Almost 2

Lots of new things for Cali these days - potty training, new class at daycare and a big girl bed! The bed has been an interesting transition. Cali is exploring being able to get out of bed and explore/play/get into things. No longer can we assume that quiet means she is asleep! We are experimenting with having the gate up and how we put her back down multiple times...bedtime is going better than naptime did on Sunday. We'll keep working with her and hopefully she will feel comfortable with her new boundaries and understand she needs to stay in bed. It is fun to be able to kneel down and kiss her good night :)

Cali is putting words together now and talking all the time. We understand her most of the time.

Wun = run
Pi yo = potty
Buzsh = bus (she knows all the motions to wheels on the bus)
go mimmy = here you go, Mommy

toppy = coffee (Mommy stops in the morning before she drops off Cali)

chitchen = kitchen (sounds very similar to chicken)

tini = candy
jackenaw = jacket
ki yo = Cali

We are planning her birthday party for next month. I can't believe she is going to be 2! She is definitely getting more independent and wants to try things on her own. She also throws fits when she does get what she wants or gets in trouble. She is learning how to manipulate Mommy, but I'm working on not letting this happen and not giving in. I want to be consistent but it is harder than I thought it would be - that cry of hers, whether fake or real, cuts to the heart. (And she knows it)

Cali is very particular about some things. When she takes her shoes off, she always puts her socks inside her shoes and sets them next to each other on the floor. Even when she is being "bad" and takes her shoes off in the car, she is "good" and puts her socks in her shoes. So cute. Cali can turn light switches on and off now so she likes to do it when we are going upstairs to go to bed. Sometimes we ask her to go turn on the light when we are sitting in the living room and it is getting dark. She loves to do it and I think it makes her feel like a big girl :)

Cali is getting better at going potty. She is successful about 1 in 5 times and she loves getting M&M's for it! She even tells Mommy and Daddy they need an M&M when they go potty.

Cali likes to try thing on her own and will fuss at you if you try to help her. It is hard to be extra patient when we need to get going or leave to go somewhere and she is slowly trying to zip her coat or put on her shoes and socks. I almost always let her try and then offer help.