Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
31 for 21, Day 19: Maya and her friends
This week we started a little workshop at the library which gives children from 0-5 the opportunity to socialize with each other. Basically there are 10 stations of toys set up in the room and the kids play on their own and together. When we took this workshop earlier this year Maya did not have a good reaction to the space. It does get pretty noisy with all those kids and parents in the room. I think there was just too much going on. She seemed very irritated and would make her growling noises the whole time. This year I noticed that she was not so upset by the noise and now that she is walking she really seemed to get around to all the stations. The music section, kitchen and the tunnel were her favorite places to roam.
Like all other toddlers Maya is learning to share and play nicely with others. She seems to be following other's footsteps in grabbing and fighting over toys. In the last few months though I have really seen that Maya is interacting with her buddies more often. I do feel like I have to keep an eye out for what she is doing at all times. It only takes one second and then she might have her mouth on someone's arm. Yikes!!! I try my hardest to give her space, to let things go naturally but I do worry that kids a little older/larger will push her around. I have seen it happen.
There have been some really nice moments in the last two months that I've been able to witness. Like the time she fed her friend cheerios just out of the blue and the time she actually played nicely with a friend in the little kitchen at a play center. I often repeat to Maya that these are her friends and I think she has finally picked up the cue. Now when she sees a little buddy she will sign the word "friend" and then the word "nice" all by herself. I think it is sort of stuck in her head that those two words go together.
Like all other toddlers Maya is learning to share and play nicely with others. She seems to be following other's footsteps in grabbing and fighting over toys. In the last few months though I have really seen that Maya is interacting with her buddies more often. I do feel like I have to keep an eye out for what she is doing at all times. It only takes one second and then she might have her mouth on someone's arm. Yikes!!! I try my hardest to give her space, to let things go naturally but I do worry that kids a little older/larger will push her around. I have seen it happen.
There have been some really nice moments in the last two months that I've been able to witness. Like the time she fed her friend cheerios just out of the blue and the time she actually played nicely with a friend in the little kitchen at a play center. I often repeat to Maya that these are her friends and I think she has finally picked up the cue. Now when she sees a little buddy she will sign the word "friend" and then the word "nice" all by herself. I think it is sort of stuck in her head that those two words go together.
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| Making pizza together |
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| team work |
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| Laughing and Dancing |
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| Sharing Cheerios |
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| Watching Signing Time together |
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| Playing nice |
Monday, October 18, 2010
31 for 21, Day 18: pumpkin patch petting zoo
Here are a few snaps of Maya petting the mini horse at the pumpkin patch. We didn't stay long because it was just too hot out by the time we got there. Maya loved the petting zoo and really didn't want to leave. She has no fear when it comes to animals. She was trying to pet the chickens that were running around. And she kept trying to break into the cage where the goats were. It was really funny to watch. Hopefully next weekend it will cool off so we can actually get some shots of her in a pumpkin patch. =)
Sunday, October 17, 2010
31 for 21, Day 17: haircut
Maya recently got a long needed haircut. I think I've written before about how hard haircuts can be for us. Many times I procrastinate because of the stress it causes us both. Although I have to say the last few times we have gone, Maya has been doing very well.
My technique? I've been using Maya's itouch to distract her from what's going on. First it was Signing Time and now it seems that the Wheels on the Bus video seems to work. The only time she fusses or cries is when they spray water on her head. So far so good...
My technique? I've been using Maya's itouch to distract her from what's going on. First it was Signing Time and now it seems that the Wheels on the Bus video seems to work. The only time she fusses or cries is when they spray water on her head. So far so good...
Saturday, October 16, 2010
31 for 21, Day 16: Techie Gurl
Lately I've noticed that Maya is becoming more and more techie. We are generally pretty computer savvy people since both hubby and I have made our living using a computer. I didn't use a computer until I was in my third year in undergrad. Maya on the other hand has been exposed to using an itouch, ipad and a laptop since she was able to sit up.
When Maya was younger (12-15 months) we had a hard time teaching her how to use her fingers, how to point and how to push buttons. One night we were fooling around with the iphone and sure enough she started to point her index finger to push the virtual buttons. It was a breakthrough! I just can't knock technology when I think about that moment. There are so many ways that we use the ipad, from watching Signing Time videos to learning to count (Toddler Counting). Honestly the list goes on and on.
Our speech therapist also bought an ipad and uses it with many of her clients. She loves finding new apps for us to encourage Maya to speak. This week she was showing us a new app that uses a animated cat (Talking Tom) to repeat anything you say. Maya actually was trying to vocalize because of it. I literally was laughing and crying at the same time. It was so much fun!
Below is a video of Maya on that very evening when she discovered cause and effect using her little index finger.
When Maya was younger (12-15 months) we had a hard time teaching her how to use her fingers, how to point and how to push buttons. One night we were fooling around with the iphone and sure enough she started to point her index finger to push the virtual buttons. It was a breakthrough! I just can't knock technology when I think about that moment. There are so many ways that we use the ipad, from watching Signing Time videos to learning to count (Toddler Counting). Honestly the list goes on and on.
