Adelie and Staley's World
Saturday, January 18, 2014
Friday, January 17, 2014
Kind of Defeats the Purpose
Today at lunch, Staley said something that we have told her is not a nice thing to say.
Me: "Staley, that is not a nice thing to say. I don't want to hear you say it again."
Staley: "I will just say it really quiet so you can't hear it" (as she proceeds to whisper it).
Me: "We don't say that, even really quietly. If you say it again, you are going to lose your after-rest movie privilege. Do you understand?"
Staley: "Yes."
I then went into the bathroom to wash my hands. When I returned, Staley said, "I said it while you were in the bathroom so you couldn't hear me."
Not that I'm complaining, but misbehaving when I'm not around and then immediately telling me about it kind of defeats the purpose...since that's how Staley lost her movie privileges today.
Me: "Staley, that is not a nice thing to say. I don't want to hear you say it again."
Staley: "I will just say it really quiet so you can't hear it" (as she proceeds to whisper it).
Me: "We don't say that, even really quietly. If you say it again, you are going to lose your after-rest movie privilege. Do you understand?"
Staley: "Yes."
I then went into the bathroom to wash my hands. When I returned, Staley said, "I said it while you were in the bathroom so you couldn't hear me."
Not that I'm complaining, but misbehaving when I'm not around and then immediately telling me about it kind of defeats the purpose...since that's how Staley lost her movie privileges today.
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Consequences
We have always tried to be consistent with our expectations for our girls. We want them to know that their actions will have consequences, positive or negative. To that end, we try to be very specific about what the consequences for a specific action will be. For example, Staley knows that if Miss Meagan tells me that she was a good listener and did not have to sit in time out, then Staley gets fruit snacks on the way home. (Score!) She also knows that if she throws her fruit snack wrapper on the floor of the car instead of handing it to me, then she will not get any snack the next time we are in the car. (Bummer!) When Staley is not listening or being sassy or breaking a rule, we try to be very clear about setting a consequence, making sure she understands the consequence, and then following through if needed.
Staley has caught onto this spelling-out-the-consequences routine. And lately, she has been very specific about telling us what the consequences of our actions will be. She doesn't do it in a crying or yelling or even in a sassy way. Just like we try to do, she is very matter-of-fact about the consequences she's giving us.
The other night at bedtime, my very tired little girl told Zach: "If you put me in bed, I am not going to sleep...AT ALL." The other evening, Staley asked what we were having for dinner. I told her we were having soup. She responded matter-of-factly, "If you give me soup, I'm not going to eat it." And a few days ago, Staley wanted me to read her another book before rest time. When I told her that we had already read our rest time books and it was time to rest, she started crying. I told her, "If you cry about rest time, then I will take your books out of your bed and you can just take a nap instead." She responded to my consequence with one of her own by saying, "If you take my books out of my bed, I will get out of bed, turn on my little light, and get some more books." She had me in a tricky spot, because that was definitely something she'd be able to do. I just told her that we wouldn't have to worry about that if she stopped crying and rested nicely. Luckily, she did.
Staley has always been quick on her feet and ready with an excuse. Now she's thinking ahead and letting us know what the consequences of our actions might be. Luckily, she's still young enough that, regardless of what she says, our consequences trump hers so she's still sleeping at night, eating what is on her plate at dinner, and resting without crying. For now.
Staley has caught onto this spelling-out-the-consequences routine. And lately, she has been very specific about telling us what the consequences of our actions will be. She doesn't do it in a crying or yelling or even in a sassy way. Just like we try to do, she is very matter-of-fact about the consequences she's giving us.
