Doings and Transpirings

Josie and Roslyn have been settling into a daily routine that keeps Mama and Dad quite swamped between naps, baths, feedings, and just time to hang out as a family. Even the tiny house elves that operate Bobcat's Tracks have been up to their neck's -- they started this post several weeks ago!


Roslyn has passed the six-month mark and her stats are as follows: weight 14.1 lbs (20th percentile); length 26 inches (60th percentile); head circumference 17 inches (75th percentile). Although her measurements suggest that she is average in size, many of her fans insist that she is a giant. It must be her big personality!



This month Roslyn was granted permission to attempt to eat solid foods. In the last few months she has acted envious of everyone's grub. Now that she has some decent hand-eye coordination she can and will grab just about anything and shove it in her mouth. Even though she seems thrilled about food, she's not very good at keeping it in her mouth.

"Lemme at it!"

"Give me the spoon -- I know how!"

While Josie was a natural born eater, Roslyn's habits are more typical of a greenhorn (easily distracted, pushes most food out, forces food out of her nose, doesn't open her mouth very wide, etc). Regardless, it's just practice for now and she truly loves her jungle chair.



At six months children are permitted to sit facing forward in a jogging stroller. Roslyn is fired up about her new perspective. This takes Stroller Strides to a whole new level for her.

Rad!

Moments later... Big Fat Hairy Deal!

Josie loves to explore new ranges in her parents' blood pressure. She is not yet convinced that crying is not the best method to get her way. She likes to test the rules that have been put in place for safety reasons. Typical toddler behaviors. On the other hand, she is so entertaining coming up with several new ways each day to make you laugh to tears or impress you with her cleverness.

Kid City xylophone

Making hand prints

Conquering the 12-piece puzzle

Josie is currently obsessed with the US flag and cries out "Fwag of Amerwica!" each time she sees one.

As part of her "every 20 minutes routine" Josie pretends to wash her hands in the bathroom sink. One day she knocked the soap in spilling half of it. Daddy rinsed it down the drain with running water and voila! Josie was rewarded with bubbles.

Bubble Beard

Josie continues to enjoy preschool. She learned many songs for the Thanksgiving luncheon, however, Mama was two minutes late and somehow missed the whole concert. Fortunately, Josie has a great memory and singing voice and was able to entertain her family for days with hits like "Mister Turkey" "Pumpkin Pie" and something about a canoe tipping over.

Kirsten looking overheated in her Pilgrim hat and Josie "going native"

Roslyn gets passed around the luncheon

Josie is now midway through her terrible twos without really being terrible. It seems if Mama and Daddy maintain a regular sleeping schedule, routine feedings, and consistent behavior expectations, Josie's behavior follows suit.

The very next day after Josie refused her first nap, Mama started a behavior chart. She gets stars for specific behaviors and can lose her nap star if she refuses to stay asleep at night. Josie loves filling out her star chart daily; her parents love using the star chart as leverage when young Bobcat attempts to start a late night party.


Next week one of Josie's behaviors will be replaced with "Heinie down and feet on the ground." After Josie took a tumble at school, Josie's teachers were forced to inform Annie of Josie's habit of climbing in the classroom (tables, bookshelves, etc.).


Josie is progressing in her swimming lessons and seeing Rocky seems to be the highlight of her week. She now glides most of the way across the pool and dives in from the side in a seated position. Currently she is working on diving for sunken objects and using her arms to propel herself forward.

Gobble, gobble

Josie is really so much fun these days ...

Here's to hiring more tiny house elves!