Eluned G. Sharron Bethea » March 2009 Journal Entries » AboutMyBaby - online baby scrapbooks, photo albums, videos, birth and pregnancy announcements

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Sat, Mar 28, 2009 8:00 PM
Over the last few weeks it has become increasingly clear that Eluned now understands that a picture or an object can be a representation of a real thing. So for example she now grasps that the pictures of dogs in her book are depictions of real dogs. And she seems to realize that some of her toys represent actual animals, like a cat. Probably not coincidentally, she has a whole new interest in reading. She has begun picking out and bringing us the book she would like to read. And I think it might be starting to inform her play.

Comments:
Sarah: She is welcome to join The Secret Society of Bibliophiles any time!

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Mon, Mar 23, 2009 10:50 PM
Today Eluned and I toured the "Downtown Disney" area in Anaheim. We are staying down here at the resort as Kate is attending a convention. Anyway, we attempted to do the "Lilo and Stitch" breakfast in the grill in our hotel (Paradise Pier). For those of you who don't know, one of the biggest "features" of these Disney resorts is the life sized Disney characters.
So, we put in our names and stood aside to wait. Since she's such an alert, observant toddler and I had her in our forward facing baby harness, everyone (and I mean everyone) was just drawn to her - including Stitch. Now, I don't know if you've seen this critter, Stitch. By my standards, not a very creepy alien being (as per Disney protocol, of course). Here's the play by play. Els is being her usual alert, observant self, inadvertently making googly-eyes at Stitch who was obviously thrilled to wave, at which point Els stretched out her hand to him. He moved in closer and reached slowly out and touched her finger tips...that's when Els started moaning in fear (if you don't know, she's got a set of lungs, my daughter). At any rate we made a b-line out of there and just started walking.
From observing Els reactions over time, I have the impression that she has a keen talent for reading people's faces. I think that's why when she's confronted with beings that look real but upon closer inspection clearly are not, she freaks out.
We had a pretty good day though, once I got her away from any and all life-sized inanimate or partially animate beings. As you would suspect, this is a little tricky to do while staying at a Disneyland resort.
I bought her a first set of Lego Duplo blocks and some polished rocks. Then we took some lunch back to the room where we waited for Kate. I thought we hadn't really done that much but the child simply passed out as soon as she got a hold of her mother.
I figure I performed my fatherly duty fairly well by outlasting my child on a theme park day.

Love, Eluned's daddy.

Comments:
Nicky: Lego-Legos! That's what you called them. And you would wail like a banshee if I got anywhere NEAR them. Luckily, I was more interested in my Barbi hooking up with your GI Joe. ;-)

Aunt Ginny: Els is quite a girl. I've always known how observant she is. Maybe the "character fear" runs in the family....when we went to the World's Fair.... Jonathan was afraid of the Disney characters. It sounds like she had a very busy day.....lots to see and do.

Sarah: It seems that humanoids (human-like, but clearly not human) are more scary to children and adults alike, than critters not even remotely human (cats, dogs, BEMs). I wonder if it's the almost-but-not-quite factor.

Congrats on staying awake longer than she did! ZZzzz....

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Thu, Mar 19, 2009 10:00 PM
I tend to underestimate how much Eluned understands. Tonight I asked her to sit down and give me her feet so I could put on her shoes -- and she sat down.

We also played our first game of keep-away. Will or I left a prescription bottle out on the coffee table. Els found it, so I reached for it to take it away -- and she swung her arm back wide so I couldn't reach it. I took a step toward her, and she took a couple of steps away, still holding the bottle out of my reach. (I did get it back and put it away.)

Comments:
Aunt Ginny: Love your notes and pictures. Can't wait to see Els again (soon, I hope). I'm glad to see she is getting good wear out of the sweater I got her. I was a bit concerned that it wouldn't fit her. Love to all.

Sarah: With highly intelligent children, it is a neverending situation trying to guesstimate how much they understand. She will continue to surprise you, in all the years ahead, would be my bet.

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Tue, Mar 17, 2009 9:00 PM
Last night when I got to Bertha's, instead of me picking Eluned up and carrying her to the car, Els walked out the front door herself holding on to Kautima's hands. Bertha's husband was sitting out front eating a grapefruit, and Els walked straight up to him and held on to his knee. I gather he takes Stephen and now Els out in the backyard in the morning to play, so he is one of Els' all-time favorite people.