The other night at bedtime, my very tired little girl told Zach: "If you put me in bed, I am not going to sleep...AT ALL." The other evening, Staley asked what we were having for dinner. I told her we were having soup. She responded matter-of-factly, "If you give me soup, I'm not going to eat it." And a few days ago, Staley wanted me to read her another book before rest time. When I told her that we had already read our rest time books and it was time to rest, she started crying. I told her, "If you cry about rest time, then I will take your books out of your bed and you can just take a nap instead." She responded to my consequence with one of her own by saying, "If you take my books out of my bed, I will get out of bed, turn on my little light, and get some more books." She had me in a tricky spot, because that was definitely something she'd be able to do. I just told her that we wouldn't have to worry about that if she stopped crying and rested nicely. Luckily, she did.
Staley has always been quick on her feet and ready with an excuse. Now she's thinking ahead and letting us know what the consequences of our actions might be. Luckily, she's still young enough that, regardless of what she says, our consequences trump hers so she's still sleeping at night, eating what is on her plate at dinner, and resting without crying. For now.
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
Three Years
Staley is three. She's no longer a toddler. She's a little girl. A smart, funny, happy, confident, independent, imaginative, talkative, social, sweet little girl. She now weighs 31 lbs (54th percentile) and is 36.5" tall (30th percentile). She wears her 3T clothes and her size 7 shoes. She has given up her nap, but rests in her bed with books for an hour every day. She sleeps for 11-12 hours at night (7:30 to 7:00ish).
Likes: Staley loves pretend play, dressing up, singing, dancing, swimming, arts and crafts, princesses, mermaids, and horses. She enjoys outings, errands, and going to her baby-sitters, but can be just as content staying home to play. Staley plays with lots of toys, so it's hard to list her favorites. Her dress-up clothes, spring horse, doctor kit, beauty shop, and mermaid/princess/horse figurines get daily use. She LOVES her outdoor play set. And, of course, Yellow Bear remains a constant companion. Games are also fun, and Staley's favorites include 'Memory', 'Spot It', 'Old Maid', and her new 'Under the Sea Treasure' game. Staley still loves books. She loves any and all books, so I can't even begin to pick favorites although she has started asking for longer stories out of her 'Bedtime Favorites' and 'Storybook Classics' books. Watching television remains her after-rest treat, and favorite shows include 'Paw Patrol', 'Sofia the First', 'Dora', 'Diego', 'Doc McStuffins', 'Mickey Mouse Clubhouse', and 'Bubble Guppies.' Staley is a good eater, but favorite foods include fruit snacks, waffles, pancakes, brats, chicken nuggets, fruit, and pizza. She loves spending time with her cousins and friends. She is a wonderful big sister and enjoys teaching Adelie new things, sharing toys with Adelie, and making Adelie laugh.
Dislikes: Staley doesn't generally like when she is made to do something that is not on her current agenda, like trying to go potty before leaving the house. She is still not a fan of loud noises like the vacuum or the mixer. We went through a bit of a rough patch for several months after Staley gave up her nap with increased tears and drama, especially in the evenings. However, the past few weeks, my now 3 year old has shown an improved ability to handle her days without nap and we've had a number of tear-free days. (Although we also have our fair share of not tear-free days as well.)
Skills: Staley is my independent little girl. She loves to run, jump, twirl, dance, and climb. She is proficient at climbing the climbing wall on her playset, and enjoys going down the big slides by herself at the park. Staley loves drawing, coloring, and painting. She is my little left-handed girl, and can imitate lines and circles. When 'writing' her name, she can often make her 'L' and 'T' fairly legibly. She can make several consecutive snips with scissors, string beads, and build well with her Mega Blocks. Staley is becoming increasingly independent. She can dress and undress herself, go to the bathroom by herself (with reminders to wipe and wash her hands), feed herself well with silverware, brush her teeth and hair (with assistance for thoroughness), and wash her hands. Staley's memory and understanding continue to amaze me. She knows all her shapes and colors, most of her letters, some of her numbers, opposites, rhymes, and counting (to 20 while skipping 16). She is learning the beginning sounds of words. Staley has expanded her Spanish vocabulary to include about 40-50 words, and she has a wide repertoire of songs and books that she has memorized.
