We have been doing all sorts of new, fun things with Kamy lately. As her intellect grows, she is making more connections between what she sees and hears which is so much fun to watch.
- For her birthday, we were able to get a bunch of new board games to play. We have Chutes and Ladders, Candy Land, Elefun, Hungry Hungry Hippos, Hoot Owl Hoot, Don’t Break the Ice, and several card games like Crazy 8s, Old Maid, and Go Fish. After Caden goes to bed in the evening, Kamy gets to pick what she wants to do in the 30-45 minutes before it is her bedtime. We can watch something, play a game, work in her learning book, color, or just play. Usually she picks either a game or to watch something. This is our dedicated one-on-one time with Kamy, so she gets to pick. Games have been really fun and I am looking forward to playing more and more complicated games as we go.
- Kamy’s new nickname is “Little Momma” because she is such a little copy of me. From her hair color to the phrases she uses, she is a mini-me. She’s so funny about it too — she takes the words right out of my mouth and talks to Daddy the way I do. “There’s more pasta in the kitchen if you want some Daddy.” Or “Will you bring the rag over with you when you come back?” Just. Like. Momma. I can’t complain, but it does mean I am super aware of what I say and how I do things around her because she is watching me! It reminds me of that country song, Watching You.
- Someone’s imagination is really kicking into high gear. I never know what I will hear coming out of her, but more and more frequently it is something she came up with on her own. It doesn’t always make sense, but that’s the nice thing about being three — it does not have to! For instance “On my thirty second birthday seven months ago we …” Right Kamy, 32nd. =P
- Sequencing is becoming more important to Kamy. Of course she has always been interested in the routine and would talk about what will happen in the future. But now we are getting recaps of the past too! It’ll go something like this: “We got up this morning and then we ate breakfast and then Caden fell and cried and then it was quiet time but I didn’t have an accident and then … and then … and then …” These stories are getting more detailed and complex all the time. We are still working on understanding time in the past (ie – yesterday vs last week vs last year), but usually her order of things is correct.
- We have a few bad habits that we have been working to eliminate. While she is perfectly capable of going to the restroom, she has hit a phase where she doesn’t care either way and will not bother about it. She’d rather go change clothes and put her wet clothes in the laundry than sit on the potty. Not so okay. We are struggling to find ways to encourage her, because it is no longer a matter of ability. She is still sweetly giving most of her M&Ms or jelly bean rewards away, so clearly that’s not as exciting as it used to be. =/ She has also been trying to fake us out about going potty and will sometimes say she did it, when she really didn’t. We have had a few conversations about lying but I’m not quite sure how to handle it. She does get sent to her room with the door closed, but whether the message is getting through remains to be seen.
- Twice this month Kamy decided to assert her little control and spent all day in her room. One of the rules of the house is she must pick up her room before she can leave it (first thing in the morning, after quiet time, or after nap time). During quiet time one morning she pulled out all of her clothes and strew them across the floor. After quiet time was over, I told her she could come out as soon as her room was picked up. Lunch came and went, and all that happened was more stuff and her mattress got pulled out onto the floor. Nap time came, and so she had to take her nap in her messy room. Then, surprise surprise, little elves didn’t come clean up her room while she was sleeping because it was still there when she woke up. Again we told her she could come out as soon as her room was picked up. At this point Kamy’s room was such a disaster that Daddy thought she might have been overwhelmed and didn’t know where to start. Daddy took pity on her about 6pm just before dinner and helped her pick up by alternating turns. It eventually got done and she didn’t seem any worse for wear about skipping lunch and was perfectly happy at dinner despite spending eight hours in her room. I don’t know if this was the problem or not, but now when she has made a mess she always asks me to help her. Umm, no love. You made the mess, you clean it up. Kamy has done this one more time but seems to have gotten it out of her system for now. Sometimes a little girl just needs to control the cards and see what she can (and cannot) do.
- My momma brain is about tired of hearing “What did you say?” from Miss Kamy. I hear it more than the “Why?” question! It has become her automatic response to my statements and has no bearing on whether or not she actually heard me. I have stopped answering her question and now reply with “What did I say?” Since she repeats it back to me, word-for-word, I know she heard me. It is not a matter of understanding. Sometimes she’ll reply with “Will you say it again please?” which usually indicates she really didn’t hear me the first time so I will repeat it. Daddy has stopped acknowledging it at all and just ignores her question.
- As I mentioned last month, Kamy’s been making up new words for the last several weeks. The only one that has really stuck is “shi-shi” which means “I love you.” Anything else means “Will you tickle me please?” and Daddy is super fast to comply. =) Silly words at dinner accumulate up to 10 and get cashed in after we have cleared the table. I think the goal was to discourage all these silly words, but it doesn’t seem to be changing anything! What a silly girl.
It is so amazing to watch Kamy learn about the world around her and how she fits into it. She is such a sweetheart and has a precious little personality. She is a great helper and is always jumping at the chance to do something for us or help Caden. Kamy makes me so happy and I am beyond blessed with our family.
