9/27/11

Kenzie ate about half of her whol wheat bagel and her dried apricots at breakfast.  She obviously left before eating lunch. 

Kenzie came over to me saying "I tuck" this morning.  Sure enough, she had her thumb in the hole of one of the play ladels and it was "tuck".  As soon as I got it out she sighed loudly and said "Thank you!"  I think she was afraid she was going to have to wear it for the rest of the day. 

Each of the rocking horses had a kiddo on them today and Kenzie was wanting a turn.  We are working on having all of the toddlers say, "My turn next" rather than screaming or grabbing.  Kenzie obviously forgot for the moment because she went over to where Emily was sitting on a horse rocking and started pulling on her shirt yelling "Off!  Off!  Off!"  It was enough that Emily started to get off until I intervened and helped Kenzie find something else to do until someone was done and it was her turn. 

Kenzie has been listening a little better when we have to redirect her, I think.  One thing we have noticed is that she often tries to get either comfort and love from the other caregiver if we have to get on her case about something, or she will look at the other one to see if she might be able to get away with it from them.  It is amazing how quickly they learn to try those things -- even when it doesn't work.  Gary and I always stick by what the other one says!

9/26/11

Kenzie ate most of her cereal and bites of her craisins at breakfast.  At lunch she ate a bite of her steamed broccoli, most of her tropical fruit and seconds on cheese pizza.  She has been watching the big kiddos at the table have their "tasting bites" of what they aren't sure about eating and the last couple days has been doing a great job of taking her own tasting bite if I ask her to.  She usually doesn't actually leave it in her mouth, just kind of licks it.  It is pretty cute.

Kenzie explored all of the "new toys" from the exchange today and was favorably impressed by them from her interaction with them.  She rode on the rocking horses a little and actually seemed to get more enjoyment out of watching the other kiddos rock on them. 

She found a baby she liked and then was so cute wrapping it up, getting a baby bottle and "feeding" the baby.  She was very proud of herself for getting the bottle in and holding it there. 

She was also playing with the Lego farm animals, guys, tractors.  She especially likes the "horseys" (some of which were actually cows and pigs).  She brought me the tractor and trailer and asked "help" for me to put it together for her.  When I got it she also said, "thank you!"  She doesn't do that very often without prompting, so I was impressed! 

Morgan and Kenzie were sitting side by side at the table today and Morgan had a play baked potato and fork that she was "eating" with. Kenzie saw what she was doing and kept saying, "A bite, a bite, a bite" until Morgan heard, understood her and gave her a pretend "bite". Both of them were happy then abnd continued to "eat" for a few minutes. It was really cute!

9/23/11

Kenzie ate most of her raisins and a bite of malt-o-meal at breakfast.  At lunch she ate most of her mixed fruit and corn, about half of her spaghetti meat (with sauce) and a couple noodles. 

Kenzie wasn't quite a sensitive today, but she did need cuddled several times more that typical.  She is so funny!  One of the times today that she started fussing, she was chewing on her own arm and must have bit too hard, because she started fussing and said, "Owie!" 

I have started working on the focused observations and "testing" for the developmental checklists that we will go over at the upcoming Parent-Provider Meetings.  Kenzie was quite amused by all the things that I was having the different kiddos try to do.  I had to do several things and she did pretty well with it all.  A couple things I tried I knew she could do, but when I "tested" her with them, she wouldn't do them.  That is one of the things that makes just observing it during the course of the days better.  Some kiddos just will not perform when you want them to. 

It was funny though, because when I had anyone do anything, Kenzie was right there, trying to push herself to the front so she could do it.  Then when it was her turn, she wouldn't even think about doing it or would act like she didn't have a clue, even though I knew differently.  Silly goose!

Speaking of "Silly", Kenzie says "Silly Lauralea" or "silly (someone)" frequently throughout the day.  I know she had gotten that from me, because I say that about myself or the kiddos (or Gary) frequently.  She has really picked up on that. 

9/22/11

Kenzie didn't want to eat anything today, as mom warned us she might.  At lunch she ate pretty well though.  She had a bite of potato salad, all of her cherries and chicken and thirds on saltines. 

Kenzie was quite a sensitive little girl today.  She wanted to snuggle way more than usual (sitting on my lap with her head resting against me for about 20 minutes.  I was just talking to her and singing to her (and the other kiddos) and she was just relaxing. 

