Jennifer's Development timeline.

On August of 1991, I was born in Anchorage, Alaska. My mother's water broke at 1:45 in the morning, and I was delivered at 5:11 am, via a vaginal birth. I was 5 weeks premature. (Chapter 3.1 The Birth Process) Pictured: Mom and I in the hospital

I was born weighing only 4 pounds, 12 ounces. According to the textbook a low birthweight is considered anything under 5.5 lbs. I was released from the hospital after one week. My lungs were fully formed and I had no issues breathing. The only thing the doctors wanted my parents to watch out for was sleep apnea. (Ch 3.3 The Neonate: The Neonate's Health) Picture is my footprints and birthweight at the hospital (other information cropped out for privacy).

Chapter 4 states that neonates generally sleep 16-17 hours a day in periods of a couple hours. My mother says that they always had to wake me up for feeding time because I was sleeping all day and night around 3-4 months old. Despite them thinking something was wrong, the doctors noted that I was perfectly healthy and to keep waking me up for feeding and diaper changing, and to be thankful that I wasn't a fussy baby and had no issues sleeping.

My first words were "baby" and "can". The word "can" was referring to soda. My mom says that I was obsessed with my dad's soda cans because he was constantly drinking coke.
According to Chapter 4.6 (Cognitive Development: The beginnings of language), babies generally start understanding words and simple sentences around 10 - 12 months old, and speak their first words around 12 months. I was 11 months old, and 23 days when I first said "baby". Picture attached is my mom's writing from baby book.

Children generally begin walking on their own around 11 months old (5.1 Physical Development). I learned how to walk on my own just after turning 12 months old. My mom said the biggest help was putting my stuffed animals on the opposite side of the room on top of the couch, and placing me on the other side. My biggest motivation was a bright pink cow (that I still have), that I would sleep with and want with me wherever I went.

I attended a preschool that was right next to my mother's work, and fairly close to home. I loved going there everyday, and had no problems leaving my mom or dad. Children who attend preschool are generally more socially confident than those that don't. Attached is a note my mom saved from my teacher that noted how caring and compassionate I was towards my fellow classmates. (6.5 Cognitive Development: Early Childhood Development)

I was toilet trained at 20 months old. According to studies from 2009 about 25 percent of toddlers are toilet trained by 18 months old, and about 60 percent by the time they are three. My parents toilet trained me by using my favorite candy as a reward - skittles. They would sit me on the toilet and every time I went to the "potty" on the toilet I would earn a handful of skittles. (5.2 Physical Development: Socializing Physical Functions)
Picture was sent to me from my mom in my baby book

One important factor to consider when choosing a preschool is age appropriate materials and activities that are provided. Activities that involve active engagement are the best (6.5 Cognitive Development: Early Childhood Education). My preschool teacher was Mrs. Carolyn. She always took us on trips outside right near the preschool for fun activities. Pictured is my friends and I feeding the ducks at the lake behind the school (I am on the farthest left, with Sammy, Bryant, and Beth).

During Middle childhood our self concept starts to evolve (7.6 Emotional and Social Development: Emotional and Self-Development). We become more aware of how we feel internally and more aware of our surroundings. Attached is a journal entry that my mom saved where I described the "three things I like about myself" when I was 9 years old. I wrote that I was athletic, friendly, and I liked my style.

Middle Childhood is the time when children first start joining organized teams that require more physical challenges than in early childhood. In 2001 I joined my first organized sports team: Popwarner Cheerleading. My team was the Eagles. It was my favorite activity because I felt strong and had fun with all of my friends.
(7.7 Emotional and Social Development: The social and Cultural Contexts of Middle Childhood)

During Middle Childhood is when children can start worrying about being "popular" and their social status. When I was ten years old is when I first got my braces on, I was worried that I would become "unpopular" and I would lose my friends. I was very self conscious with braces on.
(7.7 Emotional and Social Development: Popularity and Unpopularity)

As an adolescent, I remember the only thing I cared about was getting my braces off. I didn't care about anything in regards to puberty like becoming "womanly" or getting my period as a woman. I got my braces off right before I entered Highschool, and it was the happiest day of my adolescent life. (8.1 Physical Development: Biological Changes of Puberty)

In U.S. society substance abuse is fairly common by the end of secondary school (8.2: Physical Development: Health Issues in Adolescence). In 2005, I joined a group at my school called C.A.D.F.Y., which stood for Caring about Drug Free Youth. We learned about the harms of drug and alcohol abuse. It was one of my favorite groups because we got to travel to Elementary and Middle schools and talk to younger children about the dangers of both and preform skits for them.

According to chapter 8, activity settings of adolescents play a big role on if they become prone to crimes and problems in their teen years. I stayed out of trouble by learning to play the clarinet. I was also still involved with C.A.D.F.Y. and cheerleading. I believe that I surrounded myself with groups that were focused on learning and advancing which greatly contributed to staying out of trouble.
(8.1 Emotional and Social Development: Problems and Resilience)

In 2009 I graduated high school from Bartlett High. I graduated in the top ten percent of my class and was able to earn a scholarship to attend the University of Alaska, Anchorage. I was unsure of what I wanted to do after High school so I started working as a receptionist at a hair salon. Emerging Adulthood in the textbook describes that many teens are unsure of what they want to do as they enter adulthood, I took a few years off before I attended college. (Ch 9: Emerging Adulthood)

I started off my college path in a different degree than I am in now (Early Childhood Ed), when I first began I was going for Business Management. In Emerging adulthood many young teens are still figuring out where they'd like to go and make many changes in their desired paths. I started out in Business Management and then was unsure of what I wanted so I ended up dropping out of college for a few years.
(9: Emerging Adulthood)

One of the indicators of emerging adulthood is the "normal age" of young adults getting married. In the 1960's the median age for woman was 20-21; now it is around age 27. (9.1: The emergence of emerging adulthood) Despite my families best efforts of telling me I was too young I got married at age 21.

Fast forward to 2016, I moved to HI newly divorced to (finally) go back to college. Most emerging adults obtain tertiary education in emerging adulthood (training beyond secondary school). I finally decided what I wanted to do; I wanted to teach children and earn a master's degree in Hawaii. Ever since I have been living on my own in Hawaii with my dogs, focusing on school, and working a steady job (from 2016-current). (9.5 Cognitive Development: Education and Work)