16 Months

Filed Under Into Everything, Milestones, Sixteen Months, Talking | 5 Comments

I have been getting bad about doing the monthly posts on time. Our lives are so busy and Bailey keeps us on our toes. She really is a little monkey. Anyway I just wanted to try to write down all of the things she is doing right now. I want to be able to look back and remember because I know a few years from now, someone will ask us when Bailey did something and I won’t remember. At least if the memories fade in my mind I can have them on my blog.

Her Fifteen Month Pictures, a little late as we still haven’t sent them out… oops…

She has figured out how to open all the cabinets/drawers etc so we had to install latches on EVERYTHING, which is annoying. Also, she turns the television on by herself, puts a dvd in the dvd player, turns it on, and sits down to watch a movie. Not even kidding. And if there’s already a tv on show instead, she actually knows how to press the source button (she found it on the back of the tv) and switch it to dvd. Gah. So now we have to keep the whole thing turned off in the back with a surge protector on-off switch.

One of the other things she really likes to get into is my makeup drawer. It has a latch but if she is in there with me while I’m doing my makeup, she likes to get the blush brush and pretend to put makeup on herself. It’s the only thing I’ll let her touch out of there. She figured out how to open my jewelry box (I used to keep it on the nightstand) and I caught her putting my good rings on all her fingers so that also got moved up higher. She also likes to stand on Mommy’s scale and it looks like she’s almost 23 pounds. Oh, and she likes to take her diaper off and pee on the floor. Which is lovely.

As far as physical stuff- she is running pretty fast and her feet swing out to the sides almost like a penguin. It’s the cutest. She also walks backwards and is working on jumping. On rare occasions she can get both feet off the ground at the same time for just a split second, but mostly it looks like she’s just bending her knees and picking one foot up. She can climb onto chairs and couches, and slide down off our bed. Her new thing is going up and down stairs “like a big girl” holding on the railing. She can do it herself but I have to be right next to her because sometimes she gets distracted and lets go to look around. She also is kicking a lot. If you put a ball on the ground she will run up to it and kick it while she runs. Our Parents as Teachers educator said she’s really coordinated. Jonathon wants her to play soccer

She knows most of her body parts and can point to them when asked- head, hair, ears, eyes, nose, mouth, tongue (sticks it out), teeth (chomps them to show you), fingers, tummy, belly button or be-bo, she will point to my neck but can’t find it on herself, foot, toes/pigs. The only body parts she actually says is “Eyyyyyyye” and “no” for nose.

Animals she can point out- bird, monkey, tiger, zebra, horse/nay nay, cow, duck, dog, cat, fish, frog, koala, giraffe, elephant, snake.

Makes noises for cow, horse, dog, cat, and snake. Oh and zebra, she has decided it also says “nay nay” which I think might be right…

Words she says regularly-
mama
dada
gah or mama-dada-mama (Grammy)
eye
no (nose)
no no no
nana (banana or Nana, her great grandma)
apple
cheesh (cheese)
fish
more
puh puh ssss (please)
book
baw (ball)
bird
buh!! (balloon, always said emphatically)
shoosh (shoes)
duh duh (Dora)
Mo (Elmo)
mm-vah (movie)
woo woo, or gee (doggy)
hi
rah rah rah (rock rock rock)
inkeeee (Pinky, her lovey)
up
buhbuh (bubbles)

She still signs occasionally for “more” or “I want that” or “all done” and she also will put her hands up and shrug her shoulders if you ask her where something is.

She loves putting together puzzles. She has several of those wooden puzzles where the pieces have the little knobs to hold them. She can dump them out and put them right back together. She has also recently started playing with legos and other blocks. She knows how to stick them together and loves to put them together and then take them apart again. We put away her Little People Zoo for a while so that she would play with something different for a while. Her favorite books right now are Goodnight Moon, Personal Penguin, The Little People Board Books, Where’s Elmo’s Blanket, and Baby’s First Words.

15 Months Old

Filed Under Fifteen Months, Milestones, Talking | 7 Comments

Bailey was actually 15 months old more like three weeks ago… but we got her pictures last week and I wanted to share.

She went to the doctor last week for a belated checkup. Everything was great. She is still in about the 30th percentile for height and weight, and I think 85th for head! She was 22 lbs 8 oz and 30 inches tall.

