Croser Family Blog: Lucy update

I thought I would update everyone on how Lucy is getting on these days and what she is up to. It's been a few months now since we were with family and as ever, Lucy has changed so much in that short time.

Lucy is such a chatterbox and is saying new phrases every day. She used to mimic us a lot, and now she mimics but also adds in her own sentences and thoughts into conversation that I marvel at. It's hard to know where she gets them from, so I guess it's her personality coming through! Only a week ago when she wanted the music volume turned up she would say 'loud!', and now she has progressed to 'louder'. We always encourage her to use her manners and she will often say please and thank you now automatically at the end of a sentence. That makes me proud :) And it's sweet when she says 'than-coop!' for thank you in her amusing way.

We went to the mall the other day as it was raining and Joe needed some new belts (for his now tiny waist :) Lucy and he ran along the walkway at one point and I realised then how far Lucy has come on physically in the past month or so. She has so much more balance and coordination, she ran pretty fast for quite a way with no tripping at all. She's confident as ever at trying new slides and park equipment, and doesn't seem phased by heights or bigger playing children around her. She's really quite fearless around animals too and loves them.

At the moment Lucy is especially interested in cars, the Beauty and the Beast soundtrack and Belle, books, shopping and going to restaurants. She is clearly a car fanatic like her Daddy and the few times she has been to the chiropractor with us recently, she has sifted through the selection of dozens of magazines on the table and always picks out 'Motor Trend'. Jason, the chiropractor, is a softy and lets her take it home. She then flips through it and points at almost every car saying 'What's that Mummy/Daddy?'. She can now spot Porsches, BMWs, Minis and of course Mummy's old RDX and Daddy's old S2000. I can see I am going to have to get interested in cars now as I am outnumbered...

We have to be careful when we go out anywhere and talk about or see a restaurant, as we have now had several occasions when Lucy has cried because she wants to go to the restaurant for lunch and we say that we're eating at home. We now call home 'Mummy's restaurant' which helps appease her a bit. We go to restaurants fairly often but it's never especially relaxing and Lucy rarely eats much as she is so busy looking around at everyone! Our favourite is Iron Hill in West Chester because they have a good all round menu for the adults and a great choice for little ones too.

I am a lucky Mum because Lucy is great at playing on her own. She will often sit in her playroom flicking through books and playing with her toys while I make the dinner or do some cleaning. Sometimes when I go in to see her and ask if I can play with her she says 'Bye bye Mummy' and turns away to carry on playing! A chip off the old blocks here or what? Joe and I love our own company and to have plenty of alone time, so she is clearly much the same! And it certainly makes my life easier if I need to get something done.

With Halloween around the corner and people's houses decorated and the shops filled with pumpkins, ghosts and what-not, Lucy is showing a real interest in 'holidays' and occasions. She started with getting to grips with what a birthday meant, and is now interested in ghosts (and mimicking them), pumpkins, witches and dressing up. Christmas is also in the pipeline and she recognises Father Christmas (Santa) now, and will say 'Happy Kissmas' when she sees him. I haven't told her much more, but there's plenty of fun things for us to do in the build up to get her excited about it and understand a little more about what goes on. Joe and I are looking forward to that.

Lucy is still very affectionate, but definitely chooses when and who she wants to shower with attention. These past few weeks she has also been showing signs of empathy for others when we play imaginary games and talk about people. This morning she was asking about seeing Max, and I told her that he had been in hospital yesterday for an operation and that we wouldn't see him today. She looked visibly upset (curled her lip, frowned) and said "Max fell down?". I said no, that he had to have a special operation and she said "Poor baby Max, my poor baby Max" (still frowning and looking sad). From many of the parenting books I have read, empathy for others is one of the best personality traits you can help a child to develop, both for their own happiness and success in life, and for people around them. So I am really chuffed that she is becoming a little girl who cares about others and shows concern and understanding.

Lucy has had yet another cold this week and seems to be catching them every other week at the moment! She's a lot better with them now than in the past and doesn't get quite so upset about a blocked nose and snot everywhere :) It's been nice to have a quiet week to ourselves for the most part and play each day by ear.

Have a good weekend everyone!