What Else?

TIDWTFT

Sam:

Sam has a new game he likes to play I call "What Else?"  It started one day when we were talking about the zoo we visited and the animals we saw.  He wanted to know what other animals might be at the zoo.  My husband and I listed off animals until we ran out of ideas (which took a loooonnnngggg time) and he had a ball listening to us.  For most animals, he said or did something he associates with the animal after we said an animal name.  For instance, he said "giraffe- long neck!"  or "fish live in water!", signed seal and made a moose sound for those respective animals.  Since then, we've played what else lives in water with animal names, and what else you'd find on a farm.  I am continually amazed at the amount of animals he knows and can tell you something about or sign.  If we take too long to answer because we're stumped, he repeats over and over, "What else, Mama?  What else???"

Anna:

Anna (well, and Sam as well) love to play ring-around-the-rosie with us.  They especially get a kick when we have our dog join in the circle too by holding her collar as we circle around.  Lately Anna has been doing ring-around-the-rosie with her doll house people.  Tuesday, the Grandma, the Daddy and the Baby did ring-around-the rosie together, purposely holding them so they were "holding hands" together.  Tonight, Anna got a hold of my fork... and then spontaneously decided to have the 2 forks she had do ring-around-the-rosie while she sang the song, complete with the forks falling down at the same time and a squeal of enjoyment.

Both: 

Sam and Anna are getting more expressive with their feelings.  They like to tell us when things scare them now, or what makes them happy or sad.  It adds a new level of insight when we know what they are feeling when they are resistant to something.

At mealtimes, the current trick du jour to get our toddlers to eat more of something is to try to get Sam and Anna to eat "baby bites"  and "monster bites" of whatever food offered that hasn't been well received at that meal. I use a baby, squeaky, high pitched voice when offering the baby bite (in a small piece) and a deep growly monster voice when giving the larger monster sized bite.   And oh boy, it works.  They like to make the voices with me while shoveling the food in, too.