As I say time and time again, Lauren's language is developing more and mroe evey day. It's often pretty funny, too. For example:
- We were all in the kitchen and I was eating a handful of almonds. "I love nuts," I said to Jeremy. Lauren then says in a sing-song voice, "I love nuts. I love the bedroom. I love bed."
- That same night, Jeremy and I were chatting and he shushed me playfully. Lauren said, "Daddy! Why you shhhh Mommy?" She's looking out for me I guess!
On a not-cute note, I got to watch Lauren turn into a demon the other day. I arrived at VJ's just in time to see her push her friend Chloe. Chloe kind of pulled a toy out of Lauren's hand. Lauren's cheeks turned red, her eyes got really big, and I swear she bared her teeth at Chloe, all before pushing her. I wasn't amused, but was amazed at how quickly her face changed like that!
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Monday, May 24, 2010
My Little Helper
Lauren and I went to Costco today and she was actually a huge help! She walked along next to the cart and helped me steer it. When it came time to put the purchase in the cart, she'd do her best to heave it up and over the side. When I went to check out, she helped me put things on the conveyor and watched intently as the man scanned each item. Then she took the receipt up to the checker at the door and got it marked. If she could have put everything in the car and then taken it into the house, I think she would have! I really appreciated her help. What a good girl!
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Dancing Queen
Last night, Lauren went with Jeremy and me to her first wedding. My college roommate Lindy was married and it was a very nice time. Perfect wedding to take a child to: simple, short (but lovely) ceremony, kid-friendly food on the buffet, and best of all, a shiny big dance floor.
First, Lauren and her two new friends Henry and Violet, ran around and around and around the floor, shrieking and laughing. Then, they took to jumping up and down, and in Lauren's case, pulling up her dress.
Then, as in all weddings, the music came on. After I restrained her through the first family dances, she took off. She leaped and danced and whirled and basically boogied down without stopping. She would take my hands or Jeremy's hands or both and twist and jump. She kept taking the bottom, fluffy layer of her dress and pick it up so the skirt popped up and even managed to put that into her dancing. In other words, she had a ball! It was difficult to get her to leave and she was one tired girl when we got home. I have a feeling it won't be hard to convince her to go to our next wedding this summer.
First, Lauren and her two new friends Henry and Violet, ran around and around and around the floor, shrieking and laughing. Then, they took to jumping up and down, and in Lauren's case, pulling up her dress.
Then, as in all weddings, the music came on. After I restrained her through the first family dances, she took off. She leaped and danced and whirled and basically boogied down without stopping. She would take my hands or Jeremy's hands or both and twist and jump. She kept taking the bottom, fluffy layer of her dress and pick it up so the skirt popped up and even managed to put that into her dancing. In other words, she had a ball! It was difficult to get her to leave and she was one tired girl when we got home. I have a feeling it won't be hard to convince her to go to our next wedding this summer.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Finding Her Voice
Lauren has been, shall we say, testing the limits lately. I don't know if it's just a function of just being three or if it's her personality or both. It's sort of funny and definitely irritating at the same time.
Her first new trick has been being really bossy. She has no problem telling you where to sit and where to stand and how to do so. She demands food and certain toys and tells you exactly what you need to do to entertain her. It's all in this imperious little voice with a trace of indignation that you're not moving fast enough. It's all very charming.
A recent example of this was at Gymboree. She was with her babysitter Anna; I was at a meeting. She demanded that Anna get in this little flimsy fabric tunnel and as soon as Anna squeezed herself in, Lauren walked away. She just wanted to make her do it, I think.
Lauren's second trick is tattle-telling. I think this is something she picked up from daycare. Every day she comes home with some story of woe of how another kid did her wrong. They usually pushed her or took something from her. At least, that's what she says. VJ has also told me that Lauren is quite on top of what the other kids are doing and that she has no compunction about telling VJ when someone steps out of line. I think she's going to be a kindergarten teacher.
The final new trick is the doozy: she's started lying. Recently, she ran to tell her dad several times in a row that I pushed her. She then came back to me and said, "You're in trouble. So, she knows what she's doing. She knows there are consequences for me if she tells on me. The first time she said it, I told her what she was doing was called lying and that it was wrong, that it hurt other people. The second time, I repeated myself and tried to be very firm. The final time, she went into timeout and had to apologize to me. I didn't want to come down too hard this this was her first time really doing this, but do want to nip it in the bud. I don't need a little sociopath after all.
Overall, though, Lauren is a very happy, charming, sweet, and loving little girl. She's just coming into her own and is finding this little independent streak which is kind of fun to watch. Just as long as she leaves me out of it!
