My 26 Month Old

My friend Dee left a comment asking about Andrea’s milestones to date. I realized that I haven’t done this in months. I was starting to feel guilty when it dawned on my that I have excuses err reasons for not doing so.

First, the milestones for Andrea’s age are more abstract and less ‘tangible’. It’s harder to actually point them out. Next, I’ve stopped caring so much. I have listed down my goals for Andrea and being advanced is not one of them. My goals are for her to feel secure, feel loved, well-adjusted, simple (not materialistic) and happy. I have focused so much on these that I’ve practically forgotten to think about her milestones. I have read several times that kids who were advanced as kids did not exactly have higher iQs than those who were considered delayed. Lastly, I only check for her delays now. Why? Because if she has any developmental delay it’s the best time to have it checked and to have therapy.

The purpose of this blog though is to make sure Andrea can also read about her development when she grows up. (Oh and also to learn how insanely in love her parents are over her) So I will try to document Andrea’s most recent milestones now.

1. She converses well. Although it seems it’s only Yaya and I who can understand her 98% of the time. She speaks in sentences sans the articles and the prepositions.  For example “Man carry baby”. 
2. She still refers to herself in the 3rd person. “Give Andea purple crayon”
3. She knows all the colors, all the letters, knows how to count in English and Spanish. Can name the planets and can label the pictures of the planets.
4. Her gross motor skills are great. She can climb up and down the stairs. She can hoist herself up 8 steps on a vertical ladder. She can hang on the monkey bar for around 3 seconds.
5. She is daring when she is with me, Ruy and the yaya. But clams up when there are other people there.
6. She shows restraint already. She understands when you ask her to wait. She understand when you say no. (I think this is the best development ever).
7. Fine motor skills are not as good. She can use the fork for soft solid objects. She can put coins through the tiny slot of her coin box. She can’t button or zip yet.
8. She understands the concept of making a decision. I am terribly excited about this and teaching her has not been easy. I started out making her choose 1 minute clips to watch. Then she is ‘forced’ to sit through the show she chose even if she changes her mind in the middle. The shows grew longer to 6-7 minutes. Until now she chooses movies she wants to watch and sits through her choice for 2 hours. (In the past, when she would change her mind I would tell her. Okay, you can watch that AFTER you finish this show)
9. Pretend play is more active now. She loves plastic toy animals and makes them “eat” “ride the boat” “sleep” “dance”, etc.  She once put her plastic circle on her head and started running around saying she’s an Angel who’s flying.
10. She has mastered doing #2 in her potty (she started this quite early). I love seeing her sad face every time she says “Mommy poo poo”. I don’t know why she looks sad.
11. She still doesn’t use the past tense.
12. Has the funniest exclamations. “Oh no!” “Oh boy!” “Oh man” “Nice!”"Alright!” She doesn’t always use them correctly too!
13. She follows directions like “Get the box, it’s on top of the red doll”
14. Is extremely curious about glasses and mirrors. She would spend minutes in front of them, put her hands on the other side and get all confused.
15. She’s become a bit more patient with reading. Although she prefers pointing out things over listening to the story.
16. She somehow finds her nighttime prayer funny. She would be giggling everytime we get to “Amen”

Got this from babycenter.com. Here’s a list of the things 2 year olds generally are able to do.

Point to an object that you name.

Recognize the names of familiar people, objects, and body parts.

Use short phrases and two- to four-word sentences.

Follow simple instructions.

Repeat words he overhears.

Find an object even if you hide it under two or three blankets.

Sort objects by shape or color. –> not yet. I tried guiding her but she’s not interested at all

Play make-believe.

So there you go, these are her milestones. I think it would take me another 6 months before I post the next one. Ciao!