Coloring Finally Improves

All of the sudden, both little girls are starting to pay attention to lines, colors and completion.  For so long, the crayon has slipped out of Adeline's immature and weak grasp.  Now that she has a stronger grasp, she can give her attention to the actual picture.  Lila, for months, has colored (I think scribbled although she fights me on it) every picture in rainbow fashion.  She solidly covers the picture with a variety of colors paying no attention to lines or appropriate colors.  Why does she do this?  Well, Miss Adeline loves rainbows and Lila colors every picture in rainbow fashion and then gives them to her.  This was sweet the first five times, after seeing 30 plus scribbled pictures, I am tired of rainbow coloring.  Needless to say, after sitting down and coloring Valentine pictures together during one of our many snow days, I was overjoyed.

Coloring in the lines 75% of the time (for Lila at least) - check

Using appropriate colors or colors that we chose instead of just grab without looking - check

Coloring the entire picture (mainly a milestone for Adeline) - check


Double click for a close up.

All three girls colored the same picture.  No longer such a difference!

Expressive Language Delay

Lila is still struggling with her expressive language.  Oddly enough, Adeline out performs her in this area according to my informal assessments.  While this continues to weigh on my brain, I am reassured by the emphasis on receptive language in children this age.  It is always better for expressive language to lag behind receptive language instead of the other way around.  Knowing that Miss Grace understands and has the cognition of an average 4 year old is reassuring.  However, the expressive language delay continues to drag her down.  Lila talks in circles because she can't quite get to the point.  Being her mother helps when it comes to these conversation because I usually catch on faster than most and can guide her speech while helping her express her thoughts.  It is hard to watch her struggle when it is so obvious the words are in her head but can't make it to the tip of her tongue. 

Here is a classic example.

Lila took her preschool's Friendship Bear home for the weekend.  The children are supposed to let the bear travel with them, take a few pictures, and then come back and share the events with their classmates.  Lila decided to take Friendship Bear sledding.  She zipped him in her jacket and down the hill they went.  We took pictures and come Monday, Lila was ready to share with her peers.  I took a moment to ask her about what she was going to share.  Lila had this to say. . .

L:  I'm going to tell them that I took Friendship Bear in the. . . in the. . . in the snowy day. (she was trying to say sledding.)

Me:  What did you do in the snowy day?

L:  He was in my jacket in the snowy day because he not get snow on him.

Me:  Do you mean that you took Friendship Bear sledding?

L:  Yes, I took him sledding in my jacket.

Something as common as sledding, and believe me there has been a lot of it, was beyond Lila.  She paused, thought about it and could only come up with snowy day.  She wanted to say sledding but just couldn't get there.  Once I said the word sledding, she was all over it.  The conversation continued well beyond what I dictated above.  It was like giving her the word sledding lit a fire under her.  I wish my girl could say what was on her mind.  It must be so frustrating for her.  What four year old struggles when retelling a story about when they went sledding?  Not many!

Prematurity coming back to bite us once again. . .

Gas

Setting - Lila is sitting on the toilet and Adeline is in the living room playing Geo Trax.

L:  Adeline, did you hear that?  Did you hear something?

A:  What?

L:  Adeline, did you hear my gas?

A:  Oh yes Lila, I heard your gas.

L:  Adeline, you sit on the stool while I go poop?

A:  I don't know Lila.

L:  Adeline, you sit with me while I go poop?

A:  Oh, okay Lila.  (runs into the bathroom and sits on the stool with her back to her sister.)

L:  Adeline, you sit this way (motions for her to turn around).

A:  (turns around)

L:  Adeline do you want me to play Geo with you after I go poop?

A:  Oh yes Lila.  Just a minute Lila.  (runs out of the bathroom to me and asks. . .)  Mommy, can we play Geo after Lila is done pooping?

Even though it was nap time, I didn't have the heart to say no.