Fourteen Months

It's been a busy few weeks around here.  

   I forgot to report in my last blog that I am completely weaned from breast milk.  I now get my liquids from whole milk (Mommy says please pray that I will like this more and drink more of it) and a water/juice combination.  Because I am not drinking enough milk, Mommy makes sure that I get yogurt and/or cheese most days to help out.  She also tries to sneak milk into all sorts of things to help me get more.  I dont use a bottle - I drink mostly from a sippy cup or from a regular cup with a straw.
   And, while we are talking about food/drink - you'll see pictures below of me eating NaiNai's egg-n-tomato and her green beans (these were two of Mommy's favorite dishes when she lived in China - and I really like them too).  I also really like Mommy's pulled bbq pork and chili too.  Mommy is amazed at the foods I will try and like. I can also now bite things off with my teeth (like  a strip of pear instead of just small pieces) although I often put the whole big thing in my mouth - and sometimes choke - so Mommy is helping me learn to take small bites.  
   I am very  much a toddler.  I am getting into everything and can find the smallest piece of lint/food/fuzz/dirt on the floor and get it to my mouth.  Since I last wrote I can also stand up on my own (before I needed something to pull up on) and walk backwards.  But, all this means that I fall down A LOT.  I've had tons of little falls and only a few BIG falls - one where I hit the coffee table and got a big goose egg on my forehead (this one scared Mommy a bit but because it popped out so quickly she knew I was ok).
  Last week, we went on an adventure.  Daddy needed to get some continuing education credits, so we (Nai Nai went with us too) loaded up the car and drove to Pennsylvania.  We drove the 12-hours in 2 days, about six hours a day - and I did really, really well in the car.  Nai Nai sat in the back seat with me and kept me entertained between naps with toys and snacks.  And, Mommy had some fun kid music on cd's so I really enjoyed that.
  While Daddy was in class, NaiNai & Mommy & I enjoyed the Lancaster area. We went on an Amish tour - I rode a horse-drawn buggy (but Mommy forgot to take pictures).  I had a blast at a petting zoo.  We drove to Hershey, PA and went on a chocolate tour.  AND - our hotel had an indoor pool which I thoroughly enjoyed - especially on the nights that Daddy finished class early and he was able to play in the pool with Mommy and I.

Fun pictures of these two week:

Mommy cannot remember what I am laughing at

  

  

  

 Loving this good food:

  

  

  

Trip to PA:

  

And a bit of video footage:

Thirteen And A Half Months

So much going on in my life these days.  Mommy is keeping us pretty busy.  

Most weeks, our schedule is: 
*Mondays - I catch up on my sleep from missing a nap on Sunday.  And, I always look forward to a visit from NaiNai - and some of her delicious Chinese food (I love her green beans and her tofu with pork, too).  
*Tuesday is Play Group day.  We either meet our friends at a nearby park or at someone's home.  Mommy enjoys getting to know the other mommies and asking them all sorts of parenting questions.
*Wednesday morning is the Beth Moore Bible Study for mom at church.  I go and play in the nursery.  I am enjoying the nursery and time with other kids more and more each week. 
*Thursdays (every other week) is MOPS (Mothers of Pre-Schoolers).  
*Fridays is another day to catch up on my naps.  And, I usually get to see NaiNai in the afternoon.

*On the weekends, I get to enjoy time with my Daddy - and I love it!  Sundays we go to Small Group and then church.  Then I usually fall asleep on the way home and only take one nap on those days.  Mommy says I'm a bit of a sour pickle in the late afternoon.

Some new things for me:   I can now drink through a straw - and I really like it (and Mommy says it makes life so much easier)!  Mommy found me some new crocs (well, some fake ones) and I love to wear them everywhere - and I love trying to eat them too - until Mommy catches me and takes them away!  I am getting into EVERYTHING!  Several cabinets in the kitchen now have rubber bands around the knobs to keep me out.  They did leave open the cabinet with the tupperware - and I LOVE to play in there. Mommy keeps finding lids all over the house.

Last weekend, Daddy and Mommy took me to the Brookfield Zoo.  I wasn't too sure what to think of all those animals - but it was neat to see these things I've been looking at in my books.  I liked the animals that were smaller than me more than the big ones.  It was a fun day and I look forward to going back soon.

Enjoy photos and videos of my last two weeks: 

 

my new shoes:

giving my friend, Kimi, a kiss :)

Mommy - I think this swing is too big for me 

 

Fun at the zoo:

 

Playgroup at a nearby park (my friend, Shelby, is pushing me in the swing):

 

Fun around the house and in the car:

 

And some videos:

Thirteen Months

  Time is flying by.  Mommy and Daddy cannot believe that I am 13 months old today.  I think that they are ready for time to slow down because I am growing up so fast.
  Over the last few weeks:
- I have graduated to the big kids tub.  I was skeptical at first and then really had fun with it.  But, the last few days I am not enjoying it.  Mommy thinks that it is because she will not let me stand up so I keep pitching a fit.  She hopes I will soon learn that she is just trying to protect me and keep me safe.
- We had a fun evening at a nearby water park with our church.
- Mommy and Daddy celebrated their 2-year wedding anniversary on August 28th - I am sure glad that they got together and then had me :)
- I've had several play dates with friends - and am slowly warming up to other people. 
- I am walking all over the house.  Mommy and Daddy are having to be more careful about keeping doors and cabinets closed.  
- I am talking up a storm.  If only my parents could understand what in the world I am saying!
- I still only have 5 teeth.  My parents are beginning to wonder where the rest of them are.
- Mommy is amazed at how quickly I am learning new things.  For example, she can say to me, "Caitlyn, please hand me the red car" and I will do just that.  

Daddy is putting some batteries in a few toys for me

When Mommy pulls out the camera these days,
I sometimes pitch a fit if she does not let me hold it

 Enjoying the big tub:

   

   

I love reading with Daddy at night:

Walking all over the house:

   

   

 Loving on my Pooh that I got for my birthday:

Having fun playing in the Bumbo seat:

   

 Looking at the back yard with Daddy:

Mommy loves me in this tennis outfit that a friend gave me for my birthday:

   

    

And some video footage too: