A Walking Nightmare

I know its terrible that I title a post about my daughter "A Walking Nightmare", but I mean it in the most loving was possible! (And you'll have to forgive my dirty windows in the background, such is life these days) It is wonderful that she has developed her motor skills and is able to balance herself and walk, for that I'm thankful. Everything changes when little ones start walking, they can get around better, get into things better, go where they're not supposed to more often. I guess what it amounts to is that a walking toddler makes my life MUCH harder. So I'm admitting my selfishness to you. This stage of childhood is my least favorite of all. Most people I know feel this way about having a newborn/infant, and for me that stage is pure bliss. Ahh, the simple life...nursing the baby, baby napping, baby sitting/laying somewhere, and doing it all over again. Easy and predictable, I love it!

All too soon will come another phase that is sometimes exhausting...potty training. I am NOT starting that with Emily anytime soon so don't worry! I'm all for the idea of Potty Training Day Camp... You know, just drop them off in the morning and pick them up waaay later after somebody else gets to take 2 billion trips to the potty for 2 tbsp's of results and then 10 minutes later have to clean up the largest urine puddle you've ever seen in your life! No, I wouldn't mind missing out on that part of child training at all! BUT, back to reality... I don't have to deal with that for a while yet.

Our latest escapade with Emily is table training. No, it's not teaching her how to act at meal time, although we are also doing that. It seems that she has a deep, burning desire to be on top of tables. Recently, at church she was moved from the infant nursery to the toddler nursery, she doesn't mind being with the "big kids", she's able to hold her own. Well, what do you suppose is in the center of the room?? That's right, a table. A nice big, square, heavy duty plastic table. As soon as I put Emily down, she made beeline for the table and with two steps she was up on top! After being in the nursery several times since then, she is still getting up there constantly. I tried to "get after her" when I was on nursery duty, but the next time she was in there without me she was right back up there! sigh Finally, I've decided to move our own heavy duty plastic table into the family room and try some at home training . My hope is that if I can teach her to stay off the table at home, then I should be able to teach her to stay off of the table at church (or other places like the living room coffee table). " I am a full believer in using sign language with babies and toddlers and this situation is the perfect set up for it! I am teaching her the sign for "sit" and saying "sit down" at the same time, along with "getting her attention", it should be something that works. However, since this is Emily we're talking about, it may not be as smooth as I'm hoping. We've taught her "no" in sign language and although she doesn't like what it means, she still responds to it. She usually makes a sort of wincing face when we tell her "no" with sign, almost as if it is hurting her to stop doing whatever she's doing. Its quite funny to see. She doesn't quite get it. She will get it eventually, and when she does, she'll do it with gusto! After all, she is the fiery arrow in our quiver!