20 months

My baby girl is 20 months. What?! I said I would stop after 18 months, I mean that's the logical place to stop in months. I do normally say 1.5 now if asked by strangers though. But for my reference, I still think in months. I have no idea how much she weighs or how tall she is. She looks to me like she's grown in the last month but I don't know if she has or not. She was 18 lbs 4oz at 19 months. She's had a stomach bug or 1.5 weeks now. She seems better, then is sick again, is better for a few days, is sick again. I seriously thought we were done, she was perfectly normal for 2 days. Ugh!

She's in size 3 diapers & 18m clothes. 12m pjs are too tight but 18m pjs swallow her. She's been wearing 18m clothes for a while now but they're big on her. I have to put the stretchy pants on her because they're smaller than jeans which fall off of her. We're finally getting better weather so I just switched out her winter for summer clothes. I'm sure Tennessee will be hit with snow or freezing temps again & I'll be pulling winter clothes out of the box. Oh well, so be it. 

It's so hard not to judge your kid by another. Oh, that 1 yr old is doing that already? So-so is doing that, she's younger than Katie, why is Katie not doing that? Is my kid slow? Is something wrong? I know I shouldn't but I constantly compare Katie to other kids around her age or younger. Some 20 months old are putting words together & communicate what they want. Um, not my 20 month old. I can't stand kids who only point & groan their wants and guess what, I have a pointer & groaner. I TRY & TRY to get her to speak her wants/needs. Nope! "Say drink", "Say grape", "Say Please". She immediately cries when I ask her to speak her desires. Immediately cries. What is wrong with her, why won't she SPEAK?! She does say words, she's not mute, but she's perfectly happy pointing. She's not dumb either, she understands me & can usually do what I ask. Today she brought me her shoes because she wanted to play on the grass. She says Thank you like a champ & mumbles "have a good day" after her clear BYE! Mommy always says "bye, have a good day". She use to say good girl thanks to grandma. I told her good job for months, MONTHS!, gma tells her good girl & she repeats it no problem. GRRR! She hasn't said good girl since gma left in January though but I don't usually tell her good girl, I still use good job. Anyways. At bath time we work on colors, we are always working on body parts which those she tends to pick up easy. She can point out eyes, ears, nose, tongue, teeth, hands, feet, belly, & the newest ones she knows are fingers, toes, arm, & legs. I'm sure some other 18m knows just as many or more. She was helping me do little things around the house but gave that up. No more helping mommy put away dishes for her, she has a basket to push around. She LOVES oranges & grapes. I'm told I shouldn't give those to her, they're acidy. My kid loves them, she will get in the fridge & pull an orange out every time we're in there for something else. My kid LOVES oranges! Might be she likes being a big girl too. She now can drink like a big girl aka no sippy cup needed. She still gets one because last thing I want is to be doing is cleaning up blood from her slipping in spilled water. She gets to drink like a big girl when someone is there to watch & actually she knows which cups have lids & wants the lid on it. I've taken the lids off her sippy & she'll ask for the lid (or put her hand out for it, no words). She still loves bathes though hates having her hair washed. I buy the color tabs for her bath, more for my fun. I like colored water for her. :) It's weird to me for her to be walking around stores with us or walking to the car hand in hand. She's a big girl, a tiny big girl, with a great big gap-toothed smile. She is such a happy kid. I love when she hugs me & kisses me. I love her blown kisses & her kiss sound. It's so cute to hear a little kid make the smack sound, too funny. I love when she grabs my face in love & snuggles. Knowing she wants to give me love. Not asked for love, but real "I love you mommy" moments. Makes me know that I'm doing something right. I lose my temper, I lose my patience, I get mad, & I think I'm the worst parent in the world. But the fact she gives me affection shows me she knows she's loved & loves me back.

Toddler bed, oh no. We're not to the toddler bed stage yet which does seem weird knowing her age but we're just not there yet. She's not once tried to climb out of the crib & it's not even on the lowest setting yet. She will sit in bed til someone gets her. I don't look forward to toddler bed freedom. A friend is doing that fun stuff now & oh it makes me dread the day we move her to a toddler bed. Which I do plan to do around her birthday. A 2 yr old should be in a toddler bed right? Yes, they should. :)

Well, I guess that's it. I'm sure I left out SO much but oh well, so be it.  

18 Month Check

Yesterday Katie had her 18 month check, with a new doctor. Well, she's a nurse practitioner, but I heard good things about her before we went. All good reviews for her which was good. So, she comes in and a whirlwind of info & instruction and it was overwhelming. So overwhelming! First off, Katie, my big girl is

18 lbs 2oz & 30 inches long

Yup, still tiny & still under 20 lbs. *Sigh*. I love my petite girl but I have worried about her small size & slow gain. Well, so is this NP. That upset me a lot. It upset me that there is really an issue & it's like she's saying my daughter isn't perfect. She is perfect just how she is. Ugh. So I understand but at the same time it's upsetting. Katie will be needing weekly checks to make sure she starts gaining. I'm not so happy about that. I know Katie has always been a slow gainer, always, & it hasn't stopped her from doing anything. She's just smaller but still has loads of personality.

Ms. Haynie is finally addressing the issue I've been asking for help on or 14 months. Katie's constipation issue. Yes, 14 months of dealing with this & only getting. "give her prunes, give her apple juice, give her blah." when I sit there & tell them nothing changes or she doesn't like those things. So, there is a plan of action & that action starts with a 3 day liquid diet. Do you realize how hard it is to try & make sure my kid is getting enough nutrition on only liquids? No milk included. It's juice, broth, water, & yogurt. Some noodles are ok but not many. She's suppose to gain weight but can't eat anything. Ok, I know the liquid thing is for constipation. She needs to start going like a normal baby. She's on metamucil too, twice a day until she's normal. I hope it works, I really hope so. We go back in a week for an update & weight check. I just hope she realizes she'll probably lose weight being off food for 3 days. Well, that's the update.

