Adventuring Abroad: Charlotte at 22 months

In a break from travel highlights, I wanted to write a bit about what Charlotte is up to at this age. She puts me through the wringer most days -- she's definitely starting to test limits and has discovered that whining is a very interesting way to request things. I try hard not to get too exasperated with her, but there are days that feel very long. Then there is the flip side, moments I wouldn't miss for all the whining: giggling with her at something funny, snuggling with a new library book, seeing her "wheels turning" when I ask her a question and then being amazed that she can come up with the correct answer to a complex question (ex: How did we know that it was time to leave the play gym today? ...They turned off the lights.). Those moments are the best.

So, without further ado, Charlotte at 22 months:

Playtime
- Loves Peppa Pig (TV show), Curious George (books and TV show), Madeline (books) -- anything with someone getting in trouble, making a big mess, or getting injured really captures her attention
- Enjoys splashing in muddy puddles with her "wellie boots" [rain boots] and frog raincoat. We have taken a couple of walks after rainstorms to hunt for puddles. She also likes to stop and smell the flowers in neighbors' gardens, then says "mm!" appreciatively.
- Loves going to "play gym" -- a local gymnasium opens up for toddlers certain hours during the week. There is an in-floor trampoline, a foam pit, and lots of tumble forms and balance beams to play on. They put out a parachute too. She has a blast and it wears her out!
- She just started swimming classes three weeks ago. The first lesson was terrible, the 2nd was great, and the 3rd was somewhere in between :) She didn't like the structure of the class, and just wanted to free play with the toys on the side of the pool. She is settling in, but still has her moments. She hates floating on her back, and yells "I GOT YOU" while crying. (as I quietly tell her "I've got you"... maybe she's asking if I have her?)
- I frequently hear her talking to baby dolls and her George stuffed animal as I do to her. "You want milk, baby? George, you want to ride in cozy coupe?"
- She asks to go play with her friends Auri and Gus.
- She loves helping with various aspects of baking (dumping and pouring ingredients, tapping sieve to sift ingredients, trying to stir, putting liners in muffin cups, and definitely eating the finished product). Wearing her chef's hat is a demand that must be met.
- Asks to go on "adventure!" every day, although we are still trying to figure out what this means to her -- as she frequently cries and asks to go on an adventure when we are already doing something fun and kid-oriented (like pumpkin patch or library). It might have to involve the stroller and a playground to count (?).

On our way to stomp puddles. She loves the pockets on her raincoat.

Letting George try out her tricycle.

Eating
- Our girl loves to eat: especially apple slices, grapes, raisins, mandarin oranges, chicken nuggets, string cheese, bean and cheese quesadillas, Nilla wafers, apple juice, 2% milk. She also likes somewhat spicy things like taco meat, curry veggie dip, and a spicy sausage pasta I make.
- We are starting to be able to negotiate with food ("eat your carrot, then you can have another piece of cheese") to help get some vegetables in. Still not a big fan of most veggies.
- She is learning to drink out of an open cup (and coaches herself "put on lip, slow tip"), but only while in her high chair at this point to contain messes.
- She does seem to always be thinking about food, and wants to snack frequently when we're at home. Now that it's getting dark early, she starts asking for dinner around 4:30 (we don't eat until 6 or so). That time period is a rough one for me!

Language/behavior
- She has started nodding and smiling while she tells you something she wants, as though encouraging me to see that she's in the right. I'm wondering if that's a technique I subconsciously use on her?
- Big time testing limits with "all done" -- then telling us that she wants more of whatever the food/drink was -- and "one more time." She's also started adding "please" (very sweetly) to a request I've already said no to... sorry, kid -- answer is still no!
- She can sing most of "Twinkle Twinkle" and "5 Little Monkeys," as well as bits of "ABC" song and "Wheels on the Bus." Sometimes she says the words in a funny "gruff" or high-pitched voice with her eyes open extra wide to make me laugh.
- Says "I love you too Mommy!"
- She had gas ("tooted") the other night; when we asked her what she says after tooting, she said "Trick or treat!"
- She has started hitting, pinching my cuticles, and head-butting me when she's bored or I'm talking to someone else. It's not usually in anger at this point. I think she wants to see how I'll react. I'm trying to be consistent with giving a warning once, then doing a minute to minute and a half time-out. Unfortunately she giggles in time-out (infuriating).
- Independently says "tank you mama/mommy" and "tank you daddy" about half of the time without prompting; says "excuse me" to people and inanimate objects if she bumps into them or is trying to get around them.
- Has started saying "mommy? mommy?" repeatedly when in an unfamiliar situation or around new people (as though for reassurance). Occasionally "daddy? daddy?" if I'm not in the room.
- Laughs frequently and says "silly Daddy," "silly Mommy," "silly [insert anything that does something unexpected]"
- Asks "I hold you?" when she wants to be picked up or carried.

Snuggling with a book and blanket before bedtime

Picking out a pumpkin at the patch

Daily routines
- She starts the day with "I woke up! Daytime! Sun's up! Light outside!" and ends the day with "Night night shoes, night night neighbors, dark outside. See the moon? Stars?"
- She knows (and tells me) that Daddy goes "to work, in daddy's car, to base, to see Jerome and Dan."
- She asks to read books at least 5 times a day, and definitely right after every meal. Likes to sit on her Peter Rabbit pillow to read books.
- Likes to help with the laundry and knows who each article of clothing belongs to.
- Loves watching the garbage truck on Monday mornings, waves to the workers. Knows we have to wait until we hear "beep beep beep" [truck backing down our road] before we can see the truck.
- Runs around and screams with excitement when Daddy comes home
- Loves to take baths, learning how to use washcloth to rub arms/legs/tummy. Not a huge fan of getting her hair washed.
- Needs me to sing "Twinkle twinkle" and "dodo" (Do Re Mi) at bedtime. Currently does a great job of putting herself to sleep in the crib after our routine is over. Occasionally wakes up once between 9 and 11 pm crying and needs a back rub and another rendition of "Twinkle twinkle."

Drawing with chalk outside on our back stoop

Chugging some milk

Other random cognitive bits:
- Has no concept of little boy vs little girl, but remembers which characters are boys or girls in books after I tell her.
- She has an impressive memory for small details. The other day we had taken her carseat out of the car and it was sitting in our front hall. The clips to secure the seat via seatbelt path were slightly visible, and they are bright blue. She told me "Grammy's sunglasses in the carseat." I was confused, as Grammy hasn't been here for about a month. When I looked at the seat, I saw that the clips looked a little bit like the arms of a pair of sunglasses (and Grammy's are blue).
- She loves to scroll through photos and videos on my phone (with the greatest of ease). She announces, "Dat's Charlotte, dat's Charlotte, dat's Charlotte" and recognizes family members and some friends in pictures (even in photos she's never seen before). She still initially thinks all pictures of babies are "Charlotte," but then corrects herself.