Sasha has been growing and toddling into new developments so gradually, lately, that it's been difficult for us to really notice. She did hit a number of new milestones all at once, recently, though, so I thought I'd provide a nice roundup for those of you keeping score at home.
First, she is turning into a little monster.
This statement works on several levels. The most obvious is that she now enjoys growling ("Raaar!") and reaching out with her pudgy little hands turned into claws. She is, in fact, pretending to be a Scary Monster. She is about as successful in this as, well, Grover of Sesame Street fame. (She does succeed in being more scary than Elmo).
Unfortunately, she's also feeling her twoness a little sharper with each day that passes. She's a very smart girl, and knows exactly how things are supposed to be. She also believes it is her place in the world to make sure that everything stays in line. This means that mommy is not allowed to sit at daddy's place at the table, daddy is not allowed to use mommy's lapop, and she herself should never, ever, ever have to go outside without her coat.
When the Vast Conspiracy that is her world foils these plans, she gets understandably upset. But since she's been feeling particularly twoish, lately, she doesn't just yell and cry, no, no. This is where the metaphorical aspect of her monsterhood comes up. She hits. She bites. She makes realy insulting and chimp-like raspberries at us.
Fortunately, she is smart enough that we can reason her out of some of these fits. It is really wonderful to have a baby who follows you when you tell her, "Yes, sweetie, I know you're upset and you want some juice. But can you wait until we get home?"
As she's grown in intellect, she's also grown in stature. On a recent trip to Florida, we discovered that not only does she know how to use doorknobs, she is tall enough to actually reach them.
And lock them.
In her great-grandmother's room.
Twice.
To our tremendous relief, we have found that New York doorknobs are somewhat higher up than the Floridian doorknob. There has been no repeat performance, so far, but I fear my giddy days of using the bathroom in sweet solitude may be coming to a sorrowful end.
The same cannot be said for her twoness, which will only loom larger in our lives for months to come; but if she's going to be a monster, well, at least she's a cute and lovable (though not also furry) monster.
My kitchen is: Um. Well, see. Can we not talk about my kitchen right now? Because, well. I don't want to talk about it. BUT I did paint Sasha's nails last week, in an attempt to demonstrate a point she was not following, to wit: "No, sweetie, that is NOT a boo-boo, it's nail polish."
Posted by andrea at April 6, 2004 07:54 PMI sympathize...although my Hannah is just under a year, and so we have yet to experience the real insanity of toddlerhood. She has given us glimpses of it though, as she is now able to signal her frustration/anger in some other way than crying (though that seems to still be her favorite method. If she has the remote control, and we tell her no touching, she now proceeds to throw it. A taste of things to come, I'm certain. The same goes for 'no eating,' as in 'Hannah, no eating Goodnight Moon,' and boom, it goes across the room. Lovely. I'm not quite sure how to respond to it. Right now I'm trying, 'I know you're upset but let's be nice to our books.' Ugh, the way I have to talk is so irritating sometimes.
Posted by: Kelly on April 9, 2004 04:22 PMThat critical point of communication breakthrough is really wonderful... oh, but trust me, when the twos start rearing their scaly little heads, there won't be any doubt in your mind.
Posted by: Andrea on April 9, 2004 06:06 PM