15 months

I honestly cannot believe that Amelia is 15 months old. It's just so, IDK... OLD. She's a real kid. Well, a toddler. But still. She's a tiny person with her very own likes, dislikes, desires, and dreams. And those dreams are big, I can already tell.

She does so much fun stuff these days and is honest to goodness fun to be around. I mean, I like hanging out with her. For serious! She's my little pal.

Some of the cool stuff she does:

• Signs: more, please, all done, thank you, eat, banana, claps, points to get down, etc.
• Talks: Mama, Dada, snack, cheese, teeth, hot, etc. (Lots of other chit-chatting going on as well but your guess is as good as mine)
  
• Points: to her nose, mouth, teeth, eyes, ears, toes, belly button, and then those spots on others (she is obsessed with noses for some reason--so watch out!)
  
• Nods her head (it's adorb-to-the-max)
• Sleeps: 7-7 (give or take) and we're in the midst of transitioning to one nap (1-3pm)
• Accessorizes: This is has been going on for months, but the girl likes her accessories and will make anything a purse, bracelet, or necklace
• Eats: Since we just finished our nursing routine when she turned 15 months (TEAR), she's been drinking more milk (we're trying to transition to raw) and eating more foods. She's still what I would call a light eater, but she eats and she eats a variety. Her favorites: banana (holding the whole dang thing herself), smoothies, cheese, edamame, yogurt, blueberries, strawberries, grapes, popsicles (although she gets brain freeze and cries), frozen veggies (green beans are her fave), fresh corn, avocado (she will eat a half at lunch), oatmeal, cheerios, and couscous. I'm starting to research new recipes for her to try as she seems to get "sick" of having the same things over and over.
• Animal sounds: To Millie, most animals say, "ooo, oooh." But lions and bears growl. And birds do a higher pitched "oooh, oooh."
  
• Outside: The girl loves being outside. A lot. As soon as she wakes up in the morning (or from her nap), she finds her shoes (pink crocs are her favorite ones at the moment) and brings them to me (while loudly doing her grunt thing "EHH! EHH!"). And then she brings me my own shoes. (Thank God summer is finally here!) When I ask if she wants to go to the park, she nods her head emphatically and runs to the door. She loves to watch the kids at the park and get in the mix. She's even started going down the slide all by herself--HEAD FIRST. She likes adventuring, that's for sure. She tears around the park yelling her head off. Sometimes she falls down. But she rarely cries. She's a tough cookie, my Bunny McGee.
• Kissing: The girl is a serious kissing fanatic. I LOVE IT. The kisses are closed-mouth (thankfully) and smack-dab on the lips. And her hugs! Her hugs are as tight as tight can be.
  
• Friends: She's got a few mini bests and gets extremely excited when she sees them. She points and smiles and likes to get right up in their faces (personal space much?) And then she does this crouch head-tilt thing. It's the cutest. I love that she loves to be with people. It makes play dates and the gym daycare even more enjoyable for both of us.
• Toys: Balls are becoming a big hit around here. As is any type of pull-toy. If it has a string/cord/whathaveyou, she'll be pulling it behind her. She spent a lot of time pushing Lola's baby doll around in a stroller, so I'm thinking she might need one of her own.
  
• Books: She is really getting into books lately (woohoo!) and loves to be read to. She'll grab some books from the bin and then back into your lap. Darlingness. Speaking of, she loves to walk backwards. Also, the sidestep. Guess she needed a challenge? Who knows.
• Other stuff she loves: playing with daddy, riding the elevator and pressing the alarm button, talking on the phone, smelling flowers (real or just images), pointing at birds, planes, and other sky noises, taking pictures with her toy camera (while saying "chheeeeeeese"), bubbles, coloring (slash eating crayons), singing, dancing, patting backs, exploring, playing with tea bags, opening and closing containers, guzzling water, carrying around her snack trap, being chased, jumping on the couch, reading books in her crib, slapping her crib, being naked, doing the itsy-bitsy-spider (and even some of the hand motions) and oh so much more.
• Fits: Lest you think we live in some perfect toddler bubble, we don't. The fits, they've begun. I usually just let her get it out of her system and move on. It's mostly frustrating because I don't always know what she wants/needs. And sometimes even when I do, I don't just want to give in...and this is just the beginning. Oh, and there is a LOT of crying when something is taken away. AlotAlot. It isn't pretty. BUT! It's normal. So we got that going fo us. WHEW!
  

