McKamy – January Update

We spent the whole month of January at home (a pleasant change from the last few months!), so we were really able to get back into a routine.  Routine makes our house run so much smoother and both kids really seem to thrive in a structured environment.  That being said, we’ve had quite a bit of down time at home to work with and Kamy’s been busy as always.

• Miss Kamy has been testing what she can do and how she fits into our little family.  I certainly wouldn’t call it a daily battle, but she has really been pushing the line and seeing what kind of response she gets.  If you tell her not to do something, you will either get (1) an immediate test to see if you really meant it (yep, I sure did), or (2) she’ll reply with “but I can do __.”  Often times the 2nd choice is the same action, just with a different name.  If you tell her not to jump off the couch, she says “But I can leap off the couch.”  It’s not a question, it is a statement.  Umm, no dear, that does not qualify either.  We try to be very predictable when it comes to disobedience and we have worked hard to tie natural consequences to decisions she makes.  It is certainly not an easy battle, but my hope is if we can nip these little tests early over little things that do not really matter in the long run, hopefully her attitude and behavior will be consistent on the bigger things later in life.  Only time will tell if that message gets through!  When she does choose to disobey or break a rule, she gets sent to her room.  She’ll actually go pretty happily — I think because she knew it was coming and she’s already decided that she is okay with the consequence.  Again, consistency seems to help a lot with Kamy.  She also gets sent to her room when she tells me “No” after I’ve told her to do something.  If I ask her to do something though, she is allowed to decline, but a straight up “no” isn’t going to work in this house.

• In line with her increased independence, Kamy is doing more things by herself.  She goes to her room for quiet time and nap time without a fuss and will wait for me to come put her blankets over her.  She can also put on her own disposable diaper for the night.  If you give her a choice to do something “with Momma or Daddy or by yourself” most of the time she chooses independence.

• Kamy is officially in size 4T clothes.  Keller’s cousin Mary has generously shared a huge tub of clothes for Kamy to wear.  She loved digging through the pile and picking out the new pieces to add into her closet.  I’m phasing out the 3T pieces as she is choosing the newer pieces to wear.  For the most part Kamy is picking out her clothes every day.  I know she loves getting to choose what she wears and she’ll often go through at least two, if not three or four outfits per day.  It makes for a little more laundry, but it is not a big deal.

• Potty training is going really well!  Since coming home after Christmas, accidents have been much fewer and she is able to make it to the bathroom in time.  When she needs to go she says “Momma, I need to go to the restroom.”  We still have the baby gate up in the bathroom where her potty is, so she needs help to get there.  There are two reasons:  (1) it keeps Caden out of the cats’ food and water and (2) it gives Kamy space and separation from Caden when she is sitting on the potty.  Caden loves to be up in Kamy’s business pretty much all the time, so I am fairly certain that would extend to potty time as well.  M&Ms are still the reward of choice and she earns them each time she is successful.  However, we have successfully phased out the Nook so it is not a constant companion in the bathroom.  She gets it about once per day but otherwise she just has to sit there and do her thing.

• Kamy is such a sweet big sister to Caden.  They get along really well and I love watching them playing more together, as opposed to side-by-side play.  She is starting to teach him too and I will often hear her ask him “Can you say ___?” just like I do.  She’ll show him how to do things, talk to him about colors and shapes as they are playing, and will “direct” him around.  And by directing, I totally mean boss.  If anyone is in control, it is The Kamy.  Caden is just happy to get attention and will do pretty much anything she tells him to for now.  I am trying to encourage her to ask more and do less commanding, but until he starts to express some opposition, I do not think it’ll do much.  Kamy is getting better at not taking toys away from Caden and she is learning that if she wants whatever he is playing with she can ask for it (and he usually gives it to her), trade him something else for it (here, take this little buddy), or wait the 0.3 seconds until he is on to something else (okay, so it is maybe a few minutes but she can count on her turn coming up soon).  I am happy they are so close in age and I hope that they build a strong relationship in the future.  Here Caden is bringing books to Kamy in the holey clothes hamper and then Kamy teaching Caden how to jump on the bed.

• Kamy got her new stars up over her bed to see at night.  She had her moon light switch extender for about two weeks before breaking the rules and leaving her light on at night.  Alas, no more moon.  She has spent a lot more time asking me to turn on her light lately, so perhaps she is hoping I’ll put it back up out of sheer impatience about turning on and off her light ten times a day.  If so, it may be working!  =P

• For my birthday, Kamy and Daddy baked me cupcakes!  They went to the store together and Kamy picked out the box cake and sprinkles she wanted to use.  She always loves to make desserts with me, so it was a neat treat to do it with Daddy this time and make them special with the sprinkles.  I love Caden’s little peek-a-boo eyes watching in the background!

• Lastly, we have started working on the concept of addition with Kamy.  She knows the answer to 2+1 and 2+2!  She has always been quick to memorize things we say to her (that girl does pay attention!), but I think she is starting to really grasp the concept.  When Kamy gets her M&M rewards from potty training, I ask her which colors she wants.  Since she gets 3 at a time, she’ll say “two green and one red.”  I’m so proud of her.  I try really hard not to push a concept she isn’t really interested in, but addition seems to be the flavor of the month.  Spelling has taken a back seat lately, so this is her new interest.  Sometimes I forget that she is only almost-three despite how clearly she speaks and how fast she learns!

I can’t believe Kamy is almost three … where did my toddler go?!  Just as Caden’s no longer a baby, Kamy’s no longer a toddler — she really is a little girl.  I am so proud of the girl she is becoming and her sweet personality.  I always get good feedback from the ladies at church who teach her class and watch the nursery during service and they all comment on how sweet-natured she is.  What a good girl, and very “spesh-me.”