We told the doctor that she was still just getting a bedtime bottle, but since then we have been able to cut that one out. I had originally wanted to keep that bottle for a while longer (I didn’t want to force her to grow up too fast!) but then I realized after discussing it with the ped that it would be easier to get rid of it now, rather than later when she could put up more of a fight and remember it longer. I think Bailey eats well most days, but we decided to continue with Poly-Vi-Sol, only now without iron. Her iron test came out good- I think it was like 10.5 and she said anything above 9 was normal, 10-11 was average. Whatever that means. She had to get her finger stuck for that one and she didn’t even cry. My brave little toaster. She also had her chicken pox vaccine, and two other boosters of things she had before. Those made her cry, but she got over it pretty fast when Grammy got out the fruit snacks!

We also talked about developmental things. She is walking backwards, and climbing, and saying more than 5 words (which was the goal for her, I guess). She can also go up stairs upright while holding on to someone/something. The doctor said she should be able to point to at least one body part when we asked, and she was surprised when I told her that Bailey knows her head, hair, ears, eyes, mouth, tongue, teeth, fingers, belly button, feet, and toes! She said that cognitively and socially, she is well ahead of what they expect at 15 months and that her 18 month appointment she will probably be meeting some of the two year old milestones. That made for a very proud mama

Here are her most recent new words:
apple
more
ah duh (all done)
no no no no no
nay nay (horse)
geeeeeeeesh (geese, at Grant’s Farm)
cheesh (cheese, said for the first time during 15 month photo shoot!)
rah rah rah (rock rock rock, for dollies or when we’re in the rocking chair)
mm-vah (movie)
deedle deedle deedle ??

That’s all I can think of now. I need to keep a list going while we are playing because her vocabulary just seems like it’s exploding lately. It’s so much fun! Lots of her words, you wouldn’t understand if you weren’t with her all the time or didn’t have a translator, but she definitely has specific words now and uses them in the right context.

Some new communications skills

Filed Under Fifteen Months, Talking | 4 Comments

Bailey is fifteen months old now. Her vocabulary is growing slowly but surely. If she says something consistently and means the same thing with it, I count it as a word. Even if the pronunciation is a little bit off

She has recently added:

Um-vvv (movie)
Eye
Muh (mouth)
Guh (grampa or grammy)
Puh Puh (please, this started because we were saying “PUH PUH” trying to show her how to make the P sound)
Dih (This)

Obviously she leaves the end off of most words, and always has. I am guessing that will come with time. She seems to have it all in her head and understands whatever we say to her, she just can’t or won’t make it come out of her mouth. I always read blogs/talk to friends whose kids the same age have been saying full words for months now, and I worry that she’s behind. Then I remember she walked at ten months and I try to remind myself that she can’t do everything. She has probably been focused on physical development. I am just looking forward to her being able to tell me what she wants.

Here are a few other fun things she has started doing lately:

She can smile/show her teeth on command- I will have to get a picture because the face she makes is so funny.

Blowing kisses is now with an open hand instead of a flinging fist

During a funny moment we taught her “You tooted… What does a toot say?” And she makes a farting/raspberry noise with her mouth! I know that’s just charming to teach a little girl… but hey, it’s good for a few laughs.

Getting better with using her words

Filed Under Fourteen Months, Talking | 5 Comments

Some days I get really frustrated because B refuses to talk. Like if I tell her to repeat something, she just laughs at me. She is capable of saying quite a few words, but she would rather point to something and yell “Deedle deedle deedle deedle!” Finally today, I have not been telling her what anything is. I ask her, “What’s that?” It seems to make a difference.

So far today she has said a few new things- or at least things she hasn’t said in a long time-
“bir” (bird)
“baw” (ball)
“booh” (book)
“duh” (duck)

For some reason I thought she would be an early talker, I guess because she has always jabbered so much. But she was an early crawler and walker and then I read blogs of other babies her age who are still not walking, but have extensive vocabularies. I have to remind myself that they are each good at different things.

She absolutely refuses to say “more” now and will only sign it, though. Which is why I didn’t want her to learn signs to begin with, but someone else taught them to her, and I guess that’s just how it goes.

She has also learned to hug, and I can ask her for a hug and she comes and leans on me and rests her head on my shoulder or against my face. She doesn’t put her arms around me, but she lets me hug her, and doesn’t push me away.

Fourteen Months

Filed Under Food, Fourteen Months, Talking | 2 Comments

Bailey,

Your fourteen month birthday was on Monday. Why does the time go so fast? I think I comment on that every month. You seem so grown up to me now. Your hair is long enough to go in a little ponytail on the top of your head, and right now your toenails are painted hot pink. You have four top teeth and almost three bottom teeth. I think you have some of your molars but I have learned not to poke my finger back there. You bite really hard.