More than the things she knows and the things she can do, Staley impresses me daily with who she is. She is sweet and kind, loving and thoughtful. She is great at sharing, waiting her turn, giving compliments, and caring for her sister. She is independent and confident, but still climbs onto my lap for the 'scary' parts of her TV shows (like the benign witch in Dora or the not-so-nice sea monster on Sofia). She likes things her way, but will generally do what is asked with an 'oh, sure, sure.' She entertains herself well, but still prefers to include me in her play. Staley is my three year old. She's growing up fast, but she's still my baby girl.
Look who's 3!!
Likes: Staley loves pretend play, dressing up, singing, dancing, swimming, arts and crafts, princesses, mermaids, and horses. She enjoys outings, errands, and going to her baby-sitters, but can be just as content staying home to play. Staley plays with lots of toys, so it's hard to list her favorites. Her dress-up clothes, spring horse, doctor kit, beauty shop, and mermaid/princess/horse figurines get daily use. She LOVES her outdoor play set. And, of course, Yellow Bear remains a constant companion. Games are also fun, and Staley's favorites include 'Memory', 'Spot It', 'Old Maid', and her new 'Under the Sea Treasure' game. Staley still loves books. She loves any and all books, so I can't even begin to pick favorites although she has started asking for longer stories out of her 'Bedtime Favorites' and 'Storybook Classics' books. Watching television remains her after-rest treat, and favorite shows include 'Paw Patrol', 'Sofia the First', 'Dora', 'Diego', 'Doc McStuffins', 'Mickey Mouse Clubhouse', and 'Bubble Guppies.' Staley is a good eater, but favorite foods include fruit snacks, waffles, pancakes, brats, chicken nuggets, fruit, and pizza. She loves spending time with her cousins and friends. She is a wonderful big sister and enjoys teaching Adelie new things, sharing toys with Adelie, and making Adelie laugh.
Staley spends time daily riding her flying horse.
My imaginative little girl has named her horse "Fin, the underwater flying horse."
I guess an underwater flying horse is a necessity if you plan to be a mermaid when you grow up.
Staley enjoying some painting time.
Skills: Staley is my independent little girl. She loves to run, jump, twirl, dance, and climb. She is proficient at climbing the climbing wall on her playset, and enjoys going down the big slides by herself at the park. Staley loves drawing, coloring, and painting. She is my little left-handed girl, and can imitate lines and circles. When 'writing' her name, she can often make her 'L' and 'T' fairly legibly. She can make several consecutive snips with scissors, string beads, and build well with her Mega Blocks. Staley is becoming increasingly independent. She can dress and undress herself, go to the bathroom by herself (with reminders to wipe and wash her hands), feed herself well with silverware, brush her teeth and hair (with assistance for thoroughness), and wash her hands. Staley's memory and understanding continue to amaze me. She knows all her shapes and colors, most of her letters, some of her numbers, opposites, rhymes, and counting (to 20 while skipping 16). She is learning the beginning sounds of words. Staley has expanded her Spanish vocabulary to include about 40-50 words, and she has a wide repertoire of songs and books that she has memorized.
More than the things she knows and the things she can do, Staley impresses me daily with who she is. She is sweet and kind, loving and thoughtful. She is great at sharing, waiting her turn, giving compliments, and caring for her sister. She is independent and confident, but still climbs onto my lap for the 'scary' parts of her TV shows (like the benign witch in Dora or the not-so-nice sea monster on Sofia). She likes things her way, but will generally do what is asked with an 'oh, sure, sure.' She entertains herself well, but still prefers to include me in her play. Staley is my three year old. She's growing up fast, but she's still my baby girl.
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
She Says...
The other day, I had Staley try to go potty before we left the house. She said, "My pee pee won't come out. It's completely stuck!"
Today while driving home from the baby-sitters, Staley and I had this conversation.
Staley: "My head always hurts in the car."
