit. I'll leave any further explanation to your imagination.
Friday, April 21, 2006
Frick
Yup...that's RC's word of choice. She uses it to express any frustrations she has - bumped head, dropped toy, etc. "Holeee Cow(ie)" is to express amazement. I just keep telling myself that it could be SO much worse.
Thursday, April 13, 2006
What's that?
RC and I spent most of yesterday at the new house, measuring and what not. In the late afternoon, Chrys took over while I took Bro to an appointment. I had faced countless "What's Dat?" over the course of the day - ceiling fan, air conditioner vent, nickel, etc. Chrys got the outdoor version when he took her for a walk.
From him:
We went for a walk down the 2 blocks to the area around the pond. The whole time, Roo was asking "Whassat?" "That's a windmill." "That's a bird house." "That's a cable TV utility box." "That's a trash can on a stick" "That's a Mazda Protege" "That's a sign". You get the idea. Her last such question, 30 minutes into the walk, "Whassat?" "That's a box for dog poop" (I over simplified -- it was a sign instructing dog owners to be responsible and providing free plastic bags.) Her response was horrifying, but completely understandable, given her background: in more of a confused tone than a true question -- "Feed the ducks?"
In Japan, she went to a number of zoos and "Biology Parks". It is very important there for people to go to see wildlife in captivity so they know what a non-tamed animal is like and why it's worth protecting. They do everything they can to make the patrons more attached to the animals and enjoy their stay. The desperate hope is that they'll go home, tell their friends how great everything was and how it was worth saving their habitats, etc. Part of this effort is accomplished by having visitors feed them wherever possible. Sometimes there are boxes on posts with signs, and in the box is food appropriate for the nearby animals.
I'm certain it's easy for you to imagine a toddler's perspective where you feed the animals with the stuff provided. And my explanation, after 30 minutes of "Whassat?" wasn't as helpful as it could have been. Her conclusion is perfectly logical. It makes it almost comical that she has trouble with the "f" on the beginning of "food" and pronounces it "pood".
From him:
We went for a walk down the 2 blocks to the area around the pond. The whole time, Roo was asking "Whassat?" "That's a windmill." "That's a bird house." "That's a cable TV utility box." "That's a trash can on a stick" "That's a Mazda Protege" "That's a sign". You get the idea. Her last such question, 30 minutes into the walk, "Whassat?" "That's a box for dog poop" (I over simplified -- it was a sign instructing dog owners to be responsible and providing free plastic bags.) Her response was horrifying, but completely understandable, given her background: in more of a confused tone than a true question -- "Feed the ducks?"
In Japan, she went to a number of zoos and "Biology Parks". It is very important there for people to go to see wildlife in captivity so they know what a non-tamed animal is like and why it's worth protecting. They do everything they can to make the patrons more attached to the animals and enjoy their stay. The desperate hope is that they'll go home, tell their friends how great everything was and how it was worth saving their habitats, etc. Part of this effort is accomplished by having visitors feed them wherever possible. Sometimes there are boxes on posts with signs, and in the box is food appropriate for the nearby animals.
I'm certain it's easy for you to imagine a toddler's perspective where you feed the animals with the stuff provided. And my explanation, after 30 minutes of "Whassat?" wasn't as helpful as it could have been. Her conclusion is perfectly logical. It makes it almost comical that she has trouble with the "f" on the beginning of "food" and pronounces it "pood".
Monday, April 10, 2006
Mistress Coordination
She rocks at gym. She's totally fearless and has a decent amount of coordination to go with it. If she could figure out how to control her head and not smack her chin into the bars, she'd be all set.
At this point, she can get her feet up on the bar on the outside of her hands without assistance so she's hanging like a basket. She has walked up walls to do handstands both on the floor and on the bars. We need to work on her shoulder strength so she can keep herself up a bit better. We do wheelbarrows for that when she'll let me. She walks the balance beam - high and low - with her arms held out and noone holding on to her. She can walk sideways on it, too, but does so very slowly. If I support under her arms, she'll dip her feet down to the sides as she walks.
She can walk up the stairs by herself with one foot per step. I think that's a major physical milestone of some sort. She can come down one foot per step if she's holding your hand and occasionally does it by herself.
She also pedals her trike. She can only do it for short distances and she gets stuck easily, but she can move herself. Steering is something else entirely. Chrys says she steers a bit on the scooter and is slowly learning how to push with one foot; she's only ridden on that a couple of times, though.
Swimming is going well. She paddles her arms - looks more like she's doing "roll 'em up" from pattycake, but she's got to start someplace. She can kick...lots. She can pull herself out of the water on the side of the pool without assistance, which makes this mama much more comfortable with the thought of her being near a pool. She has no fear of walking in water, even up to her chin level. She's actually pretty reckless with it, but doesn't freak out too much when she does slip and go under so that's a good sign.
