17 Months

This month I have really been struck by how big our girl is getting. I was rocking her the other night and she just felt so long and big. Certainly not a baby anymore. Her little personality is emerging even more, too.

Lucy:

• is currently fascinated with the broom and mop and is constantly pulling them out.
• can appropriately point at Mommy, Daddy, Brandon, or Buddy (and some others)
• is a little monkey-see, monkey-do. If you do it, she will mimic it.
• repeats everything. The new words are stacking up!
  
• can point out certain animals and characters in books - her favorite is still Elmo: “Ma-mo!”
• is sporting new molars on the bottom. That was a fun week. Top ones are breaking through as well.
• is a total pro at “please” which has morphed from “Eeeee?” into “Peeees?” “Thank you” is still a bit of a foreign concept.
• likes to show off her tummy. It is an impressive specimen.
• has learned the word "no." And sometimes it is the answer for everything.
• can point out her nose, eyes, and belly button, and says “honk” for her nose and “beep” for her belly button.
• likes to “find” other people’s belly buttons, which is not always welcomed!
• still takes 2 naps a day, although on the weekends lately she sometimes drops the morning nap.
• is getting pretty handy with a fork and spoon.
• 

Cousins

Lastnight we had our niece Miss H for an overnight stay. She was very patient and basically let Lucy follow her around, climb on her, and mimic her every move with little complaint. They even conspired and joined forces to climb on Brandon! It never ceases to amaze me that at ages 17, 8, and 1...they all get along so well.

Morning Glory

Every weekday morning the little one and I get ready together, as Husband has to leave about 45 minutes ahead of when Lucy can be dropped off at daycare. So I dress her right away on the first diaper change, then we sit on the couch together for a few minutes while she eats breakfast and I check the weather. After that she plays on her own, either in our bedroom with me, or traveling between her room and our room, with me checking on her periodically. Around 7AM there is typically another diaper change. About 90% of the time there is a special delivery made just a few minutes before we need to head out the door. It is just part of her regular morning routine. For this reason, I sometimes let her run around in her shirt and just a diaper to start out with, as I know another change is coming.

So one day last week, I was in the bathroom adjacent to our room drying my hair. Lucy was coming in and out, as she usually does, toddling around in her t-shirt and diaper. I would greet her each time. About 30 seconds after the last greeting I felt a little tug on my leg, so I turned off the dryer and looked down.

There was my daughter, standing there with a naked poopy butt, and holding a poopy diaper in her hand.

This was a first.

It could have a been a lot worse, i.e. the poo was contained and she hadn’t sat on or rubbed up against anything (that I could find). So I lifted her up, suspending her at the appropriate length and angle so as to not contaminate my own clothing, and cleaned her up.

Just another day in the life.

Autumn Sunshine

Like the rest of you in the Midwest, we have been enjoying this unseasonably warm fall season. We spend time outside and have been trying to squeeze the last out of some fun outdoor places, like the zoo. But the best place we like to "visit" is our own deck, where the hammock and the furniture are still out, and Lucy can run free. It's not every October that little girls can wear a dress and sandals!

Still Reading

I'm on my third book since rekindling my love affair with reading. To continue the momentum I've also revamped my old book blog. Check it out...I'm off to read some more!

16 Months

Lucy:

• is a good little helper and can follow simple instructions...and is usually very proud of herself for doing so.
• repeats a lot of what we say and is working on some new words – her new favorite is MINE! (“MY!”) and we are working on please, which comes out "Eeeeee?!" with a big smile.
• likes to give hugs, kisses, and high-fives (and the kisses have gotten beyond head-butts and closer to the real thing). I think her favorite person to give all three is her daddy.
• is weaned off the pacifier, which actually wasn’t too bad (but kudos to Husband for initiating the process and taking the first night).
• rocks her babies and stuffed animals and covers them with a blanket.
  
• sometimes lays in bed at night singing and talking to herself.
• has a bunch of new teeth just waiting to pop through, which has caused some night waking and crankiness.
• learned Old MacDonald from Grandma Betty, and sings “ee-i-ee-i…” (still working on the “o”)
• has learned how to throw a good old fashioned toddler fit and there is a “tragedy” which seems to warrant one about once per day.
• climbs furniture and whatever else might look like it’s off limits.
• has taken to calling the dog “Dobby” (dah-bee). She just has the consonants turned around, but now sometimes I catch myself calling him that too!
• loves her fleece monkey jammies with the monkey feet.
• takes books and "reads" them aloud. The farm animal book is a hit at the moment (tests my animal sound skills – goat, anyone?)
• starts out with “Mommy!” if ever left to cry after a tantrum, but when she realizes I’m not buying it, she switches to “Daddy!” STINKER.
• definitely has a sense of humor and knows when to turn on the charm.
• is learning how to blink/wink, which is quite funny.
• really gets the waving thing and is also known to run up to us randomly and say “HI-ee!”
• is very good at signing “more” and occasionally “all done” and “milk.” We're trying to use a few more.
• is busy, busy, busy! She doesn’t sit still for long, and cuddle time is at a premium.

Although this month has definitely brought frustrations as my daughter starts to express her…independence…I often catch myself looking at her and thinking how lucky we are. However tired or frustrated I am, I still cannot resist that little toothy grin. And she knows it. :)