developments

Paige is now 20 months!  It's hard to believe my little baby's going to be two in just four short months!  I'm so looking forward to the holidays this year...dressing up for Halloween and trick or treating, having Tofurkey at Thanksgiving and watching her open Christmas presents.  

She's really soaking things up and understands a lot!  She seems to understand so much more than she can express and it's fascinating to us how quickly she's picking up on things, concepts, vocabulary.  I think being at her wonderful daycare also helps - not to mention being around aunt Becky and her adorable, wonderful children since she was 11 weeks old.  I think she picks up a lot from the older kids at both places.

Paige tells me when she's pooped now and gets ready for to me to change her.  Aunt Becky told me that today she got a diaper and wipes out of her diaper bag and ready for the diaper change after telling her she had pooped.  I can ask her where an animal is in her books and she points to the correct ones and she can say what they are though you'd have to listen closely to some of them.  She can get in her booster seat and strap herself in for a meal when I tell her it's time to eat.  She's such a good helper, too.  I've asked her to put her clothes or mine in the hamper just to see if she knew what I meant and she did it and in the appropriate rooms - her clothes in her hamper and mine in our room.  I can ask her to put her shoes away.  It's just so neat to see all of this.  Apologies if this sounds like I'm bragging - I guess I am a little - I just can't help it.  I'm so proud of her and this is just so fun for us.  I mean, I've known her since she was a little jelly bean!

She continues to eat well and try new things.  She's also very good about telling me when she's done eating or doesn't like what she's eating.  She certainly is good about telling me she wants more.  Lately, we've been really into corn on the cob, noodles and "chicken nuggets" with lots of ketchup.

In other development news, she's also doing toddler things that are not so fun.  Things I've seen in movies or read about such as throwing oneself on the floor, kicking and crying or the ever popular getting into everything.  So far, she's destroyed two of my Stila eyeshadows and my Chanel compact.  She's broken the tissue paper holder and that's just stuff that comes to mind right now.  I'm sure there's more.  It's just a little challenging to discipline her at this age or try to explain why I can't hold her while I get ready in the mornings.  I want to be there for her and respond to her cries but I also don't want to reward some of this behavior by giving in.  I am often conflicted because of what I've read in my parenting research.  I am such a first-time mom!  I guess I'll find my way and try to do what's comfortable for me and what I feel is right.  I try to see if she just needs me more some days or if she's just crying because she wants her way and right now.  Reading a lot of books, blogs and talking to a lot of other moms about all this is helping.

I've also started freaking out a bit about schooling.  Yikes.  I've got to figure out how this school district stuff works and figure out what's best for her - public, private, charter, magnet???  No biggie, right?

Hope all is well with all of you!  And, do let me know if you have any tips or advice about parenting a toddler - what's worked for you and what not to do!  Schooling advice would also be lovely!  Love to all!