This post has been delayed by an earthquake and hurricane :P
Clara finally figured out how to get out of her crib (much to our chagrin). During nap time Jason was finally getting to eat lunch when he heard a thump followed by a cry. He ran upstairs to see what had happened--Clara had managed to get out. That same night, we decided to let her try sleeping in a toddler bed (her crib converts so one side is open like a regular bed). There wasn't any sleep to be had. She was reveling in her new-found freedom by dancing, trying on all her shoes, and walking over to her brother's crib and sticking her hands into his crib--keeping him wide awake. Instead of falling asleep as usual around 8:30/9 PM (it takes them up to an hour to wind down) she was wide awake at 11 PM (as was her sleep-deprived brother). I didn't know when she'd finally pass out from exhaustion so I asked Jason to put up her crib railing again. I'd rather she get some sleep (in hopes that I would get to go to bed too!) Since then we simply remind her that if she jumps out of her crib she may hurt her head and that is usually enough to keep her from throwing her leg over the side.
After months of waiting to be seen by the Infant and Toddlers Program for a speech evaluation, Clara was finally evaluated. To qualify, the toddler has to be performing 25% below average for their age. Clara was performing at a 22 month old level, which was just a few weeks shy of qualifying for the program. Unfortunately, since we only have one car we cannot get to most private speech therapists during the work day and the one we had found that is available past 5 PM returned to school and is not available to meet at this point. Jason continues to work with her but we are still considering purchasing a 2nd car so he can take her to appointments (plus be able to leave the house during the workday).
Recently Clara has shown increased interest in the potty. She typically wants to try to go potty whenever she has to be confined to her crib for nap or bedtime (a mighty convenient escape!). Most time she is successful in making her potty "sing" (it sings a song if liquid touches the sensors at the bottom of potty). If she is busy having fun playing, not only does she NOT mention the potty, she often denies that she went potty (despite the telltale signs of pausing, squatting and bearing down). Jason plans on starting a sticker chart so she can see how many times she's been successful over the course of a day. Her current reward for making potty is getting to put on a pair of Dora underwear (she wears them on top of her diapers).
Clara's favorite objects right now are ducks and balls. She carries them around all over the house. She still has her blankies which accompany her when she naps/sleeps (all 3 of them). If you were to see her crib you'd likely marvel there was any room in there for her given how crowded her crib is with stuffed animals (a panda, giraffe, elmo and red teddy bear) at least two baby dolls, 3 to 5 small balls, 3 ducks and several books, especially her favorite "My first Spanish words" book which is almost as big as she is!). She even sleeps with her two little Thomas the Tank trains. Not sure if it's a typical toddler thing to want to be surrounded by all your worldly possessions during naptime, it is cute unless she's missing something then she doesn't rest until all the aforementioned objects are recovered.
It's hard to believe how fast time flies, we were looking at video of her from a year ago, she is still the same sweet girl she was then, only taller and with a bigger verbal vocabulary (every day she can say a new word!)