Me: "I'm sorry your head hurts. Would it help if I turned on some music?"
Staley: "No, that won't help. But it will stop hurting if I watch a Dora movie."
At Staley's 3 year check-up, she and the nurse had this conversation.
Nurse: "Do you go to pre-school?"
Staley: "No. I go to Sunday School."
Nurse: "Oh, that's fun. Where do you go to Sunday School?"
Staley: "At church." (Duh!)
On Sunday night after Staley's birthday party, we were talking before she went to sleep.
Zach: "What was your favorite part of your birthday party?"
Staley: "Every part was my favorite part."
Today while driving home from the baby-sitters, Staley and I had this conversation.
Staley: "My head always hurts in the car."
Me: "I'm sorry your head hurts. Would it help if I turned on some music?"
Staley: "No, that won't help. But it will stop hurting if I watch a Dora movie."
At Staley's 3 year check-up, she and the nurse had this conversation.
Nurse: "Do you go to pre-school?"
Staley: "No. I go to Sunday School."
Nurse: "Oh, that's fun. Where do you go to Sunday School?"
Staley: "At church." (Duh!)
On Sunday night after Staley's birthday party, we were talking before she went to sleep.
Zach: "What was your favorite part of your birthday party?"
Staley: "Every part was my favorite part."
Sunday, January 12, 2014
Interview with a 3 Year Old
In honor of Staley's third birthday, I interviewed her to get an insider's peek at the mind of a 3 year old.
What is your favorite color? "Pink and purple"
What is your favorite food? "Chicken nuggets"
Who is your favorite princess? "Ariel when she's a mermaid and Belle"
Who is your best friend? "Liam"
What is your favorite TV show? "Paw Patrol and Sofia the First when she's a mermaid"
Who is your favorite stuffed animal? "Yellow Bear"
What is your favorite thing to play with? "Play Doh ice cream shop"
What is your favorite thing to do outside? "Play baseball"
What is your favorite treat? "Suckers"
What is your favorite holiday? "Halloween"
Where is your favorite place to play? "The park"
Where is your favorite place to go? "New open gym"
What is your favorite animal? "Horses"
What do you like to help Mommy do? "Cook"
What do you like to help Daddy do? "Build stuff"
What do you like to help Adelie do? "Clap"
Who is your favorite sister? "Adelie"
What kind of birthday party do you want? "A Barbie horse party"
What do you want for your birthday? "More princess dresses"
What are you going to be able to do when you turn 3? "Take swim lessons all by myself"
What do you want to be when you grow up? "A mermaid"
Birthday Girl
Staley is officially THREE!!! Her actual birthday was yesterday. And how does any 3 year old want to start her birthday?
Sick. :(
Staley woke up on Saturday morning with a cough, runny nose, and fever. Although she perked up after some Ibuprofin, instead of celebrating her birthday with Liam at his super hero party, she had to hang out all day at home. There was still special breakfast, presents, playing with presents, phone calls and texts from special people, family play time, dinner with Grammie and Grandpa, and special ice cream treats. Despite not feeling well, Staley had a fun day.
Opening presents in PJs and sunglasses?
I guess that's just what 3 year olds do.
Staley making a necklace and a bracelet with her new beads.
Enjoying some birthday play time with her little sis.
Luckily Staley woke up this morning fever free...and so excited about her birthday party. Her birthday party theme had been changing consistently, but a few weeks ago she decided she wanted a Barbie horse party and hadn't wavered. And so, a Barbie horse party she had.
There was a Barbie horse game (courtesy of Uncle Evan),...
Barbie horse food, including...
Barbie pink punch and...
horse brownies and cookies.
There were cousins and friends...
and lots of family.
But, without a doubt, the highlight of the party was a very special guest.
Kracker came to Staley's party (with our friends Libby and Judy)
Nothing can beat birthday party horse rides!!
It sure is good being 3!!!
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