Thumbs

Up or Down?

Two thumbs up for my menu planning and execution this week.  Yes, that's only three meals since I'll be out for dinner with friends tonight, then date night on Friday night, but still.  It's better execution than usual.

Two thumbs up since I've gone to work out for three days in a row.  This is good. 

Two thumbs down, waaaaay down. I have consumed dessert on all three workout days, which undoubtedly eclipses all calories burned while working out and walking the dogs.  Not good.  Last night, I actually drove to the grocery store because I had such a craving for Laffy Taffy (yes, Amber, I was dashing up to the candy section with 2nd graders - made me think of Bend!)

Two thumbs sideways for my Diet Coke consumption. I'm definitely not at a zero level, but I rarely drink it at home despite having it available to me. And I'm not desperate to find some DC when I'm out and about. There have been times when I can't figure out why there aren't soda fountains at intersections.

Two thumbs mostly up for Avery's TV watching. I've been very good at limiting her to 30 minutes per day. As with most "rules" we lax on it a bit for traveling. The good news is that we completely solved the angry child during the night syndrome by limiting screen time. Some things I have to learn first hand rather than through the "experts."

Two thumbs cautiously pointing to the 2 o'clock and 10 o'clock positions for Avery's tantrums. To be clear, she is still having the occasional tantrum, so if you witness one, you can't call me a liar. However, it really feels like we made it over a hump. The car seat tantrums are very rare lately. And the tantrums over nothing are decreasing dramatically. We're now in a phase where I can see why people might say something crazy like, "Oh, there's no such thing as the terrible 2's." (And, yes, I know that not all kids go through the tantrums that we've had).  I'm definitely not thinking the terrible 2's are done and over with for us. Avery is far too strong willed for that sort of statement to be true, but I'm grateful for the reprieve from the daily, and exhausting, tantrums she was having.

Two thumbs sideways.  I didn't plan an activity for Avery and I for today.  It's bad because we have no plan which could lead us down a very lazy path.  It's good because it means I have flexibility and that could lead us down a very productive path. 

Copying

I keep thinking about this, so I want to get it blogged.  Every once in a while, when we're out and about, I'll look at Avery and see that she's very closely watching another person and imitating what they're doing.  I have video of her stroking her chin as she watched a man with a beard do that while we were waiting for some food.  

When we were at the airport after returning from Colorado, she spied a man crossing his legs casually as he rode down the escalator.  Watching Avery try to get herself into this same stance makes me smile, even after a couple weeks have passed.  

Playlist

Last year around this time, I used to play a Kylie Minogue song that Avery enjoyed.  She'd dance to it and ask for "more Kylie!"  I put it in a playlist of songs that Avery seemed to enjoy listening to.  The song following the Kylie song was Sweet Home Alabama.  We've not listened to that playlist for at least six months, probably more.  The other night, we switched on Kylie at my suggestion since I was tired of her favorite Michael Jackson song.  I played the song outside of any playlist, so when it stopped, it just stopped.  Avery sat there for a bit and then said, "Alabama?!"  I was shocked she remembered the next song on the playlist.  Granted, we played that playlist a lot, but I am still very impressed with her recall, especially since I don't think she could say "Alabama" back when we were listening to the playlist. 

Table Setting and Dishwasher Emptying

Avery's become my little helper. Sometimes she even says, "I'm a very good helper!"

Overall, I'd rate Avery excellent at following verbal directions, at least when she's actually paying attention and is in the proper mood.  This willingness/ability/tendency to follow directions is coming in handy now.  She will set her place at the table for most dinners, though I still have to talk her through all the items she needs to get or she'll end up with a bowl and a full set of silverware, but no napkin or plate or glass.  She loves to get her silverware.

She's now "helping" me empty the dishwasher, too.  She takes out the dishes and puts them on the island.  This is actually useful with the plates and glasses. It's counterproductive that she insists on doing it for the silverware, for each piece of silverware.  I should note here that this also works because Avery seems to naturally put glasses and plates and things fully on a surface.  I cannot recall her ever putting her glass or plate or whatever down on the table when it's precariously perched halfway on/off. 

As she was emptying the dishwasher last night, she pulled out the glass lid for one of our saucepans.  I assumed she'd put it on the island with the other items, but she recognized it and knew where it went since it's in a low drawer she can reach, so she put it away.  Granted, she basically dropped it from a standing height thereby making a very loud thud, but she remembered where it went and understood the goal of emptying the dishwasher is to put things away. She also puts her plates away in her cupboard rather than up on the counter for me to put away.  Oddly, she puts ONLY the plates in her cupboards.  She doesn't seem to recognize that she can put away her glasses or silverware.  All in due time, I guess.

I also learned last night that I should empty the sharp knives first.  I (stupidly) didn't think to do that.  I turned around and she'd put the steak knife up on the counter.  No harm, no foul, but I made sure to empty the knives first thing this morning even though she wasn't helping me.  It's a good habit to have.