daphne {month twenty-one}

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{alligator: JellyCat (old) // dress: old // leggings: babyGap}

{month twenty-one} Happy December! Maybe it is because I am in denial that we are rapidly approaching Daphne’s SECOND birthday, but it just does not seem like it’s been an entire month since her last monthly post.

Also, I am going to keep the same system with Daphne as I have with Eloise in regards to blog posting, so when Daphne turns two (and in her second year) I will do quarterly updates, and then once she’s three I will change to bi-annual updates.

Gosh, Daphne is such a chatterbox these days. Much like her big sister. She says MORE! (sounds like May) and CHEERS! (but also wants to clink your glasses together). Water (sounds like wa-why), okay (kay), CHEESE! (her very favorite food ever), GO (for “here you go”), Sadie (sounds like E-E), and Eloise (Eh-wheeze which is almost exactly how Eloise said her own name at this age). Her vocabulary is growing so quickly each day though since she is mimicking everybody. She still uses baby signs as well, but less now than she used to because she knows those words too (like milk, please, thank you, water, more).

Daphne is also really funny and often I think she just has good timing. She will say “oh well!” and shrug her shoulders. Or try to tell a joke and then crack herself up! This really is SUCH a fun age.

I am amazed how well Daphne does with a fork and spoon. Especially considering she uses an adult-size fork and spoon. Obviously she still has some practicing to do, but it is so nice to be using just one set of silverware for each meal (since we eat all three at home nearly every day) and we don’t have to worry about special utensils when we go out to eat or to someone else’s house. Generally we give her the small (salad) fork and small (dessert) spoon.

Even though we have taken off the tray portion of Daphne’s highchair, she still prefers to sit in either one of the big chairs or even Eloise’s chair if she has the option. Maybe it is because we still have the buckles on her chair?

Daphne is physically really steady in terms of walking and running (though still clumsy as you would expect a young toddler to be) and can do somersaults now. She will do a somersault and then stand up and clap for herself afterwards. It’s as adorable as you are imagining. And she frequently claps for herself when she does something on her own, like build a block tower or reach something way up high or even at the end of every book.

Daphne walks up the stairs standing up and holds onto the wall for support. But she still goes down the stairs either backwards or sitting down (and then scooting). She can (and does) go down the stairs completely on her own sometimes, but she doesn’t do it very often and she’s actually really safe on the stairs, so I don’t worry too much. Usually she will head downstairs on her own if she’s upset (or tired) and wants her pacifier and duckie (lovie), and then she will come right back upstairs with them!

And lastly, we are completely in the “monkey see, monkey do” phase of toddlerhood and siblinghood. I have a bad feeling this is going to be something that will continue for YEARS, but really anything that Eloise does (especially if it’s naughty) Daphne will copy. This is especially fun during mealtime, as you can imagine.

A few people have asked about “big kid things” so I thought I would answer here. In regards to potty training, I am planning on doing that sometime this summer. Even though I thought we successfully trained Eloise just as she turned two, I am not super eager to take that on this spring. Granted, I will definitely be watching Daphne’s cues as well and if she seems ready, I would just throw away my own timeline. That said, summer is nice because, even though I will have both girls home, we don’t generally HAVE to be anywhere. And if you’ve ever potty trained a kid, you know that being able to stay at home and not get in a car and be at the mercy of every public toilet is a gift.

And then onto the question regarding when we will transition Daphne out of her crib. Right now she sleeps amazingly well and there is absolutely no reason to change anything about her naptime or nighttime routine. We transitioned Eloise a few months after she was two, and our plan is the same with Daphne. Sometime in the late spring or early summer (I would imagine) we will convert her crib to a toddler bed where she will probably briefly stay until we bunk the girls together. It is our plan at some point next year to have the girls sleep together in one room and then convert the extra downstairs bedroom into a playroom. But, I am not in any rush to move Daphne out of her crib, partly because of what I said above (she sleeps like an angel) and partly because we really don’t need to. With Eloise, we honestly needed the crib since baby was on her way and it didn’t really make sense to buy a new crib. Plus, once your kid is out of the crib, she has the freedom to get out of bed (more easily). And while we have been lucky that Eloise will not get out of bed without permission (unless it’s to go potty and then she’s right back in bed) we are gambling with Daphne on that! I LOVE knowing that my kids aren’t going to sneak into my bedroom in the middle of the night or wake me up early on the weekends (or any morning for that matter)!

{weight} 30 pounds.
{hair} blackish brown.
{teeth} four bottom teeth, top four teeth, four molars, four canines.
{eyes} dark grey/brown.
{clothes} 2T.
{diapers} size 5 {from the honest company}.

{likes} babies, any type of accessory (hat, bag or purse, bracelet, necklace), Albee the Alligator, an old remote that she holds up to her ear like a phone, watching and chasing the Roomba, picking her nose, eating, bath time with Eloise, watching big kids or babies,  chewing on anything, sitting in her highchair, banging on her tray, staring at her quilt (from Amanda), rattles, riding in the car (usually), her big sister Eloise, Sadie, singing, lights, paci, being bounced, being tickled, talking, her Lovie.
{dislikes} having a hat on in the car seat, seeing some type of food on a plate that she doesn’t have, having gas, lying down flat, being hungry or tired, having her face or nose wiped off, sunscreen put on her face.

{nicknames} Daph, Daph Daph, Daphers, Bug, Daphne Doo, Daph-a-doo, Love, Lovebug.

And here is Eloise’s twenty-one month update! The video that is in that post could totally be Daphne – it’s crazy!

Happy twenty-one months Daphne!

M

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