Talking to Raychel

It is very fun to have conversations with Raychel.  She understands more then you think she might!  She was being a "toddler" at day care taking some of the kids toys and pulling hair.  I talked to her about being a good girl and told her she couldn't do those things because she wasn't a mean girl!  I told her that several days in a row and she hasn't done it since.  I will ask her if she had a good day, if she was a good girl and she will answer..."uh-huh" enthusiastically.  If she didn't have a good day, she will either say "NO" or make this low disappointing groaning sound!  I have tested her answers by asking Ms. Dawn and she verifies it as true each time! LOL  Every once in a while she gives me the silent treatment and will refuse to answer any questions that I ask!  She sits in her car seat with her lips pursed together and pretends to ignore me.  I will continue to ask questions and say silly things until this little grin/grimace comes across her face and then she breaks out into a giggle!!  She can't stay quiet for long! 

 

I have asked her, "Are you a baby?"...."NO!"  "Are you a big girl?"....."NO!"  "Are you inbetween?"...."UH-HUH!" 

 

One day, in the car, she was screaming and whining and yelling "NO!"  I started asking her questions to see what she would say "NO" to!  She answered all of my questions with a "NO!" until I asked her, "Are you trying to be difficult?" and she responded with a great big, "YES!!!!!"  Either a really good time to change your answer or?!?!?!?! LOL

 

When she learned the word, NO, she (of course) used it all the time.  We told her she couldn't tell Ms. Dawn NO and she couldn't tell Mommy and Daddy NO when we told her to do something.  One night she did that and I put her in timeout...she was not a fan, of course.  About 10 minutes later I told her to pick something up and she turned and said, "N--"..."UH-HUH" and picked it up! LOL  I love that thought process!  I want to tell Mom, NOOOOOOOOOOOO but, oh yeah....I'm not supposed to....so I guess I'll just do it! 

 

She also sometimes answers NO because that is the word she wants to say, but not the right answer.  So we ask her, "Do you want to go take a bath? (HER FAVORITE) and she says, NO and then there is a pause, cute smile, head tilt, and a "UH-HUH"!  Other times she stops  mid-NO and changes it to a yes!  We get these looks from her like, why do you try to trick me!!! LOL

 

She is quite FUN!!! =)
 

 "When you become a mother... You are no longer the picture, You become the frame."

The Little Helper!

Raychel has been cooking with me for about 3 weeks now.  She helps almost every single night and is frustrated when I have dinner made (frozen meals) or there is not much she can do to help (like breading chicken).  She carries all the ingredients from the cupboards or fridge and puts them gently on the counter.  Then I put her up on the counter where she helps me measure, stir, and prepare the entire meal.  She holds measuring cups until I tell her to pour them, she sprinkles cheese to cover the entire casserole, and dumps contents of cans.  She has become quite good at dumping without spilling or dropping the cup/can into the mix!  She has only spilt 2 times...very tidy cook, unlike her mother! 

 

She helps me put away dishes too.  She stacks all the tupperware, cups, plastic bowls, and her plates.  She finds the ones that match and puts them together.  Then carries them to their proper home and puts them away neatly.  She actually rearranges things if they don't go in straight!  I let her stand on the counter and put the high stuff (plastic only) away and she LOVES it!!!  When we do dishes she is in charge of putting the silverware in the holder.  She sorts it out and places it going the correct direction.  When all the dishes are in there she pushes the racks in, shuts the soap dispenser, and closes the door. 

 

Is she a neat-freak??? Okay, MAYBE...but she LOVES IT! 

 

We have been asking her to pick up her toys and she does this nightly and at least twice a day on the weekends.  Previously, we didn't always ask her to do it because Mommy was tired and just wanted to get her to bed! LOL  She knows where everything is and sets things straight and neat.  Even her little horse and giraffe figures have to be standing up on her table! LOL  She normally does all of this when we ask her, the first time.  Sometimes she puts things away after she is done playing with them!  She did that all day last Sunday!

Potty Training or Potty Playing

However you want to look at it, Raychel has gone pee pee on the potty twice now!!!  I put out the potty seat 2 weeks ago and by the end of the first night she used it all by herself!  I asked her last night (2-6-10) and she said yes and went immediately after sitting down.  I am NOT going to push her or make her sit down and try unless she tells me "YES" when I ask if she needs to go.  I know she is still very young!  I am proud of her for doing it two times!  She tried to make it two other times, but Mommy was too slow in getting her there.  Her diaper told me that she just went though...so I think she is starting to figure out some things!  I am hoping to work with this summer, since I can be home with her!