She also fussed or screamed more easily than usual (but no biting, so that was good).  I think it is amazing how tough she is usually.  She will fall down or bonk and just get up like nothing has happened (no whimper even).  If she justs bumped into just slightly or someone tries to squish her over, she will howl like she has been injured severely.  Today it really didn't matter.  She cried like she was about to die regardless -- acted like she was really tired. 

Kenzie enjoyed reading books independently (as long as no one tried to sit by her or read a book she was thinking about maybe reading anytime in the near future or one she lay down like she was done, but was reconsidering).  I finally had her sit right by me to read, so I could guard her from all of the other little thieves and then all was well.  : ) 

9/21/11

Kenzie ate about half of her biscuit and seconds on peaches at breakfast.  At lunch she ate all of her whole wheat roll and pineapple, a bite of broccoli and about half of her baked beans.  

Kenzie sure uses her fork well.  Today she was so focused on stabbing each piece of peach and eating it with her fork.  I only saw her pick up one with her hands that just kept trying to run away.  Peaches are so slippery! 

Every morning Gary will get down on her level and ask Kenzie, "Where's my Kenzie love?"  She always gets the cutest little amused look on her face and just races over to him.  It is just adorable! 

I am not sure what Morgan did that annoyed the princess today, but she was repeatedly head butting her.  They were both sitting on different sets of big blocks and suddenly Kenzie was over by Morgan's set and just acting like a little billy goat.  Silly girl!  Morgan is stout enough that it probably hurt Kenzie's neck more than Morgan's chest. 

9/20/11

Kenzie ate bites of her hashbrowns and most of her waffles at breakfast.  At lunch she ate most of her rice and sauteed shrimp, all of her oranges and maybe a bite of colored pepper. 

Kenzie was holding and singing to her "baby" for quite a while this morning as she walked around the big play room. 

Gary cracked up today and had a hard time enforcing the rules when Kenzie stole a toy from one of the kiddos, then raced over to him, hiding behind him and wrapping her arms around his legs for "protection".  He did make her give it back, but he said it was almost more than he could do because it was so cute!  : ) 

There were a pretty good sized group of birds playing around outside the big window this morning and all of the kiddos were having fun lined up at the big window step watching them.  After they got tired of watching the birds a couple the the kiddos, including Kenzie, started bonking their heads on the window, laughing and saying "Ow!"  They are so goofy! 

Morgan and Kenzie were "fixing" each other's hair today.  One would sit in front of the other and play with their pony tails, then they would switch places.  Jadey and Joslyn had to come join them after a while of just them doing it. 

9/19/11

Kenzie ate about half of her cheerios at breakfast and bites of her banana at breakfast.  At lunch she ate about half of her grilled cheese sandwich, most of her apple bits and all of her tomato soup.  She was my big eater at lunch!  : )

Kenzie was thrilled when Morgan put the phone she was playing with up to Kenzie's ear and said, "Talk".  Kenzie accommodated her immediately, chattering until Morgan took it back again.  Kenzie then went to look for one of her own and did more talking. 

Kenzie was over at the lego table examining the "Peek-a-boo" blocks.  She would look at one and either put it back into the drawer or bring it over to me and ask, "What's that?"  I really do think that she was putting back the ones she already knew and asking me about the ones she didn't. 

Kenzie was doing a lot of blanket play today.  She was laying it out on the floor and laying on it, laying on the floor and wanting covered, using it to cover one of the other kiddos, and covering or wrapping up her doll,. 

I love the way she says, "Uhmuhly" for Emily.  It is so cute.  The other thing she kept doing today that cracked me up was coming up to me and asking, "What doing?"  What a kiddo! 

9/16/11

Kenzie ate nothing for breakfast (oatmeal and craisins).  At lunch she ate most of her applesauce, a bite of two of ground beef and no pea pasta side dish. 

Kenzie suddenly realized that Thomas was here (or at least down playing), announced "Thomas!" loudly and raced over to give him a love.  It was really cute!

Morgan now has is getting the runny nose and was fussy today.  She was fussing about something or another and it must have been getting on Kenzie's nerves.  She went over to her with her pointer finger up to her lips saying, "Shhhhh!"  It was pretty funny!

