20 Month Update

When I think about the last two months, two things in particular come to mind.

They don't like to be told what to do.  But they can tell you what to do.  It's more like "show" you, but even that can be very convincing.

They don't like to be told "No."  But they can tell you "No."

Am I sensing a pattern here?

Thankfully I have enough mommy friends to know this is normal 20 month-old toddler behavior.  I can't believe I'm saying this, but it's actually quite endearing.  That is until it morphs into a pre-terrible-two's kicking, screaming, and writhing on the floor tantrum.  At which point I do one of two things.  Distract them with something that is normally forbidden (the wood mallet that came with the xylophone, the cheese grader, a tube of my lipstick -- because nothing good would come from any of these if they had them all the time).  And if that doesn't work, I simply walk away.  Because if you don't pay attention or react to what they're doing, they'll eventually stop.  Right?????

Perhaps the biggest change is their speech development.  I'm not sure how many words they're "supposed" to have at this age, but they say quite a few words on a regular basis.  They also try at least a couple new words every day.  When speaking directly to them we've been trying to use shorter, more direct sentences (easier said than done), and emphasizing certain words for them to repeat back to us.  I'm beginning to understand why parents are always translating for their kids.  At least for now, what they're trying to say and what they're actually saying can sound like two completely different things.

Some of the words they can say (and with only minimal translation) include:

- Mama

- Dada

- Oma (but sounds more like MoMah or just Mah)

- Nana

- Pops (pronounced Pahhhhps)

- Bus

- Bath (pronounced baff)

- Bro (pronounced beau)

- Boob (that's a fun one!)

- Poop (another fun one!)

- Mailman
- Mine

- Dirt

- Fish

- Boat

- Car

- Mow

- Bubbles

- Ba (which for some reason means "Pear")

- Papa

- Donna (not to be confused with Mama or Nana)
- Elmo (but sounds more like Mimi or Melmo)

Signs:
- More
- All done
- My turn
- Milk
- Please
- Thank you

Those last two are new!  *Me smiling with pride.*  Especially when they do them in public and complete strangers comment on how I have such well-mannered kids!

They know almost all of their body parts and can point to them when asked.

Their attention span is getting longer.  Instead of 3 seconds, it's now 7.  Not really ... but at times I do wonder how their brains move from one thing to the next so quickly.
 

Fin LIKES

- Pretending to feed her Doggie (Bub does it too with Elmo)

- When you spin her around in circles

- Telling us when she's gone pee-pee by tapping on her diaper

- Driving her play stroller (it's pink! and it's a double!) around the neighborhood
- Giving kisses
- Complaining when she doesn't get her way

Fin likes being outside, but is just as content indoors as long as there's music playing.  The M.usic T.ogether CD's are her favorites right now.  She also likes it when Bub chases her around house, usually because she stole something from him and he wants it back.  I'm still not sure who's faster because she always has a head start.  Even though she teases him and steals his things, she is extremely protective of her Bro.

Favorite books:
The Nose Book
Hippos go Berserk
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See

NEW foods: Donuts (preferably with icing or chocolate), fruit bars, rotisserie chicken, croutons, rice, O.reo cookies, C.heetos, and smoothies (especially the samples from J.amba J.uice).

Bub LIKES

- Taking your hand and showing you exactly where he wants to go

- The push broom (so much for that wimpy dust broom)

- The blow dryer

- Taking a bubble-bath (Fin likes it too)

- Pressing play/start on the blender, microwave, washing machine, dryer, radio, DVD player, really anything that has an on/off button

- Climbing into the driver seat of the minivan and pretending to drive

- His new play lawnmower, which he pushes right along with Dada

Bub would spend every minute of the day outside if we let him, which I might be willing to do if it would ever stop raining.  We had 25 days of rain in April, and another 18 days so far in May.  Once we do get him inside (never an easy task), his favorite things to do are tee-peeing the entire downstairs with toilet paper, hiding in the closet, and making tents.

Favorite books:
When I'm Big
Time for Bed
A Book of Hugs

NEW foods: Milkshakes (preferably O.reo or T.hin Mint), canned carrots, watermelon, scones, and applesauce.

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