Blowing her nose: Even though Jasmin is just two years of age, she can fully blow her nose. She also knows to get toilet paper for the purpose of doing so. If he hears me or someone else sneeze, she will hurry to the restroom and bring with her a piece of toilet paper, so that the person who has sneezed can blow their nose. after the paper has been used, Jasmin always says "Pach!" the Hebrew word for wastepaper basket - she expects that the used paper will be tossed to the trash.
Taking her medicine: Jasmin does not like to take medicine and its always a fight. Even so, recently when she needed to take antibiotics, although she fought me every step of the way, she instructed her grandmother (my mom) in my absence, when and how to administer the medicine. She showed my mother the pipette and the medicine bottle and willingly tipped her head back to swallow the liquid. After that, I negotiated with her new terms for taking medicine - by mixing it with water and serving it as a drink. Jasmin even asked to get medicine once and was angry when I refused. I has to explain that medicine is only served when needed, even if it is a yummy syrup with strawberry taste... Despite these advancements, Jasmin still does not really like to take her medicine...
Jasmin the copycat: Jasmin has recently taken to copying anything her older brother does. If he is hanging on my leg, she will immediately do so after him. He has taken to sitting under the table in my study, and has made a small house for himself there, with his toys, she now also goes to sit there. She has learned to climb my back because her brother likes to do so, but she has improved on him and is now also jumping up and down , insisting that I play "horse" and give her a piggyback ride in the process. She has even agreed to sit on my shoulders (though she does not usually like to do so and prefers walking or being carried in my arms) when noting that Jonathan was similarly riding on his fathers shoulders.
A rare full family portrait
Logistics and operation: Jasmin knows to open the door for me if she sees me holding a garbage bag. Jasmin knows to put on shoes before leaving the house and taking off shoes when remaining indoors, Like her brother (when he was smaller) she insists that anyone who comes to our home take off their shoes as a sign that this person intends to stay, taking my boots off for me when I arrive from work (and before I play with her) is by now a routine ceremony. She is slowly learning to operate the DVD and CD player. She especially enjoys playing music and dancing with any willing participant.
Turning on the light: Jasmin can stand on a stool and switch in the light in the bathroom or toilet or her own room before she enters the room.
Hygiene: Jasmin has learned to brush her front teeth nicely from side to side. she knows we brush our teeth mornings and evenings and always insists that mommy brush along with Jasmin. In general she wants to join in on any activity, and she wants people to join her in whatever she is doing (the word GAM , which means also in Hebrew is a staple with Jasmin - its means she wants to also do something or that someone else should also be doing it)
Jasmin by now can report exactly when she has a wet diaper. She says "pipi" when its wet. she sometimes asks to be seated on the toilet, but only one time has she peed in it. Most times she asks to be seated after she has already "done the deed" in her diaper. She can also report solids - and has even brought a new diaper and wipes, asking me to change her diaper saying "poo poo" indicating the content of the used diaper and the relief she seeks me to provide. She knows exactly where she can find diapers in wipes in our home or the home of her grandparents. Its is obvious that Jasmin likes having a clean diaper. Jasmin can also answer correctly if I ask to know if she has anything in her diaper. I have learned to trust her to answer correctly. We are confident that in the summer, when she is 2.5 years old, we will be able to successfully ween her from diapers.
