Katherine, you
are becoming more and more independent – and you are speaking more, which
allows you to express yourself and your desire to be independent. A common
phrase we hear is “No, no, no - I do it”. When your daddy and I do not comply, a
repeat of the same phrase is in order. Sometimes you emphasize your point by
raising your voice or by giving us a stern look.
The best
investment we have recently made is a pink step stool which you carry
everywhere in the house to reach up a little higher. It’s become a great tool in
your journey to independence. I love that you don’t mind that it takes way
longer to go get the step stool, set it up to reach up to the counter and get
what you want and then climb back off the step stool than it would take for me
to simply hand you what you wanted.
You are also
getting quite proficient at putting your shoes on (the left on the left and the
right on the right) and taking them off. I am watching you as you sometimes
struggle to get your little hands to do what you need them to do, but you try
and try again until you succeed. And what puts me in awe is that when it’s time
to go out, you go to the wardrobe, pick the shoes you want to wear and then
proceed to take out daddy’s and my shoes as well and line them up for us to get
dressed too (mine on the stairs beside yours and daddy’s beside the chair at
the entrance door, because that’s where you know we always sit down)!
You are teaching
me to be patient, because sometimes being independent isn’t about being fast, it’s
about the sparkle in your eyes when you did what you set out to accomplish. You
are teaching me to be patient when I see you struggle, to trust that you know
how to ask for help when you need it, and to know it’s not my decision to make
when that time is. I love you always and forever.
