Tuesday, January 16, 2007

Kieona's reasoning power is getting stronger

It's been such a joy to hear Kieona speak these days. In the past, it was usually gibberish but these days her conversations really make sense. Here's a sampling of what she said last Friday morning at breakfast when Daddy's out for BNI breaskfast meeting and Mommy was still stressed out about rushing them in time to send her to school.

"Mommy, this chocolate chip cookie I buy for you. Present for Christmas. It's your present, Mommy. I buy for you one. But Na Na don't have money. Mei Mei you know?"

Haha, isn't this really funny? Mommy was drinking water and at some distance away and couldn't help but burst out laughing because Kieona connected money with buying items. Isn't that very smart of her?

Kierra is learning how to use the Potty

As all toddlerhood stories go, there always come a time for potty training/ learning. We put Kierra on panties beginning last Monday, and it has been a series of protests, mishaps (or should I say accidents?) and a few hits where she told me "Mama, mmg mmg." and really pass motion into the potty.

Funny how it all started out pretty well, when she will willingly sit on the potty in the first few days, then start to protest and scream the next few days. Then came the period of insecurity, where she only wanted Mama to sit with her at the potty. If Mama can't do it, she won't do it with anyone else. (Can you hear Mommy hitting her head already?) Most times, Kierra will pee right after we put on her panties and say "mmg mmg" when we're out of her sight.

As Mommy goes about this potty learning journey with Kierra, Mommy recalls going through it with Kieona. The insecurity stage may probably be part and parcel of potty learning, since they start getting aware and maybe slightly afraid of something falling out of themselves. Mommy is no longer a toddler, so Mommy can only guess.

Whatever it is, Mommy is prepared for a long journey and many stops along the way to assure Kierra (and at this point even Kieona who still sometimes have accidents mainly with her motion) that this is part and parcel of growing up, and there's really nothing to be afraid or ashamed about. At the point, Mommy is just keeping her fingers crossed that she can continue to be patient and is just glad that Kak Kak Aeni is here to help clean up the unpleasant mess.