Today, Daphne wanted to go for a walk. However, it was raining, and I said to her, "Sorry, Daphne, we can't go for a walk today, it's raining."
So she stood in front of the window for about 15 minutes, watching the rain fall.
She approached me again and said, "Mommy, turn off rain. Turn off rain."
I wasn't sure if I heard her correctly. I responded by asking, "What?"
"Turn off rain, mommy. Turn off rain."
"You want me to turn off the rain?"
"Yeah, turn off rain, outside."
"I'm sorry, Daphne, but mommy can't turn off the rain."
She looked despondent after hearing this. Then she just walked away.
Friday, November 30, 2007
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Daphne learns how to say "Hate you!"
On Thanksgiving, Lucie yelled, "I hate you!" at Daphne, and ever since, she has been yelling "I hate you!" whenever she gets upset.
It makes me so sad. I am trying to figure out ways to deal with it. I think I will just ignore it--hopefully it goes away!
What mean, ugly, hurtful, DIGUSTING words!
It makes me so sad. I am trying to figure out ways to deal with it. I think I will just ignore it--hopefully it goes away!
What mean, ugly, hurtful, DIGUSTING words!
Sticky Fingers, Diaper-throwing
Here are some conversations I've had with Daphne today:
Hahahaha, Daphne is soooo funny. The other day we were at the park and some kids took her doll stroller, and she went around looking for it, calling out, "Stroller, where are you? Where are you, stroller?" Then she saw it and got all freaked out that other kids were playing with it, and she tried to call my attention because I was bending over to get her sweater. To get my attention she said, very frantically, "Mommy, stroller, mommy, mommy, mommy, Paula, stroller, over there! MOMMY! TA-DAAA, TA-DAAAAA!"
Yes, she said "ta-da". She said it as if she were presenting something to me. It was soooo sad, yet so hilariously adorable.
In the middle of eating her Kare-Kare, Daphne says: Mommy, sticky fingers.
Paula: Huh?
Daphne: Sticky fingers, mommy, sticky fingers.
Paula: Oh,do you want want to wash your hands?
Daphne: (nods) Mmm-hmm.
Paula: Okay. (Takes Daphne down from her high chair)
(Daphne runs off to the bathroom to wash her hands, and then returns)
Daphne: Look, mommy, clean hands.
Paula: Ooooh, yeah, very clean.
Daphne: More food, please. More food, mommy.
This conversation was while I was changing Lotus:
Paula: Daphne, can you throw this diaper in the trash?
Daphne: (she stares at the diaper in my hand for about 5 seconds) Mommy, throw diaper on couch, diaper.
Paula: Uh, can you throw it away in the trash?
Daphne: (continues to stare at the diaper for about 3 more seconds, takes it from me, and throws it on the couch)
Daphne, after washing her hands: Mommy, wet sleeve, a wet frog (there were frogs on her sleeve).
Paula: Oh okay, go wring it out in the sink.
Daphne: Mommy, wet sleeve, a wet frog.
Paula: Yeah, go wring it out.
Daphne: A take it off, mommy, take off clothes.
Paula: Oh, okay. (takes off Daphne's shirt) Put it in the hamper.
(Daphne runs and puts her shirt in the hamper)
Daphne: (Upon returning, she has also taken off her pants) Mommy, I put clothes a hamper, a clothes. Clothes, a get it, mommy (meaning, she wanted me to get her new clothes).
Paula: You get your clothes. Get new clothes for yourself in your drawer.
Daphne: You get it.
Paula: No, you get it.
Daphne: No, you get it.
Paula: You get it.
Daphne: You get it.
Paula: You know where your clothes are, you get it.
Daphne: Okay.
(goes gets clothes then returns with a shirt and shorts)
Daphne: Look, mommy, a clothes. Flowers. (she chose very flower-y clothing)
Hahahaha, Daphne is soooo funny. The other day we were at the park and some kids took her doll stroller, and she went around looking for it, calling out, "Stroller, where are you? Where are you, stroller?" Then she saw it and got all freaked out that other kids were playing with it, and she tried to call my attention because I was bending over to get her sweater. To get my attention she said, very frantically, "Mommy, stroller, mommy, mommy, mommy, Paula, stroller, over there! MOMMY! TA-DAAA, TA-DAAAAA!"
Yes, she said "ta-da". She said it as if she were presenting something to me. It was soooo sad, yet so hilariously adorable.
Monday, November 26, 2007
Weekly Update
Lotus had a CT scan on Wednesday because it is protocol for babies whose head circumference measure "off the charts". Please pray that she doesn't develop cancer later in life, as recent scientific surveys have shown a correlation between pediatric CT scans and developing fatal cancers later in life. Hopefully, this is merely a correlation and not a causation.