Yeah...she's got my coordination (and then some) and Chrys' lack of fear. She's going to be nothing but trouble.
At this point, she can get her feet up on the bar on the outside of her hands without assistance so she's hanging like a basket. She has walked up walls to do handstands both on the floor and on the bars. We need to work on her shoulder strength so she can keep herself up a bit better. We do wheelbarrows for that when she'll let me. She walks the balance beam - high and low - with her arms held out and noone holding on to her. She can walk sideways on it, too, but does so very slowly. If I support under her arms, she'll dip her feet down to the sides as she walks.
She can walk up the stairs by herself with one foot per step. I think that's a major physical milestone of some sort. She can come down one foot per step if she's holding your hand and occasionally does it by herself.
She also pedals her trike. She can only do it for short distances and she gets stuck easily, but she can move herself. Steering is something else entirely. Chrys says she steers a bit on the scooter and is slowly learning how to push with one foot; she's only ridden on that a couple of times, though.
Swimming is going well. She paddles her arms - looks more like she's doing "roll 'em up" from pattycake, but she's got to start someplace. She can kick...lots. She can pull herself out of the water on the side of the pool without assistance, which makes this mama much more comfortable with the thought of her being near a pool. She has no fear of walking in water, even up to her chin level. She's actually pretty reckless with it, but doesn't freak out too much when she does slip and go under so that's a good sign.
Yeah...she's got my coordination (and then some) and Chrys' lack of fear. She's going to be nothing but trouble.
Sunday, April 09, 2006
"Oh, that's right"
RC has picked up some interesting quirks in her speech. I am sure it is mimicry of what Chrys or I do, but it's amusing to get her interpretation of what we say.
The best one, yet, though has to be when we are guessing what she's saying and we get it right. She looks at us, smiles and says, "Ohhh, that's right." I haven't caught myself or Chrys saying this exactly so it's a semi-creation of her own. Cracks me up.
The best one, yet, though has to be when we are guessing what she's saying and we get it right. She looks at us, smiles and says, "Ohhh, that's right." I haven't caught myself or Chrys saying this exactly so it's a semi-creation of her own. Cracks me up.
Back in the crib
After months of trying RC in her bed because it was safer, we are back to the crib for our sanity.
She's not a great sleeper. She never has been. It may be partially that we didn't know what we were doing in setting up good sleep behaviors. It may be partially her nature. Regardless of what 'caused' it, it's there.
The fact is that she never asked for a big bed. She's never seemed ready for it to me. The only reason we put her in it was because she climbed out and most people say that means we have to transition her. Having thought about it, and read some more, I realize that she never hurt herself climbing and it never seemed that she would. She only climbed when she was alert and being careful. At this point, the girl knows how to climb and do it safely so safety concerns are pretty moot.
She won't stay in bed. She doesn't grasp that she has to stay in bed to sleep. She wants to play and keep going until she just can't keep her eyes open any longer. In her crib, she'd fuss for a bit and then she'd sleep, just like she needs to do.
Anyway...in my reading, I think I've decided that she's not getting enough sleep since giving up her nap. Giving up the nap is mostly my fault. I wasn't consistent with her routine or giving her a place to rest or anything. She gave it up and I/we have suffered for it with cranky afternoons. Last night, she slept for 14 hours (instead of her usual 11), waking at 10am (instead of 7ish). That was the last piece of correlation I needed.
Given that, she's back in her crib. She fussed for an hour at nap time, but the lack of playing = downtime and I think we had a better afternoon for it. Tonight, she got herself to sleep without Chrys. It might have taken 15 minutes instead of 10, but hopefully she'll relearn how to soothe herself and we'll all get more sleep in the meantime.
I don't want to be a sleep nazi. She's always been pretty flexible with changes in schedule. Heck, she went back and forth to Japan enough and did great. Nevertheless, I need to recognize that, as she ages, she needs more structure to get her through and I need to help that, for both our sakes.
She's not a great sleeper. She never has been. It may be partially that we didn't know what we were doing in setting up good sleep behaviors. It may be partially her nature. Regardless of what 'caused' it, it's there.
The fact is that she never asked for a big bed. She's never seemed ready for it to me. The only reason we put her in it was because she climbed out and most people say that means we have to transition her. Having thought about it, and read some more, I realize that she never hurt herself climbing and it never seemed that she would. She only climbed when she was alert and being careful. At this point, the girl knows how to climb and do it safely so safety concerns are pretty moot.