She is such a trip. I can't imagine my life without her. She makes me laugh every single day. I am so very thankful for my sweet, charming, silly, affectionate, head-strong 15 month old buddy.

14er

14 months is a fun amount of months. There's running, there's laughing, there's sleeping (still through the night), there's napping (still two), there's eating off our plates (when she feels like it), there's feeding herself with spoons/forks, there's sign language (she's added "please" and thank you" to her repertoire), there are a couple of new words (most notably "nack" for snack), there's clapping, there's funny-face-making, there's lots of hugs and kisses, there's head-shaking and nodding, there's accessorizing, there's snuggling, there's swinging, there's sliding, there's reading, there's pointing, there's playing chase, there's pretending, there's dancing, there's snack-eating, there's identifying body parts (on herself and us), there's taking things out (of drawers, cabinets, bins) and putting things away (and shockingly usually where they belong), there's helping me get her dressed and undressed, there's picking of outfits, there's phone talking, there's lots of interesting (gibberish-filled) conversations, there's silly-goofing, there's back-patting, there's leg-hugging, there's delight, there's helping daddy with projects, there's outings with friends, there's baths, there's getting down off the couch by herself, there's stair-climbing, there's taking the time to smell the flowers. And above all, there's lots and lots of love.


There's also fit-throwing (especially when something is taken away), mouth pulling (more teeth are on the horizon), face "hitting," limit-testing, food-throwing, screeching during diaper changes, object-banging, yelling, paper-tearing, toy-stealing, technological-obsessing, among other non-desirables.


But, holy wow, I love her so.

13 monthers

Dear Little,

You are now 13 months old (and some change). You are a walking pro. In fact, you almost run. You certainly still fall down, but you usually get right back up all by yourself. You love accessories. Really, really love a lot. Necklaces, bracelets, headbands, purses, etc. You even use other clothes as makeshift necklaces and headbands. You carry objects around the house and put them in random places. You open and close drawers and cabinets, inspecting them and removing whatever you believe doesn't belong. Nothing is safe from your little hands anymore. Especially things on the edge of tables. Your reach up on your tippy-toes to grab and investigate. You are a very busy and curious girl.

The other day I took you to the story time at our local library. Instead of sitting on my lap and listening to the stories and songs like the other children, you bopped around the room doing your own thing. Often you'd carry a book to another family and plop down next to them, insisting they read to you. Other times you'd put your hand on someone's shoulder and peek around and stare into their eyes. Or sit way too close. Like on their leg. Apparently you are not shy.

You'll wave hello and goodbye when I ask and I love it. People love it too. You also blow kisses and give sweet kisses on the lips as well. No more big sloppy, open-mouthed kisses. You are a lady--a tight-lipped little lady. You give great hugs too. Tight ones. And you like to pat our backs as we hold you. When we get up from naps or in the morning you hug us close and rest your head on our shoulders. I'm pretty sure this is why daddy leaves for work later than ever before. He likes to get you in the morning. (I don't blame him.)

Eating is still our biggest "issue" with you. You are one particular little person. One days favorite food is the most despised the next. Some stuff you will usually eat no problem include: yogurt with preserves, frozen veggies, avocado, banana, clementines, raisins (especially yogurt covered ones), smoothie, mini whole wheat waffles, edamame, scrambled eggs, and some others. You used to LOVE oatmeal and banana and eat it without fail every morning but lately you are SO over that. That must only be for babies and you're a big girl now. TEAR. Just kidding. I love that you are growing up but I kinda hate it too. You're still nursing four times a day but I'm hoping to start to wean you off a few of those. I'm torn. I love that special time with you, but I'd also like some time to "myself" before we even consider giving you a brother or sister. What a great big sissy you'll be. (You have recently started carrying around your baby doll that Bebe got you and go and get her when I ask where your baby is.)

One of our closest friends just had a precious baby boy the other day and I held him last night and almost cried. I can't believe that you were ever that tiny. And you were! And now. Well, now you're walking and talking and feeding yourself (if you want to), and have SO much personality it most definitely could not be contained in a teeny weeny baby body. Don't get me wrong, you're still pretty teeny for a person. But there is just so much going on inside your head and inside your body and I adore watching you figure things out. You're smart. Very smart.

Oh! And you love to dance. I mean, LOVE to dance. You even dance to the blender. Seriously. You wave your hands in the air and shake your booty and even started this new feet shuffle move. I die of cuteness. You also do this sing/hum thing whenever I start to sing and sometimes out of nowhere. Please don't ever stop singing and dancing.

You still mostly say dada and mama but also started saying hot which sounds like "haaaa?" It's always a question. (IDK.) You also say OH! And UH! (For uh-oh.) You say "nigh nigh" and wave goodnight to daddy. You point and say what I take to be "this?" As if you're asking what (everything) is...I happily oblige. You shake your head vigorously when you don't want something or when I tell you no. You sign milk, eat, night

You carry around your sippy cups (one of milk, which thankfully you like, and one of water) in one hand. Double-fisting in your own special way. You love to be chased and still love peek-a-boo. You are very good at playing independently for the most part. Unless I'm on the computer. You hate when I'm on the computer and whine at my feet until I pick you up so that you can pound on the keys.

Speaking of whining...you're a whiner, I'm sorry to admit. You whine when you don't get your way or when I take something away from you. Especially my phone. You are obsessed with my phone and walk around the house just chatting away. You love to get into the recycling. And the tupperware drawer still. You bang things together in your one-lady-band. You love to push buttons in elevators and still love pushing buttons on remotes. If we let you, you turn up the music unbearably loud and cry because it is too loud. Or you'll just flip through each radio station at lightening fast speed. Apparently those are your favorite buttons to push.

You like to help daddy work on projects. You want to be where the action is. IN the action. You're starting to help me get you dressed or undressed and even strapped into the car seat. So thanks for that.

You're a good errand runner and don't mind riding with me in the car as long as you've got your drinks and snacks. You love snacks. You also love to shake your snack trap like it's a tambourine and inevitably toss snacks all around the car. So, yeah. That's awesome.

You're my most favorite little buddy there ever was.

Love,
Mama

twelve equals one

Twelve whole months old.

This was quite an exciting month for the bean. She spent most of it a foreign country and hanging in Caribbean. Lucky little.

She started communicating (mostly via sign language), traveled by bus (and plane and van and cab), started solo standing, swam in the sea, played in the sand, ate sand, ate fresh fruit, was loved, wore flip flops (hated it), wore nothing, made friends, went to bars, slept on the beach, saw monkeys, danced (a lot), sang (slash hummed), nursed in the sea (and on the beach and in bars, airplanes, buses, cars, and every other place you can imagine), played cards, cried, chewed on dominoes, took morning walks to the beach, chilled in hammocks, helped daddy work, floated, explored, experienced life and lived.




















Happy month Amelia Lee. I hope you had as much fun adventuring as we did.

The First Year

Amelia's First Year from Annie Nihls on Vimeo.

Dearest Amelia,

I am infinitely proud to be your mama.

Mountains of love and kisses forever and for always and more.

One.

Happiest of first birthday wishes to our darling Amelia Lee.

{Full update on all of her adventures to come...}

11 months old

Today Amelia is 11 months old. Weepy slash joyful mama over here.

This past month was pretty major:
*She rang in a brand new year for the very first time (albeit fast asleep)


*She started feeding herself with a spoon
*She now pats US on the back
*She started standing unassisted (not pictured...)


*She got her 8th tooth


*She mastered pushing things around the house and walking behind them {like her push cart, trash cans, baskets, sewing machine case, boxes, etc.}


*She started to actually sort shapes with the shape sorter


*She developed an interesting obsession with her socks
*She waves (especially when anyone puts on a coat)


*She consistently put herself to sleep at night (sometimes after playing in the crib for a WHILE)
*She started sleeping 7-7 (yip!)


*She had her first tubby date with a boy


*She got her first passport


*She developed her first crush on an older boy (and a DIFFERENT one from the tub date--she's keeping her options open)


*She took her first steps (!) (not yet captured on film)


*She started really playing with her friends


*She had her first snow day (Blizzard of 2011)


*She said her own version of Jack (the puppy I sleep with WHAT OF IT) in a sweet little whisper. DAH-DAH is still going strong and MUMMA when she's upset (along with plenty of other indecipherables).

She is wild and wonderful and hilarious and mischievous and brave and stubborn and silly and serious and curious and crazy and quite definitely has a mind of her own. And we love that little mind (and that little body) to infinity and back again.