Life is full of transitions. Sometimes they are big: moving, death, starting school. Sometimes they are more subtle: the new favorite toy, changes in speech, and new ways of playing.
The girls have been full of small and subtle changes lately, especially Abby. It makes me a little sad since each new development means they are getting older and giving up some of their "baby" ways.
Abby has probably shifted the most lately. She has had the cutest little way of saying Natalie's name - "Nannie". I think it evolved out of an attempt to say "Natne" and somehow the "t" just disappeared. Natalie calls her self
Nannie too, and Ben and have also taken to calling her that. I think we like it better than the nickname "Nat" or worse, "Nat-Nat". Plus, it's been so cute hearing the girls say it. Of late, however, Abby has started calling her
Na(t)-a-lie. It's hard to explain and it sounds very much like
Natalie, but I think the "t" is still under-pronounced so it sounds a bit different. It's still cute, but I liked that she had a special little name for her sister. I blame their speech therapist. I think she spent a day on their names and Abby fell for it. Natalie is still stubbornly referring to herself as
Nannie, and speech issues aside, I'm thrilled with it.
Abby has also started showing preference for her baby doll, Baby Sam, over Mouse. (I failed to document when Natalie gave up Elmo for Baby Bean and Abby "Dorge"/Curious George for Mouse, so I want to be sure to catch this...) It's not a complete transition, but I can see it coming (through my tears, I might add). Mouse is still required for sleep, but rarely makes it out of the bed. Most all day-time play is done with Baby Sam. This could simply be because Sam is actually a doll, vs a mouse, and falls more easily into Abby's love of pretend Mommy play. Baby Sam is regularly given a bottle, fed bear soup, put to bed, put in the swing to swing, pushed in the stroller and comforted when sick or hurt. It's hard to say which is more preferred, Mouse or Baby Sam, since she is very tied to both at bedtime. I do, however, see Sam gaining ground in the future.
Abby's Babies
(from left to right: Dorge (George), Mouse, Baby Sam, Panda, Pink Baby - aka Car Baby - meant to stay in the car)
Natalie's Babies(Baby Bean, Elmo, Yellow Baby, Polie, Baby Susie)
and the whole crowd...
For the record, Natalie's Baby Bean has never been quite as involved in daily play as Baby Sam. Baby Bean often spends all day in the bed. But, Natalie is quite insistent on her at night and in comfort situations. I think this is in part because Natalie is less consumed by "Mommy play" than Abby. She does rock, feed, etc Baby Bean (in fact, she just fetched her from her bed about an hour ago), but she is also just as likely to pick up whatever is closest (bunny, duck, other doll) and plop it into the high chair or give it a bottle.
(Natalie swinging Baby Bean)
Another rather surprising switch is the hostile takeover of a oinky little upstart named Olivia. For a change in pace (for me), I let the girls watch an episode of Olivia instead of Wonder Pets, and they've become quite hooked. Now, instead of "I want to watch Wonder Pets" at 8am, I'm hearing, "mommy, I want to watch Olivia!" Sesame Street is also getting popular, but we only watch it downstairs. (It's an hour vs only 30 minutes and gives me more time to cook or clean or do whatever if I need to.)
Play time is getting more sophisticated too. They still spend a good bit of time engaged in imaginative imitation play: feeding, rocking, and putting their babies to bed and cooking (usually bear soup). They also do a lot of climbing: on the stairs, on the couches, on Mommy. They love to jump and will sometimes place pillows around to create things to jump on on. Spinning is also popular and various forms of ballet and dance movements.
They are also starting to create games and give directions to each other. "Now, Nannie, you do this..." They are also beginning to independently seek out puzzles and more fine motor activities. We have started playing a couple of games and they are getting the idea of taking turns and how games work. They also like to color and cut. Books are still a favorite activity and I've caught them "reading" the books to themselves and to their babies.
Other favorite games include pretending to fish, hiding, chasing daddy, playing with their little animals and building block "houses", taking care of the cats, and Natalie loves riding her little tractor around the house with a few animals or babies in the trailer. They also love to help us cook. They are also getting really independent and like to get their own water from the dispenser with one ice for Natalie and 2 for Abby:-)
Some of mommy and daddy's favorites:
- Having the girls come running and climb in our bed in the morning (we took the crib tents off so they can get out by themselves).
- The girls like to fix daddy coffee in their little kitchen and bring it to him on the weekends.
- Mommy loves to watch the girls play together, make up games and help each other.
- Watching them take care of Baby Sam - the real one:-) They are so sweet with him. They bring him toys and hug him and kiss the top of his head. It's so sweet. Today the girls held him in their laps and just beamed - especially Abby - she is incredibly maternal.
I'm a bit nostalgic about all these changes - especially the switches of the beloved comfort item. I have this Velveteen Rabbit complex that the forsaken toys are now lonely and sad because they have been rejected and replaced...(Names and numbers of competent psychiatrist can be submitted in the comments section). Mostly, I'm just sad because it means they are growing up and I'm really, really, really not a fan. I love this stage. They could stay 3.5 years old forever. Maybe what I have is a reverse Peter Pan complex. I want to go to Never Never Land not so that I won't grow up, but so my girls never will. Well, there's always the grandchildren...
Now to wax a bit philosophical...
I've always loved watching children play. If you really just sit back and watch and listen, it's quite an extraordinary experience. To see their little minds at work, watching as they work out problems, express their own fears through their babies or toys, and find fun and joy in something as simple as a pipe cleaner (snake, fishing rod, a little shot). It's truly amazing what a child can do given the space, time, and encouragement and even just a few simple toys.
We have spent a number of afternoons at the Marbles Museum in Raleigh which is an enormous and astonishing hands on museum for kids. There is a pretend bus, ambulance, fire truck and burning house, grocery store, kitchen, garden, stage, post office, and barn. And that's just in one part downstairs. Upstairs, there are art spaces, a sock hockey rink, giant legos, fashion design station, pet spa, pizza restaurant and woodworking area where you can make your own birdhouse with a hand saw, hand drill and some screws.
What is absolutely amazing is to watch the children at work in these spaces. They know exactly what to do and they are so intent on doing it. There are no electronics, TVs, video games or music. Yet, the kids are completely engaged and entertained. The revel in the freedom and opportunity to be creative and explore. It's a world of make-believe where they can be firemen, bus drivers, cooks, architects, fashion designers, or pirates on a giant ship that frankly is probably not much smaller than the actual Santa Maria. It's truly joyous to watch and if you have never had the opportunity to observe children at play, I suggest you find a way. It will open your eyes to a whole new world.