(Els was clearly interested in his grapefruit, so Kautima peeled all of the pith off a section and handed it to Els -- and Els ate it.)

Tonight Els walked out holding on to my hands. I had to coax her towards the car. She wanted to explore Bertha's garage; then she wanted to wander into the street. She tried to climb up into my car so I helped her up, but then she wanted right back down to the sidewalk.

When we got home, Will and I forgot to close the gate and Els carefully climbed both steps to reach the front door. She clearly wanted to go out so I took her hands and Will opened the door. Els walked right out down the front steps and straight out to the street.

We sat on the curb for a little while and talked about how it isn't safe for Els to cross the street. Then I picked her up and showed her how I cross, watching for cars both ways.

Els was happy to reach the park, which was full of kids, but she seemed a little overwhelmed. When I asked her if she was ready for snuggly-nursy time, she climbed up to my lap, so we went home.

Comments:
Kate: Thanks, no, I don't think Els understands that she shouldn't go into the street yet. I just get that it's time to starting talking about it, and keep talking about it, until she does.

I think all Els sees is the park on the other side of the street. You know the old Far Side cartoon about what we say to dogs vs. what they hear? I got the distinct impression that the conversation, from Els' perspective, went something like, "Blah blah car blah car blah blah blah car ..."

Aunt Marilyn: Ah, this is the period of chasing kids. They are so interested in everything and want to explore and use their new found ability to walk and then run away from you. Please be aware that even tho Els seems to get the concept of not going into the street, she is still not at the age where she can understand that no today is still no tomorrow. Piaget says this is related to the develoopment of object permancy in the child's mind if I remember correctly. Meanwhile, Els is such a delightful child, enjoy every minute.

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Thu, Mar 12, 2009 10:00 PM
Eluned took her first steps today. Just a few at a time, and only when she doesn't realize that she's no longer holding on to anything.

Comments:
Auntie Rai: sweet, that means she's just about ready for a mini basketball court and baseball T ;)

sarah: and when she realizes she can go places without an adult holding her hands....

Nana: How exciting! She's on her way out of babyhood and into toddlerhood. I can't wait to see her take those steps.

Poppa: Now you are really going to get your daily exercise!

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Sun, Mar 8, 2009 9:00 PM
Eluned isn't walking on her own yet, but she's getting better and better at the phases that lead to it. If you hold her hands and walk with her, she can go all over the place. It's especially fun because Els usually knows exactly where she wants to go (outside); as soon as you give her a hand she marches off.

Last week at church Els went from person to person, hand to hand, walking all over the church -- out to the playground, back in to me and Will, then out again.

We have a gate at the foot of our stairs which also blocks our front door. It's going to be with us for a while. The other day Els and I were sitting on our front steps. I took her hands and without hesitation she marched straight towards the playground across the street. I stopped her at the curb, but Els would have walked right into the street. So we'll be keeping that gate up until we're certain that Els understands the rules for crossing the street. Or until she can open the gate herself; whichever comes first.

Comments:
Sarah: Yes, indeed she marches off, with single-minded determination and a grip of steel on the supporting hands. With a force of character like that, all adult guidance is overborne. Whither, little one, goes thou? Wherever she wants (almost).

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Sat, Mar 7, 2009 10:00 PM
Eluned has her first molar.

Comments:
Sarah: nom nom nom....

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Mon, Mar 2, 2009 9:00 PM
Eluned can understand and say the word "banana." I discovered this yesterday at Trader Joe's. I usually let Els hold her own bananas at the store but this time she started chewing on the stems. When I took them away I heard her say "banana." So I peeled one and she ate it while we shopped. (The TJ's staff were very nice about it.)

I had been meaning to check the sign for "banana" and show it to Els, but now I'll skip it; if I'm remembering correctly, the sign is a little complicated for her right now anyway.

Els can say and sign "up," as in "pick me up." She can sign "down," as in "let me out of this high chair." And I've been working on "all done" with her. (Signing beats throwing her food on the floor.) Els now signs "all done" back to me so that I recognize what she's signing, but it's her own version, not textbook ASL.

I keep showing Els "more" but she hasn't signed it back yet. And I really wish I could find our book of baby signs to learn a few more.

Comments:
Sarah: Nothing like oral gratification and immediate reinforcement. What? Yes we have no bananas? Better not let Els know.

Oh, yes, signing "all done" would be SO much better than throwing food on the floor. All babies do it, you'd think someone would have invented an automatic food catcher by now. Wait. There is one. It's called Mommy.

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