Another successful journey with the tiny dancer

She was good on the Amtrak train for 3 hours to BWI and fantastic on the way home. She enjoyed, immensely, playing with her cousins. I was grateful they wore her out as all but one night she went to sleep like a log. And, gratefully, she got enough good naps in that was wasn't super whiny or aggressive.

We went to the Air & Space museum out by Dulles. It was great as I got to hear, "Ay-pane!" very excitedly. A lot. And then "ah-na-naught" when we got to the space section. Her cousin bought her this lights/vibrating wand that she adores. As ge told us in the car, shortly after Carolina started to nod off, "you should make sure to let her use it. It helps her sleep." ha!

I've noticed as she gets older, tired becomes more about whining and physical aggressiveness. And that's when I hear a lot of "No, mine!" which is actually funny to me. I try not to laugh because she's asserting her independence and I need to balance that with calm/polite behavior -- but she's still so young that I find it a bit amusing.

It seems her aunts and uncles were happy to have us visit, too.

So we can now add napping on a train to the list of transportation methods she's willing to tolerate. Next we should add a boat. Except mommy doesn't like boats. Especially with a two year old.

Instead of "OK", we got a "Yes"

Just arrived off the Amtrak train to visit my family in Maryland and got into my cousin's car with my aunt and cousin.

 Once we arrived at her house, my aunt turned to Carolina and said, "Did you have a good time on the train?" Clear as day, and without hesitation Carolina said, "Yes!"

I was stunned. She didn't say "Okay" or just smile, like usual. Or even "Yeah"; she said, "Yes."

Awesome.  

And the next day all's well

After a good night's rest, the little monkey was back to her happy self and had a good day. Had a good nap and a good day the following day.

Ahhhh, happy sleep. Good naps for the under 4 crowd can't be overstated.

Nap Protesting

In the past few weeks, maybe a month, naptime has gone from a nearly reliable tradition where I put her down and more or less she sleeps for two hours (or more), to spending time going in once or twice (mostly to make sure she's not up calling for me because she pooped) before she sleeps.

Today is perhaps the worst it's been so far. I'm grateful she doesn't have a bed as she would most certainly be at her door knocking on it while calling for me or playing with whatever she could find in there. Instead of resting.

She's started to buck against sleep at night too. Not just the head banging and body rocking, yes that's still going on to some degree, but she objects to sleep. I know full well thus is that age. I fluctuate between going in to get her to sleep and ignoring her. I'm not sure what tactic is best but I'm trying to be reasonable while also trying to get her to sort it out on her own in there.

Trying is the operative word as I'm not sure if what I'm doing is helping, hurting, or simply following along this new path.

It's been just over an hour and she's still calling out for me in increasingly whiny and tired tones.

And today is very hot and humid out, so as we are probably apartment-bound this afternoon, should be a major pain if she's refused a nap today. That doesn't happen very often, but it does happen.

Hilariously, there's a kid outside our building about her age having a total meltdown. She's calling out to him from her room. The chorus of the over-tired toddlers in joint protest.

Things this kid says...

Each week Carolina seems to be talking more and more. Her sentences are now up to three words long and her speech is more and more clear.

Here are a few of the "big sentences" she's using regularly within the last two weeks:

1. "I deh eht" (I did it)
2. "Lookah mee" (Look at me)
3. "I findet" (I found it)
4. "Iz mine" (It's mine)
5. "Luvuu mahmee" (I love you, Mommy) *easily my new favorite and usually said just after "goo-nigh momee" before I close the door for the night at bedtime.

I'm just waiting for the "Give it to me, no, it's mine, I don't want to share" sentence that's looming in the near future when she gets more complex and self-aware. Should be fun :)

Good night, Mommy

After I tucked her in and kissed her good night, and then said good night to both Carolina and "Baby", I usually just walk out. Tonight, as I walk toward the door I hear, "Goo nigh mommy." I said, "Good night my baby" and walked out.

Now how sweet is that for the first time, saying good night?

Baby wants ice cream and a trip to the beach

Two good stories from this week

First was about two days ago while we were on the swings at the park. Carolina pointed to a bigger girl on one of the big kid swings with an ice cream cone and says, "Eyez keem!" I say, "Yes, the kid has ice cream." 

"Eyez keem! Eyez keem!" 
"Yes, Carolina, the girl has ice cream."
She then points to herself and says emphatically, "Eyez keem. Baby eyez keem!" (I often tell her that she's a big girl now but still my baby.)

I couldn't help but laugh and explained no ice cream today. 


The second story is about a postcard she received from her godmother, Maria. 

While looking at the postcard photo of the beach at early morning, she points to it and goes "Rea!" 

"Yes, the postcard is from Aunt Maria. She's at the beach with Tommy and Marisa."

"Rea. Beach."

The she turns it over and over, looking a little confused. "Rea? Tah-mee?"

After a few seconds thinking this over I say, "oh! It's a postcard but Maria isn't in the photo."

"Ok. Beach?"
"Yes. It's a postcard of the beach. Do you want to go to the beach?"
"Ok. Beach. Aqua. Ok!"

First pee pee in the potty

This past Sunday night, just before her bath, Ismael got Carolina to pee in the potty. A real pee!

She was a little freaked out about how happy we were, and I've heard of other kids about her age getting nervous/worried/scared that something just came out of them and there it is!

Well, we were delighted. I have no idea if this is going to be a regular occurrence or just one of many small steps towards pee-pee-dom. Whatever it is, we were proud!