elle and todd february 2013

Since Todd turned 1, I've decided to change how I do the monthly updates. I'm now going to just report on both Elle and Todd at the beginning of each month. There's little and big changes for both of them that I don't want to miss, and it seems simpler to do it this way.

Elle has basically given up her nap in the last month. We are now doing rest time when Todd goes down for a nap. She can read books, or do puzzles, or something quiet on her bed or our bed. The first day we officially did this she put herself to sleep after 10 minutes. She's just in the in between stage where she still gets tired some days, and others she does fine. Even with no nap, we have had a lot of issues at night with her lately.  She had gotten into a habit of waking Todd up on purpose and throwing a fit. Chris and I collaborated and came up with leaving a pillow and blanket on the couch for her. We told her if she woke up during the night she could ask help for the potty, or read her books. If she still couldn't sleep she could go to the couch to lay down, but she can't wake any of the rest of us up. So far, so good! Since we instituted this policy she's been on the couch most morning, but no fits during the night and no one has been woken up by her.

We are being more purposeful about working on letter sounds and doing something academic on the days she doesn't go to school. She has quickly learned how to ride her scooter and has adjusted well to letting Todd dominate the trike. She has developed an imaginary friend, who over Christmas embodied himself in one of the Christmas Beanie Babies. Toko is a mouse (imaginary and embodied form). Elle would talk about Toko doing things and showing up places. Toko seriously creeps me out sometimes! Elle even told me one time that he weirds her out sometimes, so now I'm really worried. Most of the time he seems to hide in funny places or do silly things. Chris says it's perfectly normal.

Todd's big accomplishment this month was walking! Just when I'd given up he decided he would do it. His favorite mode of transportation is still the trike, but he's getting better and better at keeping his balance and getting where he needs to go. He also got a mom haircut. He'll get the clippers next time or go to a professional because it's pretty bad, but it got the hair off his ears and neck. He also started using a fork! It's quite cute to watch him work to stab something and get it in his mouth. He loves playing with Elle and thinks he's big like her. He's been teething a lot this past month too so we have been going through the waffles like crazy and not sleeping well. He's responding to things we say or tell him to do, but he still hasn't actually said a word. He loves bath time, or really any water he can get into. He loves Bible class with Mr John and hanging with the big girls at MDO. He has also started dancing when he hears music, but he gets embarrassed easily. You can also frequently find him doing puzzles in the office or cooking at Elle's kitchen.