I have labeled this virus the "runny-nose equals short fuse virus" because all three of the kiddos who have it have been very cranky frequently.

Gary and I both get such a kick out of how Kenzie chooses to get out of the "box".  She gets in the typical 'hold-onto-the-side-of-box-and-throw-your-let-over' way, but when she goes to get out she just throws herself over head first (with her arms down), does a momentary head/handstand, then kind of just topples on over.  It is pretty funny. 

9/15/11

Kenzie ate a bite or two of her blueberry bread pudding and most of her blueberries at breakfast.  At lunch she ate a couple green beans and that was it.  We also had kiwi and turkey burger on a bun. 

Kenzie was playing with the big blocks again, of course.  She was making tall towers (as tall as she could reach) and when she couldn't reach any more she was taking the blocks to Morgan to "help" her reach higher.  Morgan could only reach one more than Kenzie, though, so that didn't help much. 

Kenzie bit once (Morgan), but I didn't see her even try to anyone else.  Her nose needed wiped a couple times (and she hasn't eaten much the last two days), so I am wondering if she is getting the cold Emily just came down with.  If she is feeling crumby (in addition to teething) it may be contributing to the biting incidents. 

Kenzie decided that her favorite food today was the "egg".  She kept walking around saying it and showing me and the other kiddos.  She also was chewing on it (it's kind of squishy) and trying to fit the whole thing in her mouth.  it was actually pretty funny!

Emily had done something that made me laugh and I said, "Silly Emily!"  Kenzie looked at me with her little eyes just sparkling and said clearly, "Silly Lauralea!"  : ) 

9/14/11

Kenzie ate all of her dried mango bits and a taste of her toast with jelly at breakfast.  At lunch she ate all of her tropical fruit, a few bites of her beef and bean burrito and a taste of sweet potato. 

Kenzie was really concentrating to stack several of the 'peek-a-boo blocks' today.  She got either 5 or 6 before they toppled.  They aren't very easy to stack because they are only about 2 inches cubed and are not totally flat on the sides.  She was really working at it though. 

Kenzie had been biting or trying to bite several times here over the past week.  Most of the time we have caught her before she chomped hard, but it has scared or lightly hurt the kiddos several times.  Today she left marks on both Jadey and Thomas.  She tried to bite both Emily and Peyton also , but we caught her before the chomp.  We have been moving her away from the "victim", firmly telling her "No biting!  Biting hurts!" and having her sit away from the kiddos briefly while we attend to the bitee.  It is probably related to teething, but it is always when she is upset, primarily when she wants something that someone has and they won't give it up.  We will stay on top of it, but I just wanted to let you guys know. 

Kenzie wanted one of the pj sleepers on this morning, so I helped her into it.  After wearing it and playing for a while, she came over and said, "I want out!"  I cracked up!  I thought that was so cute!

I made the big interlocking blocks into a little tunnel today for the kiddos to crawl through.  Kenzie really enjoyed that.  She is little enough she even turned around inside of it. 

9/13/11

Kenzie ate a bite of her cinnamon roll and bites of her prunes at breakfast.  At lunch she ate several bites of scrambled eggs and waffles and a taste of both hashbrowns and cantaloupe. 

Kenzie was so cute today when she brought me a bunch of the big interlocking blocks and said, "Trackor, trackor".  I asked her if she wanted me to help her build a tractor and I thought she was going to turn herself inside out - she was so excited!  : )  When we got it done, she climbed on and started scooting it around saying, "rrroommm, rrrooommmm!" 

She spent time today looking at books and jabbering as she "read" them.  She would "read" for a while, then stop and watch whatever activity was going on in the room, then go back to "reading" again. 

Kenzie played with the pretend syrup container a lot this morning.  Even when she wasn't directly playing with it, she packed it around.  She likes it because when you tip it upside down, it actually looks like syrup is pouring out of it.  The first time she saw it do it, she kept saying, "uh-oh!"  It looked like she thought she was actually spilling it. 

Kenzie was thrill today when Morgan decided she wanted to pull her and Emily in the wagon.  Morgan is very persistent and even when she got stuck a couple times, she just kept working at it until she manages to get herself out of the mess and back pulling them around. 

9/12/11

Kenzie ate all of her mixed fruit and about half of her Kix cereal at breakfast.  At lunch she ate all of her mandarin oranges, a couple bites of broccoli and the ham out of her ham sandwich, plus a little bit of her bread. 

