Kamy is really pushing for her independence lately. She’s driving us a little batty in the process, but I can’t say that is unusual. =) She is always trying new things. She loves to climb and dance and be goofy! Her smile still lights up a room and she loves to play with Caden.
- While we were in DFW for Kamy’s birthday, Aunt Jess taught her a few basics about how to do a pirouette and plie. Kamy is convinced now that she “knows” how to do a pirouette and will exclaim, “I did a pirouette!” She’s so funny … even if she looks a little like a sumo wrestler preparing for a match in the process. =) She does love her new ballet shoes though and it certainly makes it easier to spin!
- The battle of wills continues. Between testing the rules, pushing the boundaries, and seeing what she can get away with in the gray area, this month has been fairly challenging. I hate always feeling like an ogre and clamping down on little transgressions, but I fully know these little tests are only a prelude to bigger issues if we don’t deal with them now. That being said, it sure makes me tired! This is not an optional skirmish though — Daddy and I WILL win, it’s just up to her how painful it is going to be in the process. Kamy’s phrase of choice for the moment seems to be “I will not.” Well then. We’ll see how that works out for you my love.
- One particularly memorable example happened driving home from DFW. Kamy was being contrarian and chose to ignore Daddy when he was talking to her. His response? “If you won’t act like a big girl, then I will have to treat you like a baby.” He then proceeded to remove the toys she had to play with in the car. After pouting about this for a few minutes, we heard the following statement come from the back of the car: “If you treat me like a baby ONE MORE TIME, I’m going to treat YOU like a baby!” Oh, will you now? That’s interesting. And how, pray-tell, do you plan on doing that? Unfortunately she has rather hollow threats at this point. =) Ultimatums aren’t her strong suit yet.
- The battle continues over the potty. After finding a stash of wet clothes behind the toy box (again!), her toy box was removed from her room. When she then chose to stuff more wet clothes under her bed, I disassembled that too. So at one point this month she had no toy box and her mattress was on the floor. <Sigh> Must this be so difficult sweetheart? At one point I was so tired of dealing with this battle that we simply switched back to wearing cloth diapers all day, for a week. She and her bottom did not approve.
- She’s perfectly capable of taking care of business, but we have yet to find the motivator that drives her. The stick didn’t work, so we are attempting a carrot instead. We made three check mark boxes on our dry erase board so she can earn check marks by staying dry all day. The first thing she earned was … the return of her toy box! Promptly (or not so promptly, as it took more than three days) followed by putting her bed back together. Fortunately this seems to have finally discouraged the stash of wet undies behind furniture for the moment. I sure hope it says!
- In the positive light, Kamy keeps asking to help vacuum the house each morning. I told her she could vacuum her own bedroom when she was four. She’s still figuring out how to maneuver the vacuum, but she is very proud of her new responsibility. Here in another couple of years hopefully I can pass the rest of the house off to her too! I can’t wait. <Wink>
- As I mentioned in Caden’s post, we went to Linden to run around and explore with Oma and Opa. They both had a blast. Kamy did manage to get herself on the wrong side of the creek at one point. After splashing around in the creek, she found a deeper spot where the water poured into her boots. Instead of coming out the side we were on, she climbed out on the other side and then had to figure out how to get back to us. This involved some significant bush whacking and ducking under a huge fallen tree before she could find a crossing. She made it though! Kamy would run waaaaay ahead of us on the trail and wait for us around the bend. She thought it was hilarious.
- Kamy loves to one-up her brother. If he is doing something that she is interested in, she immediately tries to do it herself. And not only do it, but do it bigger and better, because that’s what big sisters do. =) Notice in the first photo that Caden had a stick … so Kamy got her own when he wouldn’t give it up.
Part of what is so tiring right now, is between the struggles we have several wonderful, happy, easy moments. I know that’s inside of her and I love spending time with the little girl that she is. Those glimpses of sunshine really do help restore my patience for the rougher days. I’m so grateful that she is our sweet girl.
