Very Two

One of the questions often asked about parenting a child with Prader-Willi Syndrome is whether the child's behavior is a result of PWS or ________. The blank is often filled with the number 2. Lately Ayden Jane has been very 2.

She is soooo independent. Do not even think about helping her without asking or giving her the opportunity to try by herself first. If you jump in too quickly you will be told in a very convincing tone, "go 'way", or "I do it." The latest has been getting into her high chair. She will push a chair over to her high chair, position it just right, climb up on the chair then into the high chair. If you touch her at any point in this process you will hear from the queen herself and she will insist on starting all over!

She is into EVERYTHING unless, of course, it is something she is allowed to get into. Left to herself she will empty drawers of clothes by trying all of them on. She loves to get into the kitchen drawer with the bibs and pot holders.... She proceeds to feed her animals and use the pot holders as blankets. Let's see then there is Mckenna's rock collection, shoes, toothbrushes, CD's, books... It is all so fascinating to her. I have let her get into more things than I ever let the others into because I it somehow seems good and 'normal'. It is definitely time to reign in those boundaries!

Then there are the funny connections the 2 year old brain makes. Today when we were playing outside Ayden Jane fell. Yes, as usual, she was climbing something she shouldn't have been... Anyway, she just hurt her hands a little when she landed. She came over for a kiss, but it obviously did not do the trick as she took off with the stride of a toddler on a mission. She went into the house and came back out grinning ear to ear with the oven mits on!

Finally, she is into sound effects. On the elevator last weekend it would beep between floors -- Ayden Jane beeped. Fire truck sirens, belly growls, animals of all kinds. Her favorite is to imitate the sound effects we make. Kayla got into the car after school and her papers slid all over. Of course, she was frustrated and so the uuuuuugggg of exasperation came out. Ayden Jane mimicked the grunt all the way home. At the end of the day it is amazing how many 'non word' noises we use to communicate. Ayden Jane is totally in tune to those. She may just have a career in impersonation.