Transitions Galore

Playing with a sort of play-doh-type substance at the lake over Labor Day weekend.

She's actually "hiding" the plastic bugs so that she can "hunt" for them to put them in the bug house. All of the bugs were "hidden" under that specific cushion.

Our little 19-month-old.

Our 'little girl' ready for church - September 7, 2008 - 19 months officially.

The past few weeks have been crazy at our house. During the three weeks that we battled colds and pink eye, we also experienced several transitions. The biggest one is that The Mouse transitioned from cage to bed. No more cage for our Mouse! In all seriousness, she had a beautiful crib (gift from my in-laws) that we certainly thought was going to be her sleeping quarters for longer than this. However, being in the 99th percentile for height means she is right about the height of the average 2- or 2.5-year old, we suppose. In light of that, it makes sense that she learned how to crawl/jump/flop her way out of her crib at an early, early age. Transitioning to the bed seemed to be the only safe thing to do. I was sure that I would cry as we made that transition, but thankfully (thankfully?) the day Daddy Mouse set up the bed and took down the crib, I was too sick to even care a whole lot. So, the 18.5 month-old Mouse moved to her bed with very little problem on her part. She even (with Daddy Mouse's coaching) learned fairly immediately how to get in and out of bed without falling. We were so proud!


Another transition is a new look for Mommy Mouse! In the midst of hacking up my lungs, Miss Mouse and I made a quick trip to the beauty shop for me to get a new hair-do. We met a friend from Enderlin there. She was going to play with Miss Mouse during my hair cut, but the Mouse thought that perhaps the beautician was actually a doctor in disguise - she wouldn't leave my lap through the entire haircut (i.e., I had been to the walk-in clinic with her twice that week; once for our pink eye and once for my hacking). We had to blow-dry her off in hopes of getting some of my hair clippings removed from her clothing!


Obviously, we are not transitioning to actual toilet-training quite yet, but as you can see in the picture, we have invested in a toilet chair for Miss Mouse. For several months now she has been fascinated by toilet paper (she gets me mine and clumps it up in a ball now) and the whole 'toilet' process (paper, flushing, etc.). I figured I didn't want to miss any possible training windows by not being prepared, so she's been enjoying her chair lately. If she sits on her chair, which she does fairly often, then she gets to wash her hands in the sink (standing on the stool that came with the chair - very efficient) and use some lotion on her hands. It's a very popular reward right now. Usually she sits just with clothes on, but before and after her bath, she will often sit her little naked self right now and grin proudly. I'm just glad she's getting used to the chair and is not afraid or disinterested in the process at all so far.
*This was just the first day's picture. We've learned since then not to put our feet in the toilet!!

Miss Mouse is very clean. She washes her hands a lot.

Yet another transition around here has been to cooler weather. While I do lament the thought of oncoming snow and cold winds, we are very much enjoying the crisp fall temperatures. In the past week since it has cooled off, we have enjoyed many a stroller and bike ride as well as walks around the block and trips to the park. Miss Mouse will walk on her own holding my hand all the way around the block at a pace of one square block per half hour. We find lots of dandelions that are going to seed, leaves, and sticks. As a special treat, sometimes we see cats to meow and wave at, friendly dogs, kids riding their bikes, kids/teenagers playing basketball, or someone shingling a house (this being her special favorite treat to stop and watch). I believe I speak for our entire household when I say that we sincerely hope this weather will last well into November!!

*In a tunnel at the park.

This one is at home on our swingset. I thought it showed the full set of teeth really well!