Notes from a SLP mom

I seem to blog a lot about things that Livy can say, but I don't remember to write about the cute things that she doesn't say quite "right".  So here are some of my favorite things that she has misheard or isn't quite able to say yet~

"cornplakes" for "cornflakes."  For some reason this is just adorable when she says it.  

"fwimmin"  for "swimming."  She is constantly asking to "fwim longer!" when it is time to get out of the tub.    

"tub bear" for "teddy bear"  =)

Whenever someone is going somewhere, Livy will say, "Have a good nice trip!"  I think its because she misheard me telling her to "Have a good night's sleep".  She tells her dollies to "Have a good nice sleep."    

Before bed, I often sing Livy the song, "Morningtown Ride."  (My dad used to sing it to me when I was little to try to help me fall asleep.  I wasn't exactly the easiest kid to put to bed, so I have many memories of him singing it to me while walking me up and down the hallway like a "sack of potatoes" over his shoulder.  Dad and I even danced to this song at my wedding because of all the memories.)  Anyway, the  lyrics are "All bound for Morningtown, many miles away."  Livy sings, "All bound for Morningtown, many miles awake."  haha!

  

More About Day Care

Livy has another little cold and has been clingy and crying the last few days when I have dropped her off at day care.  But it is so cute to see how the little boys try to comfort her.  Yesterday, Livy was crying and little Joseph said, "I know!" and went over to the cupboard, took out a baby doll and handed it to Livy.  This morning Joseph was absent so it was little Ben that went and got out a baby doll for her.  Ben had a huge smile behind his paci when he handed her the dolly.

Livy talks about a lot of the kids in her class.  She talks about Ben quite a bit because the teacher seems to have to say his name a lot.  Livy tells me "get in big trouble!"  and when I ask, "Who got in big trouble?" she tells me, "Ben".  Livy has picked up some other phrases at day care such as, "Put you in time out!"  She sometimes gets a gleam in her eye and says this as if she is thinking of doing something bad but is talking herself out of it.  I thought Livy might have been in time-out at school because she was talking about it, but the teacher said Livy is very good and they've never had any need to put her in time-out.  We haven't used a time-out yet either, though her dollies have been in time-out several times.  She likes to make her dollies do the things she is not supposed to, like touch the Christmas tree lights.  Naughty little dollies!  lol.

Livy brings home all kinds of little projects and things from day care.  Yesterday the dentist came to visit and Livy told me all about it.  The dentist told her to brush her teeth and gave her a new toothbrush and toothpaste that she was excited to show me.  She also asked me to sing "Frosty."  They must have been singing that in class.

Sometimes Livy talks about wanting to bring things in from home to show the other kids.  Tonight before bed she was busy picking out books that she wanted to "have for later", "read in morning" and  "bring to class".  

Livy's teachers are really getting a kick out of the things Livy says.  Ms. Caroline said, "I'm going to go heat up the lunch, and Livy exclaimed, "Comin' right up!"  They love how she narrates everything she does.  I joked with them about how I never need to wonder what Livy is up to in the other room because she keeps a running narrative.  I recently heard something like,  "Livy goin' mommy's room.  Goin' in closet.  Livy getting lotion.  Squeeze..."  She cracks me up all the time and I'm glad they are enjoying the little things she does too.

At day care the kids all pray together before snacks and meals.  Now before her meals, Livy will fold her hands, bow her head and say, "God bless our lunch."  She will also give thanks.  Yesterday she said,  "Thank God for Jesus."  This is one of the reasons I am thankful she is in a Christian day care.  I try to model prayer before meals but am sorry to say I'm not very consistent.  At day care, she sees the teachers and other kids praying and wants to pray too.  It's a beautiful thing.

 

December!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...Yesterday we went to the German Winter market on Lake Mohawk.  It was fun to look at the handmade Christmasy stuff.  We ate some saurbraten with spaetzel and Livy had some good ol' fashioned mac and cheese.

Today we went to pick out our Christmas tree. Livy thought it was great fun to run and hide behind a tree and then pop out at us.  Apparently no one told her that choosing a Christmas tree is supposed to be grueling and painful for everyone involved.  In other words, we did not go chop down our own tree like we did when I was a kid.  It was almost too easy, inside a greenhouse and everything.   Grandma and Grandpa met us there and picked out their tree too.  We have ours set up but it's not decorated yet, so we'll have to post pics of it later.  

  

warm fuzzies

Livy missed two days of day care recovering from her cold/fever.  So I was a little worried that she had gotten out of the routine of going, but turns out she has gotten right back into the swing of things.  As we were walking in, she said, "Hug Caroline.  Sit Caroline's lap."  Today, when I dropped her off in the morning I told Livy, "Bye, See you later!"  Olivia immediately replied, "Have a great day!"  I think hearing her say this really did help me to make the most of my day.  I had parent conferences all afternoon and went back to work for more parent conferences in the evening.  So it was definitely good to know in the back of my mind that my daughter is happy and wants her mommy to have a great day, too.    

Kyle's workout video

Kyle gets a good workout, being pushed to the limit by his little personal trainer and furry assistant.  Livy keeps saying "again," or just "gain."  Oh, and they had been doing this for quite a while before I started recording.

favorite jokes and games

Livy loves to dive behind my back or a piece of furniture and say, "Where'd Livy go?"  She wants me to ask the question myself.  Then she'll peek around at me and when I see her, I call out, "There you are!"  She laughs every time.

When Livy sees a sippy cup or a vase or anything filled with water, she likes to ask, "Brucey in there?"  (Brucey is our fish).  Then when we say "Nooo, He's not in there," Livy will ask sillier and sillier questions..."Daddy in there?"  "Mr. Potato head in there?"  "Ears in there?"  She's way into absurdities these days.  We keep answering, "Noooo!" in a playful way."  

Livy likes to pretend to make "hot tea" like Grandma.  The first time she made the joke was when I was changing her diaper.  She pulled one sock off, put it on her hand and said, "Makin' hot tea."  I thought it was pretty imaginative the way she used the sock as an oven mitt.  She continues to do this with her socks.  She will also say "Elmo song" and use the sock as a puppet.  

On the way to day care, Livy keeps herself busy on the lookout for pumpkins (I never would have noticed so many people still have pumpkins on their porches in November).  Every time she sees one in someone's yard or front step she yells, "Pumpkin right there!"  She even tries to count them.

Livy thinks our living room is called "the Livy room."  She'll say, "Come play Livy room."  From the looks of it these days, this definitely seems like an appropriate name for it.  

Second Day at Day Care

Today as we were in the car getting closer to day care, Livy said, "Almost there."  "School coming soon."  She seemed like she was actually looking forward to going.  When we got there, she wanted to "play toys".  When she went in the room all three little boys looked at us with big smiles on their faces.  Ella, the only other girl, was busy coloring a picture at the table. Livy told me, "Coloring. Ella like it."  She took Ms. Caroline's hand and I said, "Bye.  See you later.  Have a good day!" from across the room.  She didn't cry at all when I left!

When I came back in the afternoon, she was playing with her favorite kitty stuffed animal.  Ms. Caroline said she had a great day.  She ate her whole lunch and took a good nap.  We're off to a great start!