Trackcat: 21 months!

Monday, September 26, 2016

21 months!

Vivien has adapted to our back-to-school schedule admirably. Although there were a few extra tears last month, she has been good when I leave each morning. When we get into the car in the morning or pull into my mom's, she often yells out "Emma" or "Meme"! She is right back to everything, including napping over there. To work better with my mom's schedule, she is now on one nap. We tried at the beginning of the summer, but she always seemed a little too tired mid-morning. Now she naps on Ryder's usual schedule of 12ish to 3pm.

Vivien is even more about doing it herself than last month. She usually insists on getting in and out of the carseat herself now. She pretty much wants to eat everything under her own power; she only accepts help to get the last of something. Just like Ryder, Vivi loves to help us and be a part of everything we're doing. The minute that I start cooking, she runs over to the stool and says "Help!" She gets a little frustrated though, because she doesn't quite understand why she can't pour the pancake batter herself!

Vivien is learning new words at a quick pace now. She is getting way better at repeating words that she has just heard and remembering words for later. She has been saying "I love you" for quite some time now; but only every once in a while. She says it mostly when I'm leaving for work in the morning. She says "Please" if you prompt her and every once in a while she comes out with a "thank you" on her own.

Just as Ryder has left the phase where he gets into everything and runs down the street any chance we get and we start to get a little peace and order around here, Vivien has entered that phase! She always wants to go for walks and tries to initiate them herself. And of course she always heads for the puddles down the street. At stores she likes to check out everything and wants to ride on the side of the cart like her big brother. She actually hangs on admirably well!