On Becoming A Toddler

Well Cecilia is really doing it! She's becoming less and less baby-like by the moment. She changes not weekly now, but by the day. She learns new skills so quickly, last week she couldn't use a spoon let alone a fork, and now she's got them both down. With her big teeth (and slowly appearing molars), her bangs and strong lengthening body she can do so much. She points and indicates (and cries and yells) to tell us what she wants. Most everything seems to be called "mum-ma" and she has the hi-wave-kiss combination down for saying hello and goodbye to everyone.

Another special skill that she's developed... climbing! Oh boy! And moving furniture! Hurrah! And testing her limits with her parents! Joy! The recurring struggle is feet and legs and butt on the table. She'll place a toe and then look at us with a big delighted smirk on her face, and we count to 3 and she sits down on her butt. Defying the rules and having discipline is all part of a game for her, as she smiles and delights as she puts her butt in the chair just as we get to 3. This is when I take a big inhale/exhale and ask the universe for patience.

And then there is the speed and agility in which she has conquered staircases. She NEVER went down the stairs backwards on her hands and knees, she's held our hands and then she started to use the banister and now she can go down with no help at all, though she prefers a handhold and to walk down vertically just the same as an adult or big kid. It's pretty remarkable to watch these skills. She's also been walking with us, she'll hold my hand and she can walk quite a ways before getting distracted by a blade of grass or a stone on the sidewalk. Pretty remarkable/helpful stuff!

She also does things that are HYSTERICAL, like every morning as she's waiting for us to wake up she manages to find a pair of my underpants, or her father's underpants if mine are nowhere to be seen, sometimes she claims both of ours, and she immediately puts them over her head and around her neck and trots around pleased as punch with her new wardrobe accessory. She also thinks it's pretty funny to put rainboots on her feet or crocs and stomp around the house.