There isn't visibly wrong with Lotus. She is healthy, active, and reaching all developmental milestones ahead of schedule.
She is smiling a lot, lifting her head around, and she even giggled once after I cracked a joke about Emmanuel! Coincidence? She's an extremely attentive baby, but she sometimes gets overstimulated by stuff she sees. Those are the times when her new Moby Wrap comes in handy!
I bought a Moby Wrap for her on Saturday because her Simple Sling had torn. I got a simple, chocolate-colored one. The Moby is easy to use, and I'm happy to say that it distributes her weight evenly across my back in a way that her Simple Sling did not. The Moby supports her excellently despite her weighing 14 pounds!
There isn't visibly wrong with Lotus. She is healthy, active, and reaching all developmental milestones ahead of schedule.
She is smiling a lot, lifting her head around, and she even giggled once after I cracked a joke about Emmanuel! Coincidence? She's an extremely attentive baby, but she sometimes gets overstimulated by stuff she sees. Those are the times when her new Moby Wrap comes in handy!
I bought a Moby Wrap for her on Saturday because her Simple Sling had torn. I got a simple, chocolate-colored one. The Moby is easy to use, and I'm happy to say that it distributes her weight evenly across my back in a way that her Simple Sling did not. The Moby supports her excellently despite her weighing 14 pounds!
Weekly Update
Daphne has learned to sing "Happy Birthday to You."
She knows what a triangle is.
We made picture frames on Saturday using Christmas-themed confetti and pom poms. In fact, we went to Michael's and shopped for craft supplies so I could do more crafts with Daphne. She is learning to dispense glue very well. I will post a picture of what she decorated later, so check back!
She is very proficient is distinguishing and naming different colors. However, she calls the color black "black bear." I think her confusion comes from the time I taught her the word "black bear" to help her distinguish between a "panda bear." I don't think she understood that "black bear" was the NAME of the animal, not the color of the animal. So now every time we see the color black she proudly exclaims, "black bear!"
She knows what a triangle is.
We made picture frames on Saturday using Christmas-themed confetti and pom poms. In fact, we went to Michael's and shopped for craft supplies so I could do more crafts with Daphne. She is learning to dispense glue very well. I will post a picture of what she decorated later, so check back!
She is very proficient is distinguishing and naming different colors. However, she calls the color black "black bear." I think her confusion comes from the time I taught her the word "black bear" to help her distinguish between a "panda bear." I don't think she understood that "black bear" was the NAME of the animal, not the color of the animal. So now every time we see the color black she proudly exclaims, "black bear!"
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Daphne Talks & Loves -- has also Learned Colors and Emotions
Daphne is becoming so talkative. She is starting to string together adjectives and nouns, nouns and verbs. Very cool!
She has also learned her colors. She knows black, red, green, yellow, blue, white. I think she learned her colors because of the Play-Doh I bought!
Here are some videos of Daphne expressing her love:
Also, she has learned to express her emotions! The other day, I was feeling frazzled because Lotus needed me, but Daphne was asking for my attention. I told Daphne to hold on for a minute, and then she started to whimper and say that she was sad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She said something like, "Sad. I'm sad. I'm sad."
I have been trying to teach her to express herself with her words because sometimes she uses inappropriate actions to express herself (like throwing books). So I made up a song using different emotions. I just sing the name of the emotion over and over while expressing the emotion on my face and with my body. I have been trying to teach her about happiness, sadness, frustration, anger and surprise.
Very cool, huh?!?
She has also learned her colors. She knows black, red, green, yellow, blue, white. I think she learned her colors because of the Play-Doh I bought!
Here are some videos of Daphne expressing her love:
Also, she has learned to express her emotions! The other day, I was feeling frazzled because Lotus needed me, but Daphne was asking for my attention. I told Daphne to hold on for a minute, and then she started to whimper and say that she was sad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She said something like, "Sad. I'm sad. I'm sad."
I have been trying to teach her to express herself with her words because sometimes she uses inappropriate actions to express herself (like throwing books). So I made up a song using different emotions. I just sing the name of the emotion over and over while expressing the emotion on my face and with my body. I have been trying to teach her about happiness, sadness, frustration, anger and surprise.
Very cool, huh?!?
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Daphne uses complete sentences! WOW!
The past few days, I have been teaching Daphne songs. Today, sometime, in the evening, Daphne started singing the ABCs all by herself! And then, at the end, she yelled, "SING WITH ME!"
I WAS SO SURPRISED!!!