You are walking and running and climbing now. You can almost get on the couch by yourself and I am dreading that day. You still don’t know not to just step off the edge of things. You are also quite the dancer. You love to twirl, even though you don’t turn around all the way yet. You stick your arms out and twist from side to side. You also bounce up and down and try to jump, but your feet don’t leave the floor.

You have really been enjoying going to the park lately and especially playing in the fountain. We did that twice this week. Your favorite food is pizza- you will eat like three pieces of Cecil Whitaker’s by yourself! You test everything first by putting it up to your lips. I’m not sure if you are checking the temperature or the smell or what. Once you press it against your lips for a minute you usually eat it. You also love just about any kind of rice. Here you are at El Nopal a few weeks ago, checking out the menu.

You are also developing a little more of a vocabulary now. Your words are:
buh-buh (bubbles)
mama or mom
dada or daddeeeeee
up (means up or down)
nananananana (?)
muh (more, which you sign more often than say)
jee-ja (Jesus)
booh (book)
hi
wuh wuh wuh wuh (dog barking)
gee (doggie and froggie)
gock (clock)
Obviously most of these still need translation for other people, but it is clear that you have definite words that you use for things now. I can’t wait until you start talking more, and more clearly. I am so curious what you have to say and what you think about.

You like to play with your Little People Zoo and your animal circus tent. You love to read, still. Current favorites are Very Hungry Caterpillar and your Little People book at Grammy’s house. You also like to push and sit on your stride-to-ride Lion but you can’t actually make him go when you’re sitting on him. You climb up in your rocking chair and sit to read. Each morning you run to our bathroom and try to get your dad’s toothbrush out of the cabinet before I can catch you. Because you want to suck the toothpaste out- ew.

You seem more “kid” than “baby” now. I am amazed at how fast you are changing and learning new things. I am just thankful that you still like to kiss your mommy and that you are so affectionate. It makes your big-girl-ness more bearable.

I love you forever and ever,

Mommy

Almost 13 Month Evaluation (lots of bragging here)

Filed Under Milestones, Parents as Teachers, Talking, Twelve Months | 6 Comments

Today Bailey had her (almost) 13 month evaluation by our Parents as Teachers lady. They use the Denver Developmental Screening. For her, they used the 12 to 14 month range test. She rocked it!

She got the highest scores possible in all categories except fine motor (doesn’t place an object back on the ground when she’s finished; she just drops it, and doesn’t roll a ball). The PAT Lady (we’ll call her Alice) was very impressed by other things she’s doing that weren’t on the test, too. She said her communication and problem solving skills were great. Which I didn’t even realize. I guess I should be documenting this.

Bailey can “label” a lot of objects and can point out the following things:  Sconce, light, painting, balloon, kitchen, book, ball, doggie, baby, lion, there are probably a lot more that I’m not thinking of right now but those are the ones we did today.

She knows and points to quite a few body parts: Eyes, nose (for the first time today!), mouth, tongue (sticks it out and wiggles it), hair, toes, sometimes tummy.

She can take off her own socks and put her arms through the sleeves on her shirt.

She says: Mama, Dada, buh (balloon), goggie, woof, rrrrrr (roaring when she sees a picture of a lion), up

Signs for more, please, and all done. Waves hello/bye bye and claps. Points to objects, raises arms to be picked up, good use of pincer grasp to pick up little fuzzes and stuff, can imitate things like dumping out a jar, object permanence, bangs two objects together.

Follows simple commands without seeing gestures, like if we say, “Bailey, bring me your shoes” she will do it… if she’s in the mood that is…

Also she still loves to read and can turn the pages of books and point out objects in books. I mentioned that she has two favorite books right now that she always takes off the shelf and brings to use first, and Alice said that it was early to be showing preferences for stuff like that…. i don’t know if I entirely believe that because I think a lot of babies have preferences and likes/dislikes.

Overall, she said she was “very impressed and we are seeing lots of good things from Bailey.” There were not any concerns! Woo hoo!

Bailey’s 4th Word

Filed Under Eleven Months, Talking | 1 Comment

Her pediatrician said she needed to have two words by her first birthday. She has been saying Dada or Daddy and Mama. Sometimes she will quit saying them for a few days but then it comes back again. Also, she says woof when she sees or hears a dog. If I ask her, “What does a doggie say?” She says “Woof!” Now just within the last few days she has started saying “Babyyyyyyyyyyyyy” only it has absolutely nothing to do with a baby. Apparently, that’s her word for raisins. She points to the cabinet and yells “baby baby baby baby” and signs and hopes that I will give her more raisins.