Our speech therapist also bought an ipad and uses it with many of her clients. She loves finding new apps for us to encourage Maya to speak. This week she was showing us a new app that uses a animated cat (Talking Tom) to repeat anything you say. Maya actually was trying to vocalize because of it. I literally was laughing and crying at the same time. It was so much fun!
Below is a video of Maya on that very evening when she discovered cause and effect using her little index finger.
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| Counting, Oct 16, 2010 |
Friday, October 15, 2010
31 for 21, Day 15: growing up
Did I mention that Maya has four teeth coming in right now? Wow, this poor girl has had teeth coming in since we went to Cali back at the end of August. I counted four teeth for sure with a possibility of a fifth in the back. It was hard to see and I dare not stick my finger in her mouth. That girl has shark teeth!
Unfortunately the teething process has been slow and sporadic. She will go for long periods with nothing and then all of a sudden she has four teeth coming in. It takes forever for a tooth to appear. She really has been a sport about it though. Mostly she just chews on everything, including her own hand at times.
After these come in she will have a total of fourteen. Yay for Maya! When she smiles I see those pearly whites and I just think my little girl is growing up. Check these photos out...
Unfortunately the teething process has been slow and sporadic. She will go for long periods with nothing and then all of a sudden she has four teeth coming in. It takes forever for a tooth to appear. She really has been a sport about it though. Mostly she just chews on everything, including her own hand at times.
After these come in she will have a total of fourteen. Yay for Maya! When she smiles I see those pearly whites and I just think my little girl is growing up. Check these photos out...
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| May 22, 2009 |
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| Oct 06, 2010 |
Thursday, October 14, 2010
31 for 21, Day 14: 2 years and 7 months
Yesterday was Maya's 2 year and 7 month birthday. I used to count every month when Maya was an infant and write a little newsletter to all our family and friends. The fact that Maya was a bit of a surprise for us, brought everyone together. Everyone wanted to know how she was doing. Over time life and it's busyness have taken hold of our lives. So you can imagine that newsletters and so on have taken a back seat.
Yesterday during our occupational and physical therapy I realized that Maya is really making big strides in her work. It's been been a while since I've noted these accomplishments. After her biggest milestone, walking, our work continues to progress at a slow but steady pace. I don't want to over look these accomplishments because they are just as important as walking and talking.
In OT she has been more and more focused. The introduction of a visual planner has really helped Maya stay on task. I'm sure there is a technical term for it but basically it a board that tells Maya what she is going to do. She sees the photo of the item we are working with and when she is done with the task she removes it and places it in a pocket behind the board. I really think it allows her to feel like she has a some control without having to act up.
This week Maya did great working with her beading. I'm so glad that I recently bought the string and beads made by ALEX. The little extra dowel rod in the beginning of the string helps her grasp the concept better. She is able to put her fingers around the rod and push it through the large bead. She completed two beads this week which was a first.
Another first for Maya was working with AquaDoodle. A friend of mine told me about this and I just happened to run across it at the store. What a great idea, a mat that lets you draw with water. No mess, no worry about spills. Maya really loved the hand stamp and she was actually interested in holding the pen and drawing with it. The fact that she sat in her little chair at her table and began drawing was such a big deal. Of course it only lasted a few minutes but it was a great effort on her part.
After weeks and weeks of working on her step technique, Maya surprised the heck out of me when I caught her actually stepping up a short step (with a little help from the wall). She did this once at a friends house and once in our garage. I was so excited to see this because seriously when all you do during PT is step up and down on a platform and over a beam, well, things can get a little boring.
All that hard work is paying off, and Maya is gaining the confidence she needs to try and do things on her own. I'm trying to step back and let her try...let her do it on her own. It is a hard balance, being encouraging, lending a hand so she doesn't get too frustrated and finally letting go. It seems that most of the time she has to work so much harder to get it, but I have to remind myself that she does get it eventually.
Yesterday during our occupational and physical therapy I realized that Maya is really making big strides in her work. It's been been a while since I've noted these accomplishments. After her biggest milestone, walking, our work continues to progress at a slow but steady pace. I don't want to over look these accomplishments because they are just as important as walking and talking.
In OT she has been more and more focused. The introduction of a visual planner has really helped Maya stay on task. I'm sure there is a technical term for it but basically it a board that tells Maya what she is going to do. She sees the photo of the item we are working with and when she is done with the task she removes it and places it in a pocket behind the board. I really think it allows her to feel like she has a some control without having to act up.
This week Maya did great working with her beading. I'm so glad that I recently bought the string and beads made by ALEX. The little extra dowel rod in the beginning of the string helps her grasp the concept better. She is able to put her fingers around the rod and push it through the large bead. She completed two beads this week which was a first.
All that hard work is paying off, and Maya is gaining the confidence she needs to try and do things on her own. I'm trying to step back and let her try...let her do it on her own. It is a hard balance, being encouraging, lending a hand so she doesn't get too frustrated and finally letting go. It seems that most of the time she has to work so much harder to get it, but I have to remind myself that she does get it eventually.
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