Kenzie was carrying around (or "Drinking" out of ) at least one of the play water bottles most of the morning.  She kept bringing it over and showing it to me and saying, "a grink!"  It cracked me up because she was very serious about it. 

Kenzie enjoyed exploring all of the "new" toy exchange toys, and had to examine about everything.  She was very intrigues with the water bottles, as I said before, as well as the dolls, phones and food stuff that are out now. 

She copied Jadey inher phone play.  Jadey had been walking around and talking to someone called "Lula" on her phone.  Pretty soon Kenzie was also talking to Lula.  Soon all of the little girls were walking around chanting "Lula-Lula-Lula" over and over. 

Kenzie and several of her friends have then using the bench of the picnic table inside as their stage.  They will stand up on it and "sing" at the top of their lungs.  It is really funny. 

9/9/11

Kenzie ate bites of her rice and about half of her raisins at breakfast.  At lunch she ate a bite of her whole wheat french bread, bites of her cooked carrots, and about half of both her apricots and meatloaf. 

Kenzie had quite the little attitude and mood this morning.  Everything seemed to frustrate or infuriate her, even very minor things like someone walking a little too close to her.  She was almost trying to get people's attention by being a little turkey.  She was yanking toys and screaming like crazy over big and little things.  When she was screaming (over this last week) we have been working with her to "use your words" or asking telling her what to say, if we think we have interpreted the need or want.  Sometimes she will do it easily and cooperatively and other times she sets her little jaw and refuses.  : )

Kenzie was having fun playing on the big interlocking blocks today until she fell off of them.  I snuggled it her and loved on her.  While we were sitting on the couch snuggling, she turned around to look at the kiddos still trying to climb and stand on the blocks and said, "Be careful!"  : )  That was just adorable!

Kenzie was really focused on working hard on trying to get one of the posters picked off of the wall.  I actually have that one taped down with duct tape, so she didn't succeed.  : ) 

This coming weekend is toy exchanged, so we loaded up the dishwasher with all of the dress-ups and other machine washable toys.  Even Emily and Kenzie help carry the stuff out to the washing machine and either climb up the washing stool, the one I sit on at the table or just hand what they have to me.  It is really cute! 

9/8/11

Kenzie ate a bite of her whole wheat cinnamon toast at breakfast.  At lunch she ate about half of her chicken strips and roll, a couple bites of mashed potatoes and a taste of cherrires. 

Kenzie built her daily tower with the big interlocking blocks, knocking it over and rebuilding several times. 

Kenzie loves to both push the cars outside when someone is in it and be pushed in the car when she is in it.  Today she was pushing Alayna up and down the sidewalk and then Jadey was pushing her in the car.  When she is done, she makes sure the other kiddo knows it, in no uncertain terms.  : )

Morgan decided that her doll was "poopy" today and I showed her how she could pretend that the little picnic table was the changing table and the little piece of cloth was the baby wipe. She was thrilled and soon all of the little girls were "changing" and "cleaning" their baby's poopy diapers. It cracked me up.

All of the kiddos were were also thrilled with the shakers that they put stickers on at art time. They would put on a few stickers then shake them vigorously for a couple minutes then add more stickers.  Kenzie has great dexterity and did well getting the stickers off of the sticker paper and onto the can.  When she couldn't quite get it she also asked "help me" each time.  Way to go, Kenzie!  : ) 

9/7/11

Kenzie ate little at breakfast -- maybe a bite of both bagel and peaches.  At lunch she ate most of her homemade macaroni and cheese, and salad with ranch and a taste of corn. 

Kenzie was so excited when she came and saw that Gary had made a building out of the big interlocking blocks.  She immediately started adding to it and soon had one section as tall, if not a little taller than herself.  Again, all of the blocks were "Mine", but she did pretty well with it when we showed her the ones she could use and the ones the other kiddos could use. 

There was a dove that kept coming to the yard right outside of the big window this morning.  Kenzie was enthralled with watching it fly in, check out different twigs, then fly away with one in it's beak.  When she saw it coming (or one of us mentioned it) she would race over to the window saying "Duff - duff".  : )

Kenzie was playing by the lego table drawer today when Peyton crawled over to her.  Kenzie was engrossed in what she was doing and didn't even notice her until Peyton lay her head against Kenzie's shoulder.  Kenzie immediately responded so sweetly and put her arm around her and her head against hers.  It was really sweet. 

