About Ivy

I meant to do a post about Ivy right after Sophie's birthday to record her development and such -- because she turned 18 months in May. I'm only a month behind. And besides, it's not like she's growing leaps and bounds. (Physically anyway. . . she may have broken 20 lbs, but it's still uncertain.)

Ivy has changed a lot in the last six months. She hardly seems like the same clingy baby who had to be held most of the time and woke up 3 times a night until she was one. The biggest shock for me was when she started going to nursery last month. (The "sunday school" class for 18mo - 3-year-olds at church.) I thought it would take months for her to adjust being there by herself. Not so. The very first time we took her in, she was holding hands with Sophie and they both walked in and never looked back. No crying. Ever. The second and third week was the same. Of course if Sophie wasn't in there with her, it would be an entirely different story.

Yes, they're outside in their pajamas. That's what happened when I told Steve to get a picture of them in their new pj's from grandma. He let them loose outside. My favorite part is the socks and jelly shoe combo. Fabulous.

Sophie and Ivy play together better with (slightly) less crying. Ivy's pretty patient with her "second mommy" bossing her around and loves to be taught by her. Sophie's always trying to get her to say words and taught her a couple of colors (purple and yellow). They read together a lot, like I've mentioned before.

She goes through phases of favorite books and a few weeks ago The Monster at the End of this Book was the one. This book has special meaning for me because my grandpa would read it to us before we went to bed when we stayed at their house -- complete with animated voicing and tickling. I tickle her, too, and she even tickles herself when she reads it alone . . .

Ivy's a little climber. I can't leave the dining room chairs pulled out even 6 inches or else she manages to climb up and squeeze herself through. She also likes walking up and down the stairs, climbing on the toilet, the back of the couch, the piano bench and onto the kitchen table to play in the fruit bowl. She has no fear. It scares me a little.

One recent development . . . she finally can have pigtails! She may or may not be in the mood for them, but it's possible now.

"Mom, take a picture of me doing this!"

Um . . . OK. Back to what I was doing.

I'm still not sure how we ended up with a blondie. My hair was lighter when I was younger, but I'm not sure if it was as light as hers.

Ivy's getting better about communicating what she wants and has learned lots of new words lately. I posted a video of her finishing the phrases to "Jesus Wants me for a Sunbeam" a few weeks ago. Well, that's become a very common thing for the girls. Every night when we put them to bed, I hear singing coming out of their room. . .

Sophie: "Jesus wants me for a sun . . . "
Ivy: "Beh!"
Sophie: ". . . to shine for him each . . "
Ivy: "Duuuuh!"
Sophie: "In every way try to please . . ."
Ivy: "Uum!"
Sophie: "At home, at school, at . . . "
Ivy: "Puhh!"

and on, and on....

Ivy does it with a few other songs and can hum the melody to about a half dozen others. She also likes to mimic the chorister and wave her hand around during the hymns at church.

Ivy's a little champ at the dinner table. When she first started solids she was extremely picky (opposite of Sophie at that age), but gradually we've gotten to the point where she'll at least try almost anything. (Now the opposite of Sophie who has to be tricked, bribed, and negotiated with at every meal.) She often eats more than Sophie does. I'm not sure where she puts it, though. And she loves cheese. LOVES cheese. Every time I open the fridge or start making something in the kitchen, she begs for cheese whether she can see it or not.

We're really enjoying the stage she's in right now. She's so easy-going and aside from a tantrum every now and then, pretty mellow. I heard a saying once that easy babies are hard toddlers and vice versa. It seems to be the case with mine so far, but Ivy's not two yet.

P.S. No developments made in potty training. Sophie's decided to wait until Ivy's ready.