Mys and Self!

Aidan has two new favorite words: Mys (pronounced like m-eyes) and self. She uses them regularly. Sometimes she manages to meld them together into MYSELF! This is how she likes to do things, at least until SHE decides to ask for "elp." I have learned to preface everything with "Do you want to do it yourself or would you like help?" This generally makes things go much smoother. Unless, she wants to do something HERSELF but later, not when I want to have it done. Like getting in her car seat. This morning, I gave her the choice and she chose HERSELF, but then she had to inspect the car floor boards for interesting food or toys. (Never know what might be down there.) I gave her the standard "Love and Logic" warning, "Aidan, do you want to get in the car seat by yourself or do you want mommy to help? If you aren't in your seat by the time I count to 10, mommy's going to help you. 1...2...3..." I got to 10 and she was still inspecting old Cheerios, so I picked her up and put her in her seat, with much crying (even real tears), flailing, and back arching. When I gave her empathy (You wanted to do it yourself, didn't you?), she responded with "OK" and tried to get down so she could get back in BY HERSELF. When I wouldn't let this happen (You can try again tonight), it kicked off another round of distress. We finally got things calmed down and we had a little talk about needing to do what mommy asks when mommy asks for it to be done. She gave a little nod of agreement. After a little personal time for everyone involved, we sang 3 rousing choruses of "The Alphabet Song" on the way to school. Aidan is able to sing about 1/3 of the song. She gets "A, b, c", "g", "lmnop" and "y, z". I just counted and that's almost 1/2 of the alphabet. It is amazing to me the things she can sing that I know she couldn't just come out and say yet. Singing is a great language tool. Yesterday, she was watching "Little People" (the episode with the boat) and when she saw the wheels getting put on the boat, she said/sang (somewhere in between) "All through the town."

We are also using choices to the point of being ridiculous sometimes, but it seems to work. For example, last night at bed time, Aidan had the following choices:

Changing diaper on floor or changing table (floor)
Pick out diaper HERSELF or mommy pick the diaper (HERSELF)
Put on pajama pants first or pajama top first (top)
Put arms through first or head through first (head)
Have Mama read books or Mommy read books (Mommy)
Hold orange bear or inchworm (inchworm)

Well, you get the picture.

She currently enjoys playing "Beep, beep" which means she sits in the driver's seat and pretends to drive and pushes all the buttons and moves all the dials. It is best when the keys are left in the ignition and she can play the radio REALLY LOUD - by HERSELF.

She is generally developing a very sweet personality. Yesterday, as she was playing Beep Beep, she found my water bottle and got out of the car to bring it to me as I was taking the dogs out. The other day, she got a sticker from the front office and she took it off and shared it with a friend in her class. She loves to help and be a big girl.

Well, I'm sure there's more to update, but those are the big things at the moment.