On sleeping. In true AM fashion she is sleeping like a rock star in a TWIN bed! In her room here there are two twin beds. The first week we were here she said she wanted to sleep in the bed for her nap, so I let her. She slept in the bed a couple of times and then asked to sleep in her pack and play. For a couple of weeks she went back and forth, some times she would sleep in the pack and play and other times in the bed. Now the last week she has only slept in the bed, she says it’s ‘comfy’ and the pack and play is for babies. She also likes to make an appearance in our room in the morning and tries everything in the book to extend her bedtime. The bedtime process has gotten a little out of hand with the amount of books and songs she requests.
(napping. not napping)
On potty training. We had a little regression with the potty training when we first got here. She kept asking for a diaper. I think this is because we put one on her for the plane ride. She was also terrified of the toilets. Our toilets in the apartment are bigger and louder than what we had at home. They flush differently, it’s a big whoosh and there is a button on the top to flush the toilet versus having a little handle on the side. For whatever reason all these things freaked her out. She would tell me she didn’t like the toilets. We have her little potty training toilet and that would be the only thing she would use. This was fine, but a little frustrating because she was going on the big toilet at home. She eventually got over it and uses the big toilet now. We are also having some difficulty with having a BM in the toilet, but we are working on it. She has yet to have a accident here and even sleeps in her underwear. She has really good control and will often hold it longer than I prefer, so you sometimes have to persuade her go. Ok, enough talk about that.
On toys. We packed a box and her backpack full of toys that we checked on the plane. We tried our hardest to pack things that she loved and would keep her busy. But of course she still asks for some of her toys and we tell her they are on a boat in the ocean and they are on there way. Luckily, she saw some of the packing being done, so I think she gets it - that her stuff will eventually get here. But she still asks everyday, multiple times a day. Lucky for us the girl has an incredible imagination because she has resulted in making up her own games and play because she is tried of the box of toys she has. Some of her favorite things to do include; pretending the couch is a big plane, pretend making food with some of the kitchen stuff, playing imaginary baseball (this came out of watching the Giants. Go Giants!). She still enjoys a good dance party, playing doctor, coloring, and mothering her babies. Of course her favorite is just being outside, the girl will just run and shout out "Ammie's a runner. Ammie's fast". It just goes to show you that kids don't need a lot.
(at a new burrito shop in Crows' Nest)
On playgroup. We have joined a playgroup here in North Ryde that we have been going to every Thursday. I have met some great Mums and Annmarie has made a couple of buddies. I have enjoyed the interaction with the Moms and most of the them are not even from Australia - all sorts of circumstances have brought them here from all over the world. Unfortunately, we are not sticking around here, so I am not so sure if I’ll stay in contact with these Moms, but it's been good for Annmarie and myself. I’ll join another group in our new neighborhood.
(tea time at playgroup)
On Australia. I think Annmarie believes that Australia is any place where there are kangaroos. The concept that we are in far off land is way beyond her comprehension. She asks several times to go to Uncle Jon’s and Nana’s house and I think she thinks we can just get in our car and drive to see them like we use too. It’s cute and sad at the same time. She thinks it’s funny that the steering wheel is on ‘backwards’ (me too Annmarie, me too). Loves all the birds and is obsessed with the BBC kids show, In the Night Garden that they show here. It’s with these really funny looking characters, that don't even talk. I have yet to watch a full episode because it’s on at 5:30 and I'm typically cooking dinner, but the girl loves this crazy show. She is also picking up on the lingo and often says rubbish for garbage, trolley for shopping cart and pram for stroller.
On books and songs. Just like her toys we could only bring so many books. Right now her two favorite books are Pinkalicious and Where the Wild Things Are. I have read these books no less than 100,000 times. We ALL know them by heart. Her favorite songs to sing include; Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Happy Birthday, You are my Sunshine, Moon Moon Moon, I'm a little Tea Pot and Head and Shoulders.
On family and friends. She talks a lot about her friends and uses their names when we play. We have been Skyping family and friends and that helps her stay connected.
On Dad. She has turned into such a Daddy’s girl. She wants Dad to put her to sleep at night, take her in and out of her car seat, sing to her. The list goes on. Jamie was away for a week to China and she had pretty hard time with him gone. It was mostly in the mornings and at night, but when she would ask for Jamie around dinner time and I had to tell her Dad wasn’t going to be home, her poor little eyes looked so sad. It’s cute and I’m grateful that she loves her Daddy...so much.
(Jamie and AM reading Pinkalicious)
That pretty much sums things up. Can you believe she is almost THREE!?!
2 comments:
Beautiful pics, like always.
I can't believe you're in Australia! Love them updates, especially the AM ones. :) She seems to be doing SO well! Katie is talking up a storm now...putting 4-6 words together for sentences. She still searches for words a lot, but she gets them out.
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