Lauren is a child that likes structure and her bedtime routine is no different. She really seems to like going to bed, but just has a certain way of going about it.
She's in bed every night between 7 and 7:30, unless it's an extremely special occasion. After dinner, we wipe her hands and face with a washcloth and she heads towards the bathroom while we sing the toothbrushing song from Raffi. She does a decent job of brushing her teeth and then I take a few swipes at them to finish her off.
Then, we head back to her room and she gets into her diaper (for now, fingers crossed) and pjs. Then, we read two or three stories, depending on the length. Right now, her favorites are Green Eggs and Ham, Tickety-Tock What Time Is It? (a perennial favorite), and Curious George and The Bunny. Minnie's Slumber Party and Donald Duck's Some Ducks Have All The Luck are also favorites. They're also both really long, but she loves them!
Once we've read, we put her into her "sleeping bag", aka her Pack N Play (for now) and pile on the blankets. She must have three: her favorite pink "blankie" on the bottom, another pink blanket with a silky edge next, and finally, the butterfly comforter. Once she's all tucked in, she requests a little water. Finally, with all of that, she goes to sleep.
And if that's what we have to do to make it that easy, I'm happy to do it!
Something cute from tonight: She went over and picked out her first book and said, "This is good. To start."
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Missy?
Lauren's newest thing is to come up to me while I'm doing something, look up at me and say, "What'cha doin', missy?" Sometimes 'missy' turns into 'Little Miss' or 'Daisy.' I have no idea where she got it from, but it's adorable!
Tonight my friend Diana was over and Lauren told her, "My mommy is a lady." Again, I don't know where that come from, but again, it's adorable.
Tonight my friend Diana was over and Lauren told her, "My mommy is a lady." Again, I don't know where that come from, but again, it's adorable.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
The Conversationalist
Lauren is a fairly shy little girl, like I was as a child. When she meets new people, mostly adults, she gets really clingy and hides behind my leg. After a little time, she'll warm up and once she warms up, she'll talk their ear off! With children, she is decidedly more friendly from the get-go, but still takes a while to get warmed up.
Lately, though, she seems to be really making an effort to talk to adults. Today, she started a new Little Gym class with a new teacher, and I wasn't sure how she'd handle that. As soon as we walked in, she went right up to the new teacher and said, "My name is Law-wen! This is Sarah!" I was proud of her and her introduction-making. Of course, she followed up with her, "My mom takes me outside!" Once they got into class, she even plopped right down on his lap. Guess she's okay with the change!
Lately, though, she seems to be really making an effort to talk to adults. Today, she started a new Little Gym class with a new teacher, and I wasn't sure how she'd handle that. As soon as we walked in, she went right up to the new teacher and said, "My name is Law-wen! This is Sarah!" I was proud of her and her introduction-making. Of course, she followed up with her, "My mom takes me outside!" Once they got into class, she even plopped right down on his lap. Guess she's okay with the change!
Sunday, June 20, 2010
The Lauren Collection
As usual, I have gotten totally overwhelmed with school ending in the last two weeks and have thus neglected my blogging duties. I've been conscientious about writing down funny things she's said, though, so I have some material.
-In the "She'd have been thrilled if she heard that" department, today as she was walking into church in her rain coat and pink backpack, a young teenage boy behind her said in a faux whisper, "She looks like Dora the Explorer!" Unfortunately, she didn't hear him.
-The other day when I was getting into the front seat after strapping her in, Lauren said, "Mama, can I drive?"
-She's really making an effort to make conversation with everyone lately, which is cute. Normally, she likes to randomly tell people, "My mom and dad take me outside." I guess she tells VJ's son Denver that every day. The other day as we were leaving the vet, she turned and said, "Thank you for seeing my dog." I thought that was brilliant!
-Every night when she finishes dinner, we wipe her hands with a washcloth. The other night, she folded it in half and then half again so that it was a long strip. She then rolled it up and said, "Look! A snail!"
-She has a kid's cookbook that she absolutely adores. She leafs through it every day, looking at the pictures. The other day, she was sitting and looking at it. "Mama?," she said, "Can we make cookies?" I told her no, that we were about to make dinner. "Can we make cookies for dinner?" I wish I could have said yes!
-I made two seemingly small purchases at Target that have just rocked her world:
1.)I found a hula hoop that was just her size. She has had the best time trying to figure out how to use it. When she's not making attempt after attempt to spin it around her waist, she loves to put it on the floor and jump in and out of it.
2.)I found a little step stool in their $1 bin. After about an hour of having it home, she took it into the bathroom and pottied all by herself! She even told Jeremy to stay out! She hasn't been interested in pottying at all, but this evidently was what she wanted! Hopefully, this will take!
