I haven’t given a summary of Arddun’s development in ages, but she has grown up so quickly lately, that I thought I’d try and capture what she’s like now.
Arddun has always changed from week to week, but her mental and physically developments in the last month have left Tony and I a little short of breath as we try to catch up. Since my return to Canberra from my week-long stay in Singapore on 9 March, Arddun has started speaking in short sentences, and has become a wonderful mimic. (Today’s new sentence was a rather demanding, “Come here, Daddy!” Which we corrected for tone, but secretly thrilled over.)
Things are starting to truly spark in the brain – she’s connecting words with concepts and meaning faster than ever, and now counts to 14. She recognises numbers and some letters, is able to follow simple instructions quite flawlessly (“Press 9”, when choosing which button to press in the elevator), picks up new songs within 2 tries, and even thinks she can juggle.
Observe:
She is also besotted with Peppa Pig videos (I mean, besotted). And she drives the neighbours downstairs nuts, because she is still in love with Big Girl’s shoes… except she doesn’t understand the concept of our floor = someone else’s ceiling. And 8am being too early to wear heels.
More stylo shots:
I have told some of you in person that God’s timing – both in the macro and micro sense – has just been astounding. Arddun, all toddling innocence and joyful, boundless energy, has been a wonderful way to channel my energies and brighten my days. As I mother Arddun, I miss my mother… but in having yet one more thing in common with that amazing woman who birthed me, I feel closer to her all the more.
Photos mostly by Arddun’s proud second cousin and original fashionista, Aunty Andy.
Finding The Happy 
16 April 2013 at 3:42 am
Oh my goodness! She is so adorable! I was smiling throughout the whole entire post. I especially smiled at her not understanding the concept of neighbors below her. Emma didn’t understand shared walls (with senior citizens) when we lived in an apartment. Eventually I told her a baby was sleeping next door and she’d wake the baby. She tried to be more careful after she heard about the baby…. except when she wanted to see the baby I was at a loss.
17 April 2013 at 1:48 am
Hahah! Yes, it’s a little difficult to explain to a toddler how their actions could affect people they’ve not even met before. How old is your Emma?
17 April 2013 at 4:02 pm
She is 3.5. When we moved into an apartment she was 2.5. Jake lived w his parents prior to that so that’s where Emma went when it was her Daddy time. When weoved it was all new to her… Having a stepmama for one, but mostly the concept of all these neighbors! She was so confused and thought maybe we lived in a hotel.