Kenzie isn't so thrilled with Thomas, on the other hand.  She saw him coming multiple times today and either said, "Uh-oh!" or "No!  No!" and headed in the other direction.  Even as fiesty as she is, she know's she just is no match for Thomas!  : )

9/6/11

Kenzie ate a bite of her pears and a couple bites of blueberry muffin at breakfast before she decided to start facepainting with them both.  At lunch she ate a bite of her sweet potatoes, most of her oranges and tuna and all of her saltines. 

Kenzie was a little possessive and fiesty with her friends about the toys here today.  It didn't matter if it was the books, blocks, blankets, dolls, food toys...  They were all "mine"!  I am sure a lot of why she is going through this so much right now is the combination of the developmental stage she is in along with the "competition" of having a little sister.  She just wants the world to know that she still belongs and establish what is hers.  : )  It is very typical, so don't worry.  I just like to keep you up to speed on how it is going. 

She was very thrilled that she had a "pocket" on her shorts today.  She showed me multiple times and I don't think she missed showing each of the kiddos either.  Peyton wasn't as impressed as Kenzie thought she should have been so she had to show her several times.  : ) 

All of toddlers were covering themselves and each other up with the doll blankets today, so Kenzie had to get in on it too, of course.  She loved it when Morgan helped her cover up and then started singing, "Nigh-night Kenzie" to her.  Kenzie was just grinning from ear to ear.  Every time she got up, she would hand her blanket back to Morgan to cover her up again. 

When I put on the dance music, Kenzie went over with her arms out and asked Morgan to "Row".  They sat on the floor facing each other, holding hands and rock front to back in a see-saw motion as they sing "Row, row, row your boat." 

9/2/11

Kenzie ate a bite of her prunes and most of her oatmeal at breakfast. At lunch she ate bites of her tatertot casserole, most of her biscuit and all of her mandarin oranges.

Kenzie loves it now that she has figured out how to get in and out of the box. She was playing in it again today. She would bend down so none of her body was showing then pop up and say "Peek!". Emily was standing outside of the box a couple feet away and really enjoyed Kenzie's antics.

Bode was in the box with her for a while and was bending over the side of the box until his hands touched the floor then kind of rolling out of it. Kenzie decided it looked like fun and tried to copy him. There was one small problem. She obviously isn't nearly as tall as Bode, so when she bent over to put her hands on the floor, she just kind of flopped on over and out. It didn't seem to bother her in the least, though. She just laughed and climbed back in and did it again. : )

Kenzie had one of the play dressing bottles and was pretending to squirt it on the table and other things then wiping it with a rag (actually they are supposed to be potholders, but...). I asked her if she was "cleaning" and she answered "Yup!" very energetically! : ) She is so super-cute!

9/1/11

Kenzie ate a bite of her cantaloupe and about half of her french toast at breakfast.  At lunch she ate a taste of dried mangoes and her squash, most of her crescent roll and all of her turkey. 

Kenzie was so proud of herself today for figuring out how to get in and out of the "box" today.  We really don't encourage or teach them how to day it because one of the purposes of the "box" is for the older kiddos to be able to take whatever they are wanting to do that the littler kiddos are bugging them about into there to be able to get away.  They all seem to understand that and want to get in even more because of it. 

Kenzie watch Morgan lay on a blanket and lay on it with an amused and interested look on her face.  She then went over and lay down by her and said, "Hi Mogie!"  It was so cute.  Morgan had just growled at both Jadey and Emily for trying to lay on her blanket, but she let Kenzie lay there and just smiled back at her.  It must have been Kenzie's diplomatic approach. 

Kenzie said "OK Lorlee!" at least 5 different times when I asked or told her to do something today.  The first one was when she took off her shoes and wanted to put them out in her cubby.  I opened the gate for her to put them in her cubby and told her to go find her cubby, put her shoes in and come right back.  She looked right up at me so cute and said, "OK, Lorlee!"  It was pretty precious! 

She is just so cute!  I should tally how many times Gary and/or I either tell her how cute she is or say it to each other.  I know it has to be 30 or more every day!  : )