14 month update!

I had planned to stop doing monthly updates once Addie turned one.  But I have continued to keep notes on all her little changes, and I just missed recording it all in one concise place!  So while it may not happen every month, I do want to keep up a semi-formal documentation of her second year like I did the first.

Dear Addison,

What a fun stage we are in!  Being a toddler has been good to you so far!  I was definitely fighting your flight from babyhood, but I have since surrendered and now am really embracing this growing up thing.  You are becoming more and more your own super cool person.  In fact, I would actually want to hang out with you, even if you weren't my kid. :)

Here are all the fun changes you've been up to..

Language:
Since your real word debut at 10 months, you've steadily added words, though after 12 months at a faster pace.  Most are just one syllable still.  It's funny that you immediately learned the word "plane" when dad taught it to you only once, but still won't say some we've been working on a long time (like "nose" so you'll stop poking everyone in the eye while shouting EYE!).  I've counted about 25 words used consistently.  The cutest is definitely your nickname for Aslan: "Zi-zi" (derived from our nickname for him, Azzie).  You also are still using your go-to signs, usually VERY emphatically.

Mobility:
You are definitely very comfortable walking and never crawl anymore.  I miss your four-legged gallop but walking is a lot of fun to watch.  Especially because you still kinda look like Godzilla. You're still perfecting things like turns, spins, and even backing up, and are definitely clumsy - not paying attention to what's in front of you and tripping quite often.  We are amazed at how tough you are though.  Skull crack on the kitchen tile?  Forehead to the coffee table?  No biggie.  You did NOT inherit my (low) pain tolerance, that's for sure!

Eating:
It's hard to give a simple synopsis in this category.  It all depends on the day or even the meal.  Take last night for example - dad had to stop feeding you because he was afraid you'd throw up from the binge session.   Other meals you've literally been in the chair for 1 minute, taken one bite and start very forcefully signing ALL DONE!!  ALL DONE!!  ALLLLL DOOOOOOOONNNEEE!!  Mealtimes are a balance of getting food in you and keeping you entertained enough to not realize you're eating, which means we almost always read books, organize plastic silverware, and take lids on/off containers as I shovel as fast as I can while you're distracted.  Just this week, you've started using your spoon/fork correctly!!  You are soo proud of yourself when a spoonful of food makes it into your mouth (and I have to let go of the "let's not get messy this meal" mentality).

Sleep:
All good to report here.  Rarely you'll wake at night, and usually we know the cause (this last time was due to your 2nd molar arriving the next morning).  I discovered that if I give you a bottle of milk very early in the morning (between 5 and 6am), you will go back to sleep until 8:00 or even 8:30.  Who knows if the "sleep experts" would say this is a good thing or bad thing, but I'm rolling with it, especially since the later wake-up time really helps with making it happily to your afternoon nap.  With bedtime so early, you're going nearly 12 hours without eating, so I'm not worried about that little predawn snack.  It also seems to help you eat a bit more solid breakfast, because more time has elapsed since the milk.  Since going down to just one nap a day in the afternoon, you seem to really enjoy naptime, too, which usually is 2-3 hours.  

Personality and preferences:
I say it every month, but you truly are so pleasant, energetic, and fun to be around.  The best example of that was our 9 hour drive to Florida - you slept a total of 15 minutes the entire way, which I thought would certainly lead to breakdown central (not talking about the car).  Instead you were content the entire way to play, talk, and read books.  Lots of books.  You love to read, and Book! Book! is your favorite sign - if you see a book we can't pass it without reading at least a few pages.  Being outside multiple times a day is a must.  You're becoming a pro multi-tasker, and usually try to carry as much in both hands as possible while walking around.

Organizing is another top priority for you, and it's been so awesome to watch you go from chief mess-maker to actually wanting to put things back in ORDER! (top back on the yogurt, food pieces back in the bowl, tupperware back in the cabinet)  You are doing a great job listening and obeying, though of course still like to test the limits.  You are quite sensitive when told no or disciplined (definitely more sad than mad at this point), but almost always run in for a hug afterward, which absolutely melts my heart.  This was right after I told you not to touch something.  Our very own Les Miserables poster:

As for opinions, you've got 'em.  If you point to something, you want THAT thing.  And you see and remember where I hide it if THAT thing happens to be the iPad, or some other enticing hands-off object.  You will physically push me in the direction of the thing you want, or bring it to me if it's something you can reach.

Other fun stuff this month:
Seeing you listen intently for planes, then shouting PLANE! (more like PAY! PAY! but we get the idea).  Being called mama, yaay!!! A fantastic travel experience (both in the car and sleeping well once we were there) and the fun you have on the beach, like daddy. How much you enjoy your extended family members. How excited you get about things like Aslan and baths.  The way you generously give big hugs and kisses.

 

 

You also acquired a really funny skill of snapping!!  You actually snap better than I do!

We love you so much!!