Language Skills

Filed Under Books, Talking, Ten Months | 1 Comment

I was just telling Kelli about some more things Bailey can say/understand and I realized I need to write them down. I also need to be better about transferring from the blog to the baby book. Anyway here are the new developments:

When she frantically waves, she sometimes says “Haaaaaaaaaa” or “Hehhhhh” which we are interpreting to be “hi.” It is always in a very excited and slightly squealy voice.

Today I kept telling her “book” every time (all four million of them) that she handed me her Moo, Baa, La la la book. Finally when she handed it to me she said, “Buh.” Several different times.

I know these aren’t huge words or anything, but it is a sign that she is trying to make words and communicate!

Also, Jonathon has become “Dad-deeeee” and everyone else, including me, grandparents, and random strangers, are called “Da da.” I try over and over to tell her that I am Mama, but to no avail.

She is definitely understanding more. We were playing in the living room today and she was really busy at her learning table. I told her Grandpa was coming, and she immediately crawled over to the top of the steps to watch the front door. I couldn’t believe that she understood that! She also understands nurse and will try to lift up my shirt or lean her face against me if I say it! Also when I said, “See ya later” tonight she waved to me. Her receptive language is really improving.

9 Months Old

Filed Under Being a Mom, Milestones, Nine Months, Talking, Thoughts | 10 Comments

My darling girl, where have these nine months gone? There are so many memories forever engraved on my mind, but it has just flown by way too fast. That’s why today, I held you a little longer. I didn’t rush to put you in bed and get something done. I feel like my time of holding you while you sleep is already limited.

I know it hasn’t all been easy (nap battles, stomach flu, non-stop nursing…) but I can honestly say that being your mother has been the best thing I have ever done.

You are doing so much now. Within the past month, you started clapping (first silently, with closed fists, but now you make the cutest little slap-slap sound). You started waving right after Christmas. You are standing and cruising along everything: The couch, entertainment center, your activity table… You like to let go and try to balance on your own for a few seconds but you fall on your bottom pretty fast.

You get into everything now. Just this morning, you were in the living room playing and I realized you were too quiet. I came in and found you with an index card. There were itty bitty pieces of it stuck on your chin, on your hands, and all over your jammies. You reached in your mouth and pulled out a piece, then stretched out your arm to hand it to me and share. I love your thoughtfulness. You also like to share your toys (for now!) and food, whether it’s been in your mouth already or not.

Did you know that we officially reached another breastfeeding milestone? When you were biting and having a hard time staying focused, I promised myself I wouldn’t give up before nine months. And we worked through it together. Now when I nurse you in the morning, you lay next to me in bed all stretched out. Your toes poke into my thighs now. You’ve gotten so long. Occasionally you look over to check for Daddy. If he’s already up getting ready for work, you will settle back down and snuggle longer. But if Daddy is in bed, forget it. You’re ready to play, and he’s much more fun than Mommy!

You are “talking” more and more. You consistently say Dada (although not directed at Daddy), ba ba, ga ga, and your newest is VUV! Vuv is always said with enthusiasm. Just today you heard a dog barking outside and said, “Woof.” It was so clear. I guess that’s your first word. You are in love with dogs, and chase Koby and Tiny (grandparents and great-grandparents’ dogs) whenever we visit. You also love pictures of dogs, and any stuffed animals.

I think those are the highlights of the new things you have been doing, although I feel like I am cheating you to just sum up a whole month in one post. I hope you always know how much I love you. If I could have one wish, it would be that you would know without a doubt how deep, complete, and forever my love is for you.

Love, Mommy

Our nine month photo shoot… complete with carrots in her nose

Chatterbox

Filed Under Milestones, Talking | 1 Comment

Today as Bailey sat in her Bumbo, she began pounding the tray and yelling, “Da da da da da da da!” It was while Jonathon was getting her dinner ready, so we are pretending she was yelling at him.

This is the first time she has really done much of a consonant sound/repetitive babbling type thing. Until know, her talking has sounded more like “Glooo big floshbbbbbb fliggle mmmm buggvvvppt” and she says, “Nya nya nya nya” from time to time.

We got it on video, so once I get Jonathon to do all the downloading kind of stuff with it, I will post a video.