-In the "She'd have been thrilled if she heard that" department, today as she was walking into church in her rain coat and pink backpack, a young teenage boy behind her said in a faux whisper, "She looks like Dora the Explorer!" Unfortunately, she didn't hear him.
-The other day when I was getting into the front seat after strapping her in, Lauren said, "Mama, can I drive?"
-She's really making an effort to make conversation with everyone lately, which is cute. Normally, she likes to randomly tell people, "My mom and dad take me outside." I guess she tells VJ's son Denver that every day. The other day as we were leaving the vet, she turned and said, "Thank you for seeing my dog." I thought that was brilliant!
-Every night when she finishes dinner, we wipe her hands with a washcloth. The other night, she folded it in half and then half again so that it was a long strip. She then rolled it up and said, "Look! A snail!"
-She has a kid's cookbook that she absolutely adores. She leafs through it every day, looking at the pictures. The other day, she was sitting and looking at it. "Mama?," she said, "Can we make cookies?" I told her no, that we were about to make dinner. "Can we make cookies for dinner?" I wish I could have said yes!
-I made two seemingly small purchases at Target that have just rocked her world:
1.)I found a hula hoop that was just her size. She has had the best time trying to figure out how to use it. When she's not making attempt after attempt to spin it around her waist, she loves to put it on the floor and jump in and out of it.
2.)I found a little step stool in their $1 bin. After about an hour of having it home, she took it into the bathroom and pottied all by herself! She even told Jeremy to stay out! She hasn't been interested in pottying at all, but this evidently was what she wanted! Hopefully, this will take!
Monday, June 7, 2010
The big girl and the small girl
This afternoon, Lauren was helping me carry the laundry basket up the stairs. As we climbed, she said, "The big girl and the small girl are carrying the laundry basket up the stairs."
As usual, I thought her use of language was just really cool and wanted to share it.
As usual, I thought her use of language was just really cool and wanted to share it.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
At least she's honest!
This morning, Jeremy took Lauren to church, and she played quietly for the first five minutes. She then looked up at him and said, "I need to play, Daddy." He said, "No, honey, its time to listen right now." Distressed look on her face, she said, "I CAN'T listen!"
He decided it was best to listen to her and take her to the nursery. Much better outcome than keeping an unruly toddler in the sanctuary!
He decided it was best to listen to her and take her to the nursery. Much better outcome than keeping an unruly toddler in the sanctuary!
Thursday, June 3, 2010
So Smart!
I had one of those moments today where I was just bursting with pride over how smart Lauren is.
One of the best parts of my day is our drive home from VJ's. I love chatting with Lauren about her day, hearing how she thinks and how she's using the language. I try to ask her specifics about what she colored or designed with Play-doh, who she played with, and what songs they sang. She probably hates the interrogation, but I love it!
Today, there was a lull in the conversation, so I started telling her about opposites. I told her that night is the opposite of day, that black is the opposite of white, etc. Then I asked her what she thought the opposite of big is. After a few moments of her not answering, I told her that small is the opposite of big. I then asked her what the opposite of wet is. Again, she didn't answer, so I told her that it's dry. Then I asked her what the opposite of big is. "Small!", she said instantly. "Dry!", she said when I asked her for the opposite of wet. She remembered what I said well.
The best part was when we got home. I asked her what the opposite of up is, which I hadn't asked her before. After a moment, she said down! In that short time, she understood the concept of opposite! I also asked her what the opposite of happy is and she said sick. I think that's pretty smart.
I just love watching her brain work!
One of the best parts of my day is our drive home from VJ's. I love chatting with Lauren about her day, hearing how she thinks and how she's using the language. I try to ask her specifics about what she colored or designed with Play-doh, who she played with, and what songs they sang. She probably hates the interrogation, but I love it!
Today, there was a lull in the conversation, so I started telling her about opposites. I told her that night is the opposite of day, that black is the opposite of white, etc. Then I asked her what she thought the opposite of big is. After a few moments of her not answering, I told her that small is the opposite of big. I then asked her what the opposite of wet is. Again, she didn't answer, so I told her that it's dry. Then I asked her what the opposite of big is. "Small!", she said instantly. "Dry!", she said when I asked her for the opposite of wet. She remembered what I said well.
The best part was when we got home. I asked her what the opposite of up is, which I hadn't asked her before. After a moment, she said down! In that short time, she understood the concept of opposite! I also asked her what the opposite of happy is and she said sick. I think that's pretty smart.
I just love watching her brain work!
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