She won't stay in bed. She doesn't grasp that she has to stay in bed to sleep. She wants to play and keep going until she just can't keep her eyes open any longer. In her crib, she'd fuss for a bit and then she'd sleep, just like she needs to do.
Anyway...in my reading, I think I've decided that she's not getting enough sleep since giving up her nap. Giving up the nap is mostly my fault. I wasn't consistent with her routine or giving her a place to rest or anything. She gave it up and I/we have suffered for it with cranky afternoons. Last night, she slept for 14 hours (instead of her usual 11), waking at 10am (instead of 7ish). That was the last piece of correlation I needed.
Given that, she's back in her crib. She fussed for an hour at nap time, but the lack of playing = downtime and I think we had a better afternoon for it. Tonight, she got herself to sleep without Chrys. It might have taken 15 minutes instead of 10, but hopefully she'll relearn how to soothe herself and we'll all get more sleep in the meantime.
I don't want to be a sleep nazi. She's always been pretty flexible with changes in schedule. Heck, she went back and forth to Japan enough and did great. Nevertheless, I need to recognize that, as she ages, she needs more structure to get her through and I need to help that, for both our sakes.
Monday, April 03, 2006
Time with the Bunny
RC wanted desperately to talk to the Easter Bunny. She's wanted jelly beans every time we've walked into Target for quite some time now. I've put it off with telling her that she should ask the Easter Bunny to bring her some for Easter. I asked her today if she was ready to go talk to him and get her picture taken - boy, was she.
She kept looking confused when I asked her to smile so I asked for a 'cheesy smile' and got one.
(And no, I didn't pierce her ears. She wanted earrings desperately so she has a couple of pairs of clip ons that she decides to wear sometimes. Apparently the bunny warranted that much dressing up.)
She did manage to ask for her jelly beans so I'm sure she'll get tons. She got Sweet Tarts as a treat for coming to see him. She declared them jelly beans so I hope she won't be disappointed if she gets real ones. Then, she decided they were tummy medicine (Tums, like mommy takes TONS of every day right now). That cracked me up.
When I put her in the car, she asked for her '3 tummy medsins' - turns out there were 3 left on the tray of the stroller. I was impressed.
Teeth
RC cut her last 1 year molar - whichever one was left - when we were in Tokyo for Thanksgiving.
She cut her first 2 year molar - lower left side - about 2 weeks ago. It's slowly making its way in. We can see the lower right one, but it's going to take a bit, I think.
Considering she's possibly the worst.teether.ever. I will be very happy to get through these last 4.
Now, if I can just find a dentist to keep looking at her to keep her comfortable. Why is that we take our kids to the doctor every 3, 6, 12 months at an early age to make them comfortable, but they're just supposed to suddenly be introduced to the dentist and eye doctor at age 6 and be ok with it?
She cut her first 2 year molar - lower left side - about 2 weeks ago. It's slowly making its way in. We can see the lower right one, but it's going to take a bit, I think.
Considering she's possibly the worst.teether.ever. I will be very happy to get through these last 4.
Now, if I can just find a dentist to keep looking at her to keep her comfortable. Why is that we take our kids to the doctor every 3, 6, 12 months at an early age to make them comfortable, but they're just supposed to suddenly be introduced to the dentist and eye doctor at age 6 and be ok with it?
Sunday, April 02, 2006
Charlotte's Web
In keeping with long standing lucky family tradition, RC won tickets to see a play in a random drawing at Barnes and Noble a couple of weeks ago. Today was the show date. We 3 went down there and I was very excited to see how she'd react.
In short, she was great. Her last play experience was in utero (about 2 months further along than baby brother is now). She sat through this one, mostly riveted. She started to get tired at the end and wasn't paying as much attention, but I could still talk to her about stuff. It was 75 minutes of her quiet and sitting in my lap.
Funny quote - when Charlotte started talking about how she was going to have babies, RC turns, looks at me and says, "She go midwife." Took me a second to process who and why, but I was impressed. Budding crunchy one - check.
She spent the car ride home talking on her toy cell phone to Charlotte and Charlotte's babies. We're going to be in BIG trouble next time we try to squash a spider, I fear.
In short, she was great. Her last play experience was in utero (about 2 months further along than baby brother is now). She sat through this one, mostly riveted. She started to get tired at the end and wasn't paying as much attention, but I could still talk to her about stuff. It was 75 minutes of her quiet and sitting in my lap.
Funny quote - when Charlotte started talking about how she was going to have babies, RC turns, looks at me and says, "She go midwife." Took me a second to process who and why, but I was impressed. Budding crunchy one - check.
She spent the car ride home talking on her toy cell phone to Charlotte and Charlotte's babies. We're going to be in BIG trouble next time we try to squash a spider, I fear.
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