new in november

percy keeps growing and amazing us. her comprehension and word use is continuing to gallop along. i'm convinced she understands 90% of what we say to her. she's also able to repeat every single word she hears, whether she knows what it means or the context, or not. for instance a part of one of her books that moves the tail of an animal has been repaired so many times it's just not going to work again. i told her this morning it was 'busted-arse', it's cute to hear her babbling on her way to day care saying "bus-sed-ass" over and over. or should i be appalled? (at me.)

we've also had success with a mini 'time out' behaviour modification experiment. percy still occasionally likes to put her feet on the table at meal times. paul told her firmly at dinner a few nites ago that if she did not keep her feet down then she would be put away from the table and not be able to eat. (perhaps not much of a threat for a kid that doesn't eat much in the first place.) up go the feet again, accompanied by a sly grin. paul pulled her chair away from the table while explaining why. she yelled and cried but upon returning to the table 60 seconds later kept her feet nicely under it for the remainder of a pleasant dinner. we've yet to repeat this experiment for other undesirable behaviours, maybe it was a fluke?

i think the separation anxiety is lessening. after that one horrible week of leech clamping onto my leg at day care in the mornings percy has happily waved me away with kisses this week. sleeping has been a mixed bag. she's put herself to sleep with no action from us the last two nites, but she needed some rubbing and company previous nites. thru the nite we think she is largely waking up do to feeling cold. which is saying something for sticking with sleeping bags. whenever we go in to see her she has kicked off/ squirmed out of her blankets. hard to get out of a sleeping bag. but since we took her out of the sleeping bags she's also out grown them. buying new ones the next size up is about $70 a pop. the idea of getting her out of sleeping bags was also to help with toilet training in the future. once she transfers to a bed the plan is she'll learn to take herself to the toilet thru the nite. anyways, all the pros and cons added up mean we'll stick with blankets.

sometimes percy shares beautifully, other times the world is made entirely for her benefit thank-you-very-much-i'll-have-that-now! (rising crescendo) she will offer toys to us or other kids but not very often yet. she also doesn't get waiting for a turn on the swing. tho waiting for a turn on the slide doesn't seem to be so agitating. go figure, hey? she's possessive about balls and her bike. well, the bike is kinda special, i'd probably be possessive about it too. who am i kidding, i am possessive about my bike!
she shares her meals with us too. or psyches us. meaning she holds some food out in her hand to us and says ''mamma eat" or "pappa food", then as we reach for it or lean in to have her put it in our mouths she snatches her hand back and gobbles it up herself, with a laugh! i'm sure we shouldn't encourage this but it is hilarious.

we're off to the blue mountains tomorrow with all the other parents and toddlers from parents group for two nites. staying at a family holiday place called 'federation gardens.' every one seems very keen. i'm being a bit grouchy and just seeing the long drive, the expense and the inconvenience of being away from the ready accessibility of home. i think i'll come 'round...
let you know next week.