Another surprise that occurred today--I was looking for stuff in my bedroom, when all of a sudden, Daphne rushed towards me yelling, "I GOT YOU!" Then she insisted that I run away from her while she tried to catch me! It was the funniest, cutest thing ever!
I feel disappointed that I haven't been able to take her to the park for the past week, though. I made it my goal to take her to the park for at least an hour everyday, but Emmanuel and I have been so busy trying to get his graduate school applications ready. Sort of stressful, but exciting!
On Saturday, we are going to visit the Getty Museum! They are having this cool event that I thought Daphne would enjoy! I'll make sure to take lots of pictures to post!
I WAS SO SURPRISED!!!
Another surprise that occurred today--I was looking for stuff in my bedroom, when all of a sudden, Daphne rushed towards me yelling, "I GOT YOU!" Then she insisted that I run away from her while she tried to catch me! It was the funniest, cutest thing ever!
I feel disappointed that I haven't been able to take her to the park for the past week, though. I made it my goal to take her to the park for at least an hour everyday, but Emmanuel and I have been so busy trying to get his graduate school applications ready. Sort of stressful, but exciting!
On Saturday, we are going to visit the Getty Museum! They are having this cool event that I thought Daphne would enjoy! I'll make sure to take lots of pictures to post!
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Old Videos
Here are some videos I took over the summer that I finally got to edit! Hope you enjoy!
Daphne at the pool:
Daphne "reading":
Together as a family at a concert at the park:
Daphne at the pool:
Daphne "reading":
Together as a family at a concert at the park:
7 Week Check-Up
I forgot to blog about the baby's 7th week check-up on the October 23, 2007. She weighed 13 pounds and 4 ounces.
She is now wearing 3-6 month sized clothing.
She is now wearing 3-6 month sized clothing.
Lotus' First Halloween
Lotus was a very cute pea pod. We didn't really get that much trick-or-treating done as Daphne was being very temperamental. We had to take her out of her costume and just hold her in the middle of trick-or-treating because I think she was getting uncomfortable.
SHE WAS SOOOOOOOOOOO ADORABLE, THOUGH! She just looked so chubby and cute in her costume!
Daphne's 2nd Year Trick-or-Treating
So my parents got Daphne this adorable monkey costume. Really, really cute. However, Daphne has been adamantly refusing to wear it, so it was no surprise when she freaked out tonight refusing to even have it near her. So we ended up trick-or-treating without a costume. Which made me really, really sad. Maybe it will still fit by next year? Last year, she was a pumpkin and she LOVED her costume. I brought it out again this year, but she was freaked out about the pumpkin costume, too!
Well, anyway, tonight, after a brief walk around our neighborhood, we were sitting around in our living room talking and eating chocolates. Daphne was snacking with us and had just finished a piece of chocolate. I noticed her looking at her chocolate-stained fingers. She then started to look around her for something to wipe off the chocolate. After a brief pause, which I suspect she took to quickly think about her problem, she reached up to the top of her head AND WIPED HER HAND ON HER HAIR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I told her that she should use a paper towel to wipe her hands, and she ran off towards her dad asking for a "ta-el perper".
It was hilarious.
Well, anyway, tonight, after a brief walk around our neighborhood, we were sitting around in our living room talking and eating chocolates. Daphne was snacking with us and had just finished a piece of chocolate. I noticed her looking at her chocolate-stained fingers. She then started to look around her for something to wipe off the chocolate. After a brief pause, which I suspect she took to quickly think about her problem, she reached up to the top of her head AND WIPED HER HAND ON HER HAIR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I told her that she should use a paper towel to wipe her hands, and she ran off towards her dad asking for a "ta-el perper".
It was hilarious.
Monday, October 29, 2007
New Activities
Yesterday, I bought Daphne Play-Doh, a 48-pack of Crayola Crayons and safety scissors. She really enjoys playing with her Play-Doh. I've taught her how to make spheres and snakes with the Play-Doh. I've also shown her how to roll out the Play-Doh with a rolling pin. She seems to really get a kick from it.
She loves to color. She is starting to color within the lines. She's also learning her colors.
Along with teaching her how play with her new toys, I've also shown her how to properly put her things away. She knows that she has to put away the Play-Doh she is playing with before she can open up another color. She knows she has to return a crayon into the box before she takes out another one. When she's done coloring and cutting, she returns her crayons and her scissors to her pencil box that I also purchased for her.
