Phaedra

I just love all her curls.

Phaedra is talking, talking, talking! She repeats so many words we say, and she’s starting to put together two words. She says, “Get it,” among other things. Some of her favorites lately include: band-aid, Eleanor (I LOVE how she says Eleanor), dance, nap, pretzel, cracker, church, nigh-night, medicine . . . it’s hard to make a list now, because she repeats everything we say.

We’ve been practicing the Articles of Faith with Eleanor. Phaedra has heard it so many times. When I asked Eleanor the other day to tell me her Article of Faith, Phaedra started out, “We believe . . .”

Phaedra is getting more and more insistent on being independent. She often finishes eating quickly but wants to beg food off of us once she’s out of her chair. She tries to insist on feeding herself even when she’s in your lap mooching messy food. It only took her a few times throwing a fit with her daddy to find out that she doesn’t get any food if she insists on doing it herself.

The past week or so, Phaedra has been making herself heard. She screams like a banshee when she is upset with what is happening. I think she learned it from the way Eleanor screams when Phaedra steals her toys. She knows better, though. When she screams at me over something she wants, I tell her to use her words, and she immediately (and a bit more slowly if she’s really angry) says please.

Phaedra will eat just about anything that involves peanut butter. And when she’s done eating it, she puts it in her hair, of course. She also loves pretzels, yogurt covered raisins, and yogurt.

She likes toast (with peanut butter), and when the toaster pops, she says, “Pop!” until you go get it ready for her. She also tries to say, “Lolli- lolli- lolli-pop!” (You can mostly only understand the pop part, though.)

Phaedra is a very snuggly, loving girl. She loves to be in my lap. When she wakes up too early in the morning, she snuggles me in bed. She has to be situated so her shoulder is pressed tightly under my chin. She gives pat-pats and kisses. She winks (blinks both eyes); she’s been winking at me when I pull out the camera lately.

Phaedra will be nursery age next month. Many people assume that my only emotion concerning that transition would be one of celebration. This is just another way that I’m an odd mom, I guess. (Note: I don’t have any problem with moms who are excited to put their children in nursery, nor do I think they are wrong to feel that way.) Sure, she’s getting to be a real handful at church, but that doesn’t mean I’m itching to get rid of her. I get so addicted to my kids. This age is SO fun. I love watching her grow and express herself. She is really seeming to have some separation anxiety with me lately. I don’t know if it’s because I’ve been getting out more or if it’s just the age. I’ve taken her into nursery a few times so she can get a feel for it, and she watches me like a hawk, crying if I seem like I will leave. I love the women who work in the nursery, and I respect them. It’s still hard for me because I know Phaedra doesn’t know them very well, and even though I can tell them to bring her to me if she’s having a hard time, there are all different perceptions of a child having a hard time. It’s hard for me to trust that they will know when she has hit her limit and take the time to come get me. I just want her to have a good experience.

In contrast, this was never an issue with Eleanor because she was so excited about playing with other kids and different toys that she didn’t care so much when we left her. Eleanor was more sensitive, getting her feelings hurt easily, so I really didn’t expect that Phaedra would be the one to have trouble going to nursery. I guess we’ll see how it all goes in a month.

There is a group of about five kids going into nursery right around the same time. That nursery is going to be HUGE. We’re going to a special play date with just those kids toward the end of this month that should be really fun.

Phaedra has all her molars cut through the gums, and last I checked, most of them were all the way in, with only a little bit of gums still covering the top ones. She’s been working on her canines. Her top ones have cut through, but they are taking their time coming in.

Phaedra loves books. She started acting too jealous of Eleanor who got to sit with Daddy at bedtime and listen to stories while I put Phaedra to bed. So, we started letting her hang around for stories until she got too restless before I took her to bed. The last few nights, we have put the girls to bed at the same time, and so far, we have actually had success. We couldn’t dream of doing that in the beginning because they kept each other up. I think they’ve both come a long way where sleep is concerned. Phaedra has had some rough nights when she has gotten up, but I think they have mostly been because of teeth.

Phaedra went potty on the potty once during the month. (She was in the tub, and I saw her starting to push and hurried to get her onto the potty.) Now, she tells me “potty” most of the times she goes in her diaper. Sometimes, she gets really insistent that I put her on the potty to let her try, but she has usually already gone in her diaper. It’s her new obsession, though.

She’s a busy little girl, and she certainly keeps us busy. We love her.

Giving loves and pat-pats.

Phaedra used to squawk most of the times Eleanor tried to hug her, but she’s getting better about it. She even randomly decides to go give Eleanor a hug sometimes. I just love it when they’re sweet to each other.