Gia at School

One of Gia's teachers wrote to us about her observations and how Gia's doing at school after 3 months there, and we were so amused that we wanted to share with you:

As far as Gia's personality, she is definitely warming up. Last week she went up to other teachers and showed them toys. She also started talking a lot at nap, which shows she is comfortable. A few of the other children do that as well. Gia is so sweet. I can always count on her to help. She is probably the only child who knows where everything goes and who actually helps in clean up. If I change around the toys' locations, she always puts them where they used to be. Overall she has been talking a lot more. She is always smiling and says "hi." She has started to become aware of the other children. Although she tends to play alone, which is completely normal at this age, she does go up to friends and hugs them or will share with them. She loves playing with Brady. She will go up to him and wiggle his ears and point to his nose and then they both laugh. Gia comes to me when she needs help and she expresses her needs just fine. She puts her shoes on by herself, puts her hat on and her jacket on. She tells us when she goes poop or has a wet diaper. Gia enjoys playing with the dollhouse, putting the little people in bed and have them sit on chairs. She also enjoys wearing hats and shoes and playing with dolls. She is very easy going and she is doing great!

Gia just before 23 months

In less than 2 weeks, Gia will be 23 months. She's very clear about where things go and how things should be, when she wants something and when she's done. She continues to love school and her classmates, as well as pretty much all animals. We talk about her baby sister arriving most evenings before she goes to sleep (she can't help but notice that she's running out of room on my lap as I read her stories). Gia wants her to be here now, and sometimes lifts up my shirt and says "Come out!" but seems to understand that baby sister is still growing, and will say, "Baby -- napping." In the meantime, she's happy to talk about the pink shoes and binkies that she will give her. Gia is learning to speak new words every day, and putting phrases together. Here are some of the things she's been saying in the last few hours:

• "Binky fall down!"
• "Blankie on!"
• "Wake up!"
• "Flush now." (She's just started to respond to what "soon" and "now" mean.)
  
• "No Nana home."
• "Miss Nana. Miss puppy. Miss Ahnee." (Auntie)
• "Naked!"
• "More. Peez" (Please)
• "Neh-neh" (Thank you)
• "Puppy home. Keep!" (We had 2 puppy visitors in the last few days, and she wanted to keep both of them.)
  
• "Gia turn!" (You can imagine that she uses this one whenever she wants to do something we're doing.)
  
• "Guk lick nose." (Gus -- the dog -- licked my nose.)
• "Wobba hining (Turkeys are hiding. We taught her that turkeys say "gobble gobble," and she says, "Wobba wobba," and now just calls turkeys wobba.)
• "Clean hand!" (She also declares when she wants us to clean her mouth, nose or face)
• "Sippy. Cup."
• "Baby Shister."
• "Mommy booties on. One. Two."

That's the snapshot from today. Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday season!!

Movie - Gia strapped in with baby bear

Movie - Gia eats ice-cream

Movie - Gia dances all around

Movie - Gia touches her toes to her nose

Photos - 21 months