Daphne threw a book in anger two days ago. I realized that we should start disciplining her. Emmanuel and I have agreed on putting her in the corner for 2 minutes whenever she expresses herself inappropriately, i.e. hitting people or throwing items. We're going to reserve the corner for very serious offenses so that it doesn't lose it's effectiveness. It's proven to be quite effective. For other infractions, we've decided to take away privileges. For example, if Daphne doesn't want to clean up her toys after she's done playing, that's fine, we'll clean them up--BUT, she won't be able to go into her playroom for a few hours or perhaps even a day. We want her to know that she has choices, but her choices have consequences. I don't want to bully her into cleaning up after herself, but I want her to learn that she can choose not clean up after herself, but, just like in real life, that choice has a logical sequence of action that follows.
When we put her into the corner two days ago, and it was so sad! She stayed put, but she cried and cried. I think she thinks she's invisible because she yells out, "I'm here! I'm here! Help me! I'm here!"
I'm looking for really good toddler books to read to Daphne that will show her how to appropriately express her emotions without throwing stuff or hitting people.
Oh, yeah, I also bought her alphabet flashcards that have both uppercase and lowercase letters, so she can learn her lowercase letters. I plan on using them to teach her the sound of each letter, too.
I also got her Shel Silverstein's Where the Sidewalk Ends. She really, really likes it. She likes to recite the poetry with me, and she even helps me act it out. In fact, she fell asleep last night while Emmanuel read some poems to her.
She loves to color. She is starting to color within the lines. She's also learning her colors.
Along with teaching her how play with her new toys, I've also shown her how to properly put her things away. She knows that she has to put away the Play-Doh she is playing with before she can open up another color. She knows she has to return a crayon into the box before she takes out another one. When she's done coloring and cutting, she returns her crayons and her scissors to her pencil box that I also purchased for her.
Daphne threw a book in anger two days ago. I realized that we should start disciplining her. Emmanuel and I have agreed on putting her in the corner for 2 minutes whenever she expresses herself inappropriately, i.e. hitting people or throwing items. We're going to reserve the corner for very serious offenses so that it doesn't lose it's effectiveness. It's proven to be quite effective. For other infractions, we've decided to take away privileges. For example, if Daphne doesn't want to clean up her toys after she's done playing, that's fine, we'll clean them up--BUT, she won't be able to go into her playroom for a few hours or perhaps even a day. We want her to know that she has choices, but her choices have consequences. I don't want to bully her into cleaning up after herself, but I want her to learn that she can choose not clean up after herself, but, just like in real life, that choice has a logical sequence of action that follows.
When we put her into the corner two days ago, and it was so sad! She stayed put, but she cried and cried. I think she thinks she's invisible because she yells out, "I'm here! I'm here! Help me! I'm here!"
I'm looking for really good toddler books to read to Daphne that will show her how to appropriately express her emotions without throwing stuff or hitting people.
Oh, yeah, I also bought her alphabet flashcards that have both uppercase and lowercase letters, so she can learn her lowercase letters. I plan on using them to teach her the sound of each letter, too.
I also got her Shel Silverstein's Where the Sidewalk Ends. She really, really likes it. She likes to recite the poetry with me, and she even helps me act it out. In fact, she fell asleep last night while Emmanuel read some poems to her.
Lotus Loves Carly
Lotus likes to sing along with me. She particularly likes Carly Simon's "You're So Vain."
Friday, October 26, 2007
Differences between Lotus and Daphne
Lotus smiles much more than Daphne did at her age. Lotus smiles mostly when I interact with her. She likes it when I sing to her and blow into her face.
Lotus can also, at 2 1/2 months, already lift up her head when she's lying on her tummy.
I can't wait until I hear Lotus' first giggle!
Lotus can also, at 2 1/2 months, already lift up her head when she's lying on her tummy.
I can't wait until I hear Lotus' first giggle!
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Lotus Cinnamon-Estelle
Lotus Cinnamon-Estelle was born on September 6, 2007 after about 7 hours of labor via natural water birth. She was 9 pounds & 13 ounces at birth.
A more detailed narration of the labor & birth to come later--check back again soon!
A more detailed narration of the labor & birth to come later--check back again soon!
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Daphne knows her letters! She also refers to herself as "her".
I feel so horrible that I haven't blogged in so long! I can't believe I haven't posted in a year!
Daphne has learned her letters. She knows how to identify all of them! We don't know exactly how she learned them all--odd, huh!?! One day, I noticed she spent most of her time playing with her frog telephone toy. The telephone frog toy has buttons on which are each individual letter of the alphabet. When one letter is pressed, an animal whose name and species corresponds with the letter that is pressed. For example "K" would be "Kerry the Kangeroo." Emmanuel accidentally noticed that Daphne had memorized the animal that corresponded with each letter. So he would quiz her every so often.
