17 Months aka Little Miss Independant

Well, I am a few days late on this. Summer is just flying by and we have been keeping busy. So Lo Lo girl this is what you are doing this month.

P.S. we are stinkin' it up on taking pictures this month. So here are just a few of what we did take.

Milestones:
*A HUGE milestone for us this month is we turned your car seat around and you are now forward facing!! After the dramatic car ride to and from Iowa we made the choice to flip you. I know most of you flip your kids as soon as they are one, but Lo was only 16ish # when she was one and we just didn't feel like it was safe, but now she is around 18.5# and nearly 1.5 years, I think it is time, she knows she is being "left out." Anyway, car rides have been going much smoother!

*You had your first McDonald's happy meal. I know I can't believe it either. I swore my child would never enter a McDonald's until she was at least 10! HA! However, on our road trip my sister insisted on McDonald's. Thankfully, they have apple slices and milk now. Although I was at a loss as to what to order you, you hated the Chick-fil-A chicken nuggets...so we opted for a cheeseburger. You hate meat, you never eat my delightful homemade hand-packed burgers. So much to my dismay I watched you oink down 1/2 of your McD's cheeseburger like it was the best thing you have ever tasted! Gross Leighton, gross!

*You also went to your first session of swim lesson's. More on that in another post.

*You went on your first big trip to Iowa to visit your auntie Melissa, uncle Kreg and cousin Landrey.

Grandpa likes to feed you snacks after church.

*We play this animal matching game with your "flash cards." And you can pick out each and every one of the 16 animals! I am just so impressed by this, but then again I have no idea what you should know at this point. :)

*You are now little miss independent. You are really starting to assert yourself and I don't particularly care for it. Where is my sweet tender hearted Lo Lo that use to obey everything and everyone?!

Language Skills:
*You are starting to pick up more and more words and mimic us as well. You now say Dah (for dog), Mow, Meg, lunch, snack, yeah, me, and mine. I am sure there are more I just can't think of them. Surprisingly, you haven't learned "no" yet. :)

*You are mimicking more which is a good sign and on top of all that you still signs all the basic signs...so overall communication is good.

*You "talk" to yourself and us all the time. Man can you get a good animated conversation going! I so wish I knew what you were so keyed up about. HA!

*Your newest animal sounds are: Horse, tiger, monkey, and fish (is the cutest one!), which you picked up from cousin Landrey on our trip. You also recently learned how to do a duck and dog. (you previously already did: cow and bear)

This is best friend Gracie.

Eating:
*You are still so picky. Now you don't like bread with your turkey sandwich. You seem to prefer PB&J sandwiches.
*Overall, you are fed and still healthy. :) It is just hard to deal with a picky eater when you use to eat everything put in front of you! I refuse to be your short order cook, so you better get on board. :)

Discovering the wonder of nutella. YUM!

Sleeping:
*Due to swim lessons we have sort of transitioned to ONE nap. Boo! However, that one nap equals 2+ hours of peace and quiet for mommy. I am not sure if we will stay with this schedule. Still just playing it by ear.

*Nap time use to be filled with tears and drama. One day I decided to start reading her a book before her nap to help her wind down. Thus, began my nap time experiment. Over the past month we have had great success and no more tears!!

*Bedtime is promptly at 7:30. You never seem "tired," but when 715 rolls around we just say "let's go brush our teeth" and thus begins our evening night night ritual: butterbiscuit snack (thanks dad!), teeth brushed, jammies on, pick out a book, prayers and night night kisses.

Favorite toy(s)/book(s):
*Books: the list would be shorter if I told the books you did NOT like. HA! You are now an official bookworm. From the moment you wake up 'til your head hits the pillow you are constantly asking to be read to.

*You really like the books that teaches you about your world. (ie My Little World Book).

*You are into coloring and baby dolls, especially my old baby doll. I love watching you love that baby like I did!


Anecdotes/Quirky things you do:
*You run like a goose according to daddy.


*You are climbing all the furniture, or attempting to rather. Unfortunately for you, you are too short to really climb it.

*You "sing" to us all the time. It is so very cute. Your favorite song is "Don't Stop Believing" by Journey, but you like the Glee version the best. You are our little Gleek. Every time the song comes on itunes or in the car you immediately start bopping and clapping. At home you insist on getting out your mic and drums to play along. I have been trying desperately to get it on video, but I always miss it. :(

*You are very assertive now and want to be heard.

*You are so good for your daddy! You never hardly ever whine at him and you always play so contently when daddy is in charge. This really makes me crazy. Why do you whine at only me all the time?...I am the toughest strictest "meanest" parent. I know mommy is going to miss daddy when school starts back up!

*You know the difference between the trash and recycling and you put things in the proper receptacle. It just cracks me up every time. You are just so neat and tidy.

Temperament:
*You are still as sweet as ever, just a little more "bossy" and independent now. Discipline is definitely something you are starting to learn about, although it hasn't slowed you down yet.

We stopped in Lawrence on our way home to see Meg's new college campus.

STATS:
*I think you are around 18.5# and you GREW to 28/28.5 inches!

And that concludes another rousing edition of "Watch Me Grow."

P.P.S. I didn't do a great job of "keeping track" of everything you are doing this month, so I may add to it as I think of things. I know you all will be checking back for updates! HA!