Bubbles

I have recently been reading about Montessori schools and have interest in touring one to see if it might be right for Sophie. We actually have a montessori school here in the neighborhood called Austin Montessori.

I have often wondered what I might be able to do on own that would align with the Montessori principals. The Austin Montessori's website has such a detailed overview of their program, I began to develop some ideas for what I might do at home. One of the tasks they teach toddlers is how to wash their hands. So, recently, after a particularly messy lunch, I grabbed Sophie up and away we went to the sink. I taught her how to climb up a step stool near the sink, which she did well. Then I encouraged her to put her hands under the faucet to rinse her hands, which she was happy to do. Then it came time to put the soap in her hands. I placed a pump load of soft soap into her palm and modeled rubbing my hand together. Right away, she noticed that the soap produced bubbles. She then wanted more soap. I gave her a second pump of soap, but this was not enough. She continued to ask for even more soap until finally, the sink and the surrounding area was covered in soapy bubbles, which Sophie gleefully called out, "Bubbles!!" Needless, to say, hand washing has gone from a learned task to a messy affair which Sophie never wants to end. In fact, we now have to say" Bye-bye" to the bubbles and watch tearfully as the bubbles gets sucked down the drain to avoid a tantrum. Oh, life with a toddler!

Creative Grama

 
 
 
 
This is Sophie in her new shirt painted on by her Grama Cott. This isn't the first time Grama Cott has been blogged.

Doing it herself

Yesterday, I was eating lunch with a friend and Sophie had several pieces of broccoli in front of her, one of which I had speared onto a fork for her. This broccoli was hard for her to spear because it was still a little al dente. She picked up the pre-speared fork and carefully removed the broccoli and the little bit of cheese it had on it. She placed them down, then picked up the exact same piece, balanced it on the fork, and lifted it to her mouth only to have it fall on the floor. What a piece of work she is!

Sophie also likes to sing in the shower. The shower isn't on, but she likes to enter the empty stall, face the wall and listen to herself singing. She's got the first three words of Row, Row, Row Your Boat memorized, then tries to sing gently, furrows her brow and exclaims, "Uh-Oh!"

The Leah Effect

A few days ago, I took Sophie to the zoo with her cousin Leah. Leah's school was out due to teacher in-service. We had a great time. We saw a leopard, lion, lots of birds, including a parrot that said "hello" and "mama." We also saw snakes and learned exactly why they make terrible pets. Most of the time people who get snakes from a pet store are getting one that's sick. Snakes need a delicate balance of light, water, and temperature. They hate being held and are moody. Many people who get snakes as pets end up calling the zoo to donate them and are refused due to over-crowding. I made sure Leah was listening loud and clear. She agreed after learning about snakes, that she doesn't want one for a pet.: )

Sophie baaaaaed at the sheep and wanted to put her little fingers in every cage we approached. Leah was a great helper in keeping Sophie's sweet fingers safe from harm. Sophie enjoyed following Leah around and being chased. These days, Leah can't sit still and talk to you, but rather rolls back and forth on her spine in a yoga pose. What's funny is that after hanging out with Leah for the afternoon, Sophie enjoys lying on her back and putting her feet up. I call this the Leah effect.

holiday card

..tr>Make a free ecard - it's easy!..table>

Music Together

Well, it has taken me awhile to start this blog. She is now 18 months. No time like the present, I guess. My father-in-law asks me all the time if I write the amazing things she's doing down. I am sure I will thank him in years to come. So will Sophie.

Monday is Sophie's first "Music Together" class. We just took a demo class on Friday. I was shocked at how much she picked up. I was fully expecting to attend the class and that be it, but I enrolled immediately after. She absolutely loved it. Music Together was started in NJ. The class sang songs accompanied by two teachers on guitars, we danced some circle dances, and the children got a chance to play a variety of musical instruments. The teachers instructed the parents to let our kids be free. Don't restrain them or hold their hands trying to get them to execute the choreography. So I let Sophie go and what did she do? She runs into the middle of the circle of people and twirls around pleased as can be that everyone is surrounding her watching her. At another point in the class, everyone was singing and after the song ended, you could still hear Sophie's soft voice continuing the song. People after the class kept asking me how old she was. She was quite an impressive 18 month old! The teacher told me that when everyone was pretending to be cold, Sophie was shivering along with us. IT's impossible to catch everything she does, because you as a parent participate fully. In fact, you are encouraged, because your child is more likely to imitate you first. We are really looking forward to tomorrow.
In fact, Monday has a lot in store for us. I am also planning on taking Sophie to a Mommy and Baby Yoga class at Yoga Yoga. That's where I took my prenatal yoga class. I'll let you kow how it goes.

As for today, Sophie pointed to a banana and said it was yellow. She has now been pointing to many things that are yellow and saying "Yellow."