So now, she's able to identify letters when we point to them and ask her what it is. Or we will say a letter and ask her to point it out for us.
She also refers to herself as "her." When she is talking on the phone with people, she will greet them and tell them that she is "her." Whenever I point to pictures of her and ask her to identify herself, she refers to herself as "her." Really odd!
She knows so many words now! Here is a brief list--it isn't very comprehensive:
meat
donut
pants
shirt
socks
shoes
sneakers
sandals
glasses
bath
soap
pillow
cup
plate
spoon
fork
hair tie
comb
T.V.
paper
pen
marker
crayon
messy
dirt
dirty
paper towel
toilet paper
diaper
fall down
help me
please
thank you
more
don't want
Where are you?
Daddy's work!
flying
eating
pretty (she usually uses this word to describe clothing--her own and other people's)
dress
Oops!
Ow!
Stop it! (she uses this when we wash her hair)
Go away! (she uses this whenever we're trying to take her back home from the park)
drawing
walking
park
You okay?
sorry
Help me!
stuck
sleep
goodnight
baby
sister
Lotus (although it sounds as if she's saying "otis")
water
drink
grape juice
banana
apple
orange
There is more, but that is all I can think of right now. She strings these different words together to convey what she wants.
She also knows how to count to 13! When we go for walks, she likes to count the trees. When she sees the moon, she greets it ("Hi, moon! Where is moon? Bye, moon!").
She likes to draw. She primarily like to draw with crayons and markers. She will show us her drawings so we can "ooh" and "ahh" at them!
She's very helpful with the baby. She will retrieve wipes and diapers when I ask her. She really likes this one show on PBS called Super Why! I think it also helped her to learn her alphabet!
Jeez, I really do regret not posting more often. I look back on my last post nearly a year ago, and she has grown so much! She's practically using sentences! I will try my hardest to keep this updated! I really do need to be more consistent when documenting her development!
The following are videos where Daphne refers to herself as "her" and where she is identifying letters. She's only 2 years and 8 months old. I wonder when she'll start reading!
Daphne has learned her letters. She knows how to identify all of them! We don't know exactly how she learned them all--odd, huh!?! One day, I noticed she spent most of her time playing with her frog telephone toy. The telephone frog toy has buttons on which are each individual letter of the alphabet. When one letter is pressed, an animal whose name and species corresponds with the letter that is pressed. For example "K" would be "Kerry the Kangeroo." Emmanuel accidentally noticed that Daphne had memorized the animal that corresponded with each letter. So he would quiz her every so often.
So now, she's able to identify letters when we point to them and ask her what it is. Or we will say a letter and ask her to point it out for us.
She also refers to herself as "her." When she is talking on the phone with people, she will greet them and tell them that she is "her." Whenever I point to pictures of her and ask her to identify herself, she refers to herself as "her." Really odd!
She knows so many words now! Here is a brief list--it isn't very comprehensive:
meat
donut
pants
shirt
socks
shoes
sneakers
sandals
glasses
bath
soap
pillow
cup
plate
spoon
fork
hair tie
comb
T.V.
paper
pen
marker
crayon
messy
dirt
dirty
paper towel
toilet paper
diaper
fall down
help me
please
thank you
more
don't want
Where are you?
Daddy's work!
flying
eating
pretty (she usually uses this word to describe clothing--her own and other people's)
dress
Oops!
Ow!
Stop it! (she uses this when we wash her hair)
Go away! (she uses this whenever we're trying to take her back home from the park)
drawing
walking
park
You okay?
sorry
Help me!
stuck
sleep
goodnight
baby
sister
Lotus (although it sounds as if she's saying "otis")
water
drink
grape juice
banana
apple
orange
There is more, but that is all I can think of right now. She strings these different words together to convey what she wants.
She also knows how to count to 13! When we go for walks, she likes to count the trees. When she sees the moon, she greets it ("Hi, moon! Where is moon? Bye, moon!").
She likes to draw. She primarily like to draw with crayons and markers. She will show us her drawings so we can "ooh" and "ahh" at them!
She's very helpful with the baby. She will retrieve wipes and diapers when I ask her. She really likes this one show on PBS called Super Why! I think it also helped her to learn her alphabet!
Jeez, I really do regret not posting more often. I look back on my last post nearly a year ago, and she has grown so much! She's practically using sentences! I will try my hardest to keep this updated! I really do need to be more consistent when documenting her development!
The following are videos where Daphne refers to herself as "her" and where she is identifying letters. She's only 2 years and 8 months old. I wonder when she'll start reading!
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