[1 year 8 months] Yes Mom No Mom

Lara's development is pretty close to the milestones described in Dr Green's "Toddler Taming" book for 18 months/2 years olds. For example, Lara refers to herself by name, and she claims ownership of everything - everything is Lara's. Needless to say, sharing is not a strong point. She scribbles in a circular manner (and tells me she's drawing an "apple") and starts to show discomfort when wet or dirty. (she told me "poo poo" and pointed to her nappy before she actually pooed occasionally) In fact, Mother-in-law tried Lara on a toilet training seat the other day, Lara called it "poo chair" and was quite happy sitting on it for a long time.

Lara's 'specialty' this month is stringing two words she knows together. For example, "Lara shoe", "Da da hat", "Mom hair", "Lara feet", "Ta Mom", "Bye bye Grandma", "Come Honey" etc. When Lara says yes or no to me, she says "yes Mom" "No Mom". Sometimes she gets the names wrong, for example said "Ta da da" to me then corrected herself.

Lara loves to eat ice cream. Still loves fruit too. She tells me "na na" when she wants banana. Generally, if Lara won't eat banana, she's not hungry. She hasn't said "no" to oranges, kiwi fruit or strawberries. She tells me when she want's water too.


Lara loves swing and slide in the park too. She wants to be pushed higher and higher and can stay in the park for a very long time!




Lara knows the names of most simple body parts. I can't say if Lara is right-handed or left-handed ('Taming Toddlers' says hand dominance is established in most 2 year olds). She uses the left hand a little more when drawing, but it's a very close call at the moment.

Lara seems to be able to "count". When she see both of her pink blankets, she says "two blankets". When she put her blocks in the box, she sometimes counts "two four six"(sounds like). Grandma thinks she's a genius, knowing her times table already.

I was "told off" by Lara several times this month. The first time was in Grandma's when I put the teddy bears Lara took out back to the toy cot. Lara looked cross and pointed her index finger at me and said "NO! MOM!". You could tell she was imitating someone (not sure who). I know I shouldn't laugh, but it was very funny. It also happened at bath time. I had a Band-Aid on my finger that day. It came off during the bath. I didn't want to leave Lara, so I put the Band-Aid at the side of the bath. Lara wasn't happy with that. She told me "No Mom" (finger-pointing) and pointed to the toilet "bin bin" she said - she wanted me to put it in the bin! I also saw her did something similar to her bear too.

Lara stopped hitting her head on the floor when she was not happy, however, she cries a lot more this month, especially when we say no to her, take things away from her or stop her from doing things. I am trying what I did before - ignore her or walk away. Hopefully this is another phase she's going through. I guess they are not called "terrible two" for nothing!

Lara loves to to baby puzzles. She can do it quite fast (possibly faster than me!)