Her first new trick has been being really bossy. She has no problem telling you where to sit and where to stand and how to do so. She demands food and certain toys and tells you exactly what you need to do to entertain her. It's all in this imperious little voice with a trace of indignation that you're not moving fast enough. It's all very charming.
A recent example of this was at Gymboree. She was with her babysitter Anna; I was at a meeting. She demanded that Anna get in this little flimsy fabric tunnel and as soon as Anna squeezed herself in, Lauren walked away. She just wanted to make her do it, I think.
Lauren's second trick is tattle-telling. I think this is something she picked up from daycare. Every day she comes home with some story of woe of how another kid did her wrong. They usually pushed her or took something from her. At least, that's what she says. VJ has also told me that Lauren is quite on top of what the other kids are doing and that she has no compunction about telling VJ when someone steps out of line. I think she's going to be a kindergarten teacher.
The final new trick is the doozy: she's started lying. Recently, she ran to tell her dad several times in a row that I pushed her. She then came back to me and said, "You're in trouble. So, she knows what she's doing. She knows there are consequences for me if she tells on me. The first time she said it, I told her what she was doing was called lying and that it was wrong, that it hurt other people. The second time, I repeated myself and tried to be very firm. The final time, she went into timeout and had to apologize to me. I didn't want to come down too hard this this was her first time really doing this, but do want to nip it in the bud. I don't need a little sociopath after all.
Overall, though, Lauren is a very happy, charming, sweet, and loving little girl. She's just coming into her own and is finding this little independent streak which is kind of fun to watch. Just as long as she leaves me out of it!
Thursday, May 13, 2010
The Trend Continues...
I have been absolutely swamped at work the last couple of weeks, but have been keeping track of the funny things that Lauren comes up with:
- We were talking to the car after daycare when she suddenly said, "It's like the chameleon, Mommy!" I wonder what they were reading that day?
- The other day when she arrived at VJ's, she said, "Your girl is here, Miss VJ!" and then, "My belly is hungry."
- Just now I was wiping her face after dinner and she was resisting. She said, "You have to be nice to Lauren!"
- We were talking to the car after daycare when she suddenly said, "It's like the chameleon, Mommy!" I wonder what they were reading that day?
- The other day when she arrived at VJ's, she said, "Your girl is here, Miss VJ!" and then, "My belly is hungry."
- Just now I was wiping her face after dinner and she was resisting. She said, "You have to be nice to Lauren!"
Friday, May 7, 2010
Expressing Herself
I know I keep saying this, but Lauren's language development in these last months just blows me away. Not only is she understanding and using the more complex forms in her speech, but her pronunciation and enunciation are just amazing. Of course, I am her mom, and I'm sure that I understand her better than your average bystander, but I really do think she speaks clearly (and thoughtfully) for her age.
Last night, I was holding her in my arms and she suddenly whacked me on the face with her fist. Startled, I said, "Lauren! What are you doing?" "Using a hand hammer, Mama!" Now, it's not okay that she hit me and I dealt with that pretty swiftly, but you have to admit, 'hand hammer' is actually pretty descriptive. I'm such a language nerd that my kid hits me and I find something cool about it. Ridiculous.
Yesterday, as we were leaving daycare, I was talking to VJ as we were headed out the gate. I wasn't paying any attention and started to shut the gate with Lauren's finger in it. She was trying to touch the hinge, I think. I felt absolutely awful and she cried and cried. I went ahead and got her in the car to try to distract her as she didn't seem that hurt, more afraid. After a few minutes of driving, she said, "My finger feels better, Mama. Can I have some ice cream?" Way to work it, kid. She owns me!
Last night, I was holding her in my arms and she suddenly whacked me on the face with her fist. Startled, I said, "Lauren! What are you doing?" "Using a hand hammer, Mama!" Now, it's not okay that she hit me and I dealt with that pretty swiftly, but you have to admit, 'hand hammer' is actually pretty descriptive. I'm such a language nerd that my kid hits me and I find something cool about it. Ridiculous.
Yesterday, as we were leaving daycare, I was talking to VJ as we were headed out the gate. I wasn't paying any attention and started to shut the gate with Lauren's finger in it. She was trying to touch the hinge, I think. I felt absolutely awful and she cried and cried. I went ahead and got her in the car to try to distract her as she didn't seem that hurt, more afraid. After a few minutes of driving, she said, "My finger feels better, Mama. Can I have some ice cream?" Way to work it, kid. She owns me!
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Of Course They Are
This afternoon, Lauren and I were in the car on the way to Gymboree. Out of the blue, she said, "The dog is playing with the skunk." And that's it. Nothing else to follow it up. I didn't see anything out the window that would have made sense for her to be commenting on. It's like she's talking in super secret agent code!
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