What Are You Doin'?

Now that Eden has turned one, I have not been doing the monthly updates on the new things that she is doing and learning. She continues to grow and change daily and loves to mimic her big brother. She still has not said her first word, but I am pretty optimistic that (unlike Parker) it will be Momma!!

The one thing that I am most excited to report is that Eden has discovered books. For the first year, she showed no interest in them and I have to say that, as a reading specialist, I was starting to get a little worried. A love of reading is something that I want all children to have, but I especially want my own children to develop their interest in reading at an early age. Recently, Eden brought me a book and backed up into my lap for me to read it to her and I was thrilled. These days, you can usually find her carrying a book around or sitting in the playroom turning the pages and looking at the pictures of some of her favorite books. We have also added storytime to her bedtime routine and we read 4 or 5 books every night before I put her in bed.

Like I mentioned, Eden loves to mimic her brother. One of the things she has started wanting to do is eat her snack out of a bowl, just like Parker. One day, I put her in her highchair for her afternoon snack and placed her snack on the tray. She started throwing a huge fit until I put her snack into a bowl. After that, I didn't hear a peep out of her. She is getting better and better about being able to walk with her snack without tipping it and pouring most of it on the floor to an awaiting Rocky, who is now her best friend.

Parker continues to grow and change daily, too. His speech has gotten even more sophisticated over the past few weeks and I amazed at how he is putting his words together. He talks in complete sentences without leaving any words out. The other day he said, "Mommy, get Eden out of the tent." Just a few short weeks ago, he would have probably just said, "Get out" so I am amazed at his progress.

His newest thing to say is, "Hey Mom, what are you doin"?" He literally says it all. day. long.

Some of his most memorable mispronunciations right now are controder (controller) and tomordow (tomorrow).

I think that Parker and Eden are both going through growth spurts right now because they are both eating us out of house and home. Neither one of them turn down food and are often asking for second and third helpings. We are also now going through 2 gallons of milk a week. This may not seem like a big deal, but this is coming from a household that used to only buy one half gallon per week (and half of that usually got thrown away.)

They have been playing a little bit more together, and as a result, sharing is something we are constantly working on. Parker can be so sweet to her when he wants to be. I look forward to watching their relationship develop even more over the next few years.