Last weekend several mommy friends and I attended an open house at a local Montessori school. We brought the kiddos with us and were all amazed at how quickly they took to the pint-sized environment. For anyone unfamiliar with the Montessori philosophy, their basic premise is that it is our job as parents to help our children to help themselves. And so the Montessori classroom looks like a studio apartment that someone zapped with a ray gun, rendering everything about 1/3 the size. Kind of like a hippie version of the children's section at Ikea. It's freaking awesome.
So immediately upon arriving home from the open house, I began inspecting our home for ways in which to make it more Lila friendly. I'd already set up stations in the living area where she can eat meals or do artwork while sitting in tiny chairs at tiny tables, so it was onto the kitchen and bedroom. I rummaged through the cabinets in search of anything Lila could use as a drinking glass and came across two tiny A&W mugs that Kit and I bought while visiting friends in Marin, many years ago. In a complete act of bravery, I offered Lila some water in one of the mugs. The first few tries involved a bit of spillage, but by the next day, she was drinking like a pro--AMAZING! I eventually headed out with the Boo to find her a table setting of her very own and between Homegoods and a local variety we were able to stock an entire shelf in the kitchen with Lila sized plates, bowls and glasses (pots and pans courtesy of Ikea). Our big girl is now eating like a grown-up :)
Next stop: the bedroom. Shortly after Lila's birth we were gifted a gently used Stokke Sleepi crib, which Lila has enjoyed sleeping in since she was about 5 months old. The Stokke website says that at 18 months, or whenever your child is walking and climbing with confidence, the crib can be transitioned to a toddler bed by removing the wheels and one of its panels. So, in another act of bravery, I reconfigured the crib and showed it to Lila. She went bonkers--climbing in and out, jumping on the mattress, rearranging her stuffies, etc. She simply could not have been more thrilled about the change. We tried out the new set up that night and, as expected, there was a bit of a learning curve. Unsure of what to make of her new found freedom, she got up out of her bed as soon as I left her room and stood sobbing at the door. She quieted down after only 5 minutes or so, however, at which time we'd assumed she'd gone back to her bed. Nope. When I peaked in to check on her, I found the poor thing curled up in a ball on her play mat, sound asleep. But just a quick scoop off the floor and back into her bed and we didn't hear a peep from her until the next morning.
The next day she did both her afternoon nap and night sleep in her new bed and both went swimmingly. By day three it was as if she'd been sleeping in her new bed for months. Kit and I were both blown away--we never would have imagined it would be that easy! Now at both nap- and bed- time, Lila gets into her bed and we snuggle beside her for a few minutes either singing or whispering to her softly until she settles in. When we leave the room, she usually lets out a brief cry, but remains in her bed until sleepy time is over. When she wakes, she quietly plays in her room until she decides she's ready to come out, at which point she stands at the gate and may call to us or just wait until we spot her.
Our neighborhood held their 2nd Annual Halloween Block Party last night. I told Lila there would be children, music and dogs, so she was more than game to check it out. When we arrived on the scene there were a good 30-40 adults, no dogs, and the only kids present were a baby and two brothers who were busy tearing through the neighbors' yards wielding large sticks. I think Lila was a bit disappointed and so insisted on hanging by my side and pestering me with repeated requests to be picked up/put down and sample treats of the likes I'd hoped never to touch her lips (cupcakes, brownies, M&M cookies, etc), which kind of put a damper on the meeting & greeting aspect of the evening. And then, salvation: a family with 2 young daughters arrived. Lila was in love :) She initially set her sights on the 11 year-old, who sat quietly on the curb reading a book. Lila sat beside her and smiled admiringly. But soon after, when the 5 year-old girl came storming by chasing after the two stick wielding boys, it was ON. From ~7:30pm until 9:15pm, when I had to physically remove her from the premises, my sweet, mild mannered daughter was transformed into a veritable one-toddler freak show. After her attempt to join the kids failed due to her inability to keep up, she began simply running all willy nilly. This then progressed to running laps around the crowd squealing at the top of her lungs, with absolutely no concern whatsoever for the whereabouts of either of her parents. And when she wasn't running, she was bustin' a move to the pumpin' beats of the *sweet* dance music churning out of the party's makeshift sound system. I'm telling you, this girl was on fire! At one point, a 5 year-old girl was directing Lila --"Touch the ground!" Turn Around!" "Put your hands in the air!" -- and she happily offered her full compliance. By 9pm she was still groovin' out, even though all the other kids had been shuffled home by tired parents. Stationed smack in front of one of the speakers, she was bouncing and twisting and stomping to Kanye West as if her life depended on it (I have to say, I was a little freaked out and started to wonder if her wee brain had short circuited from sensory overload). At this point I was starting to feel like a neglectful parent, and so packed her up and brought her home, much to her displeasure -- this child was ready to shut that party down! One bath and 3 books later, however, she was down for the count, and both mommy and daddy enjoyed a few extra zzzzzs in the AM due to the super late bedtime. 