18 Months

Our Precious Angel is 18 months old. Where the heck did the time go?!?! Seriously?! I'm finally seeing her as a toddler & not my little baby. She's FINALLY walking! I know some babies start at 9, 10, 12 months. All I kept hearing from my MIL is how all her kids started a week after turning one. Katie's cousin (2 months younger) started at 9.5-10 months. Well, our angel didn't start until 17.5 & I guess so be it. I don't know any kid that took so long to walk. Well, she's been taking steps for a few months. I have video at Thanksgiving time of her taking steps from person A to person B but mid January is when she for the first time stood up by herself, then stood up & walked by herself. She's still so petite. Our scale still says 18 lbs middle of the day & fully dressed so I'm insanely worried about her weight. She sometimes doesn't eat a lot, also worrying me greatly. But what can I do? Keep trying to get her to eat so she gains & grows. Keep encouraging her to learn new things & be independent. She's very smart & stubborn. She's very happy & proud of herself. She's in size 12m still, 18m are huge on her. She's in size 3 diapers still with plenty of room. She truly is my petite princess!!! She needs to grow if I'm going to get use out of all the 18m winter clothes I got. It truly is cold here. Oh, we moved to Tennessee (Fort Campbell) December 30th & it's been COLD!!! Holy heck. Today, my birthday, I took Katie outside to play in the snow. Not too big of a fan but she loved swinging. Our new house came with a play set in the backyard & she loves swinging. We don't have a baby swing, it's a big girl swing. I told my husband we need to get a baby swing (before I put her on there) but I guess we don't. She didn't want to come in today even though it was freezing outside. :) My cold weather girl, she's always loved colder weather. :) Back to the baby/toddler stuff. She's smart (or so I think). She knows eye, nose, tongue (use to be teeth but she thinks tongue is funnier), ears, hands, belly, & feet. We work on new parts often. She's curious so why not teach her what is what. I kept working on colors with her & I'm sure one day she'll just pop off with a color. She's not a big talker, though she jabbers all the time. She does usually know what I'm wanting her to do when I tell her. Miss proud, she loves when she does something and I tell her "you did it". She repeats "I DID IT!". She loves brushing her teeth & hair. Her hair is so baby fine that it's hard to put up in a ponytail. It's frustrating for me because it's long & gets in her face. She LOVES LOVES LOVES baths. If she hears the tub water turned on she gets there as fast as can be. Usually crawling like crazy but she's recently started fast walking (not to bathroom but in general) so I foresee running to the tub soon.  Well, not sure what I'm forgetting but I'm sure it's a lot. Our little girl is growing up!!! :(

Merry Christmas!

Reading with brother in her new purple room.

Jan 30th, 2014

I'm 18 Months!!

Jan 30th, 2014

Snowy Girl

Feb 8th, 2014

16 Months

My, how the month has flown! Our little girl has thrived. I don't know weight because our scale is stupid. We bought the same one we had before but apparently it doesn't weigh like the other one. It still shows just over 16 lbs like it did at 15 months when at the doctor she was 16lbs 10oz. She's maybe 17lbs? I don't know.

Walking, ah walking. Finally! She can take steps & catch her balance. Bribing gets the most steps/work/effort. She has recently started taking the incentive to walk on her own. Taking off from the couch or table but it's only been a few times & usually she falls quickly. I've been making her walk holding my hand, like a big girl. She does pretty good. She's becoming a better & better eater & starting to eat more meats. I still give her a bottle at night, before bed, & I don't know if I'm suppose too but oh well, my choice. She's saying more words but not as much as some kids her age. Oh well I guess. She LOVES to tell people bye & wave but only when she wants too. She knows when people are getting ready to leave & will say bye like a maniac. We've had a few instances where she wanted to go too & got upset. :( My poor baby! I'm not sure when we'll move her to a toddler bed but maybe around 18 months? That's lik 6 weeks away though &.... doesn't seem likely. Haha. She needs to walk first, that's our big milestone I want to get too. I will order the necessary parts though once we get to Ft. Campbell. Yup, in 5 short days we're leaving Ft. Huachuca & heading to Fort Campbell, Kentucky but we plan to live in Tennessee. I am very sad, I like it here & it's close to family. Katie has a boyfriend & they've finally started playing. :( Not fair, it's not fair!

What is she wearing. Still wearing 12m clothes but I'm sure smaller 18m ones might fit. She wears some 18m pjs. Some 12m pants are getting short but darn it, my skinny minnie's waist barely fits in 12m. 18m pants will fall right off her. I use pamper swaddlers, they're thin, so no help there. BOO! :) Diapers, she's in size 3 & will be for quite a while. She does have lots of cute 18m clothes so can't wait to use those. It's going to be cold in Tn so I'll probably be breaking into them soon. :) Shoes, still size 2. We have 3s ready if her feet ever decide to grow. :) Teeth, number 11 finally broke through a short time ago. Seems like she's teething but haven't felt any new bumps or teeth. Time will tell. :)

Well, I guess that's about all. Nothing too exciting. Still small, still a ball of energy, & oh so happy! :)

November 29, 2013

At Reid Park Zoo in Tucson, Az

15 Months

Say it isn't so, my precious baby isn't 15 months old already!!! I can't believe it. She's growing & thriving every day. I can't help but think/know she's behind on things. She has a friend/boyfriend who is about 6 months older than her & I think back to when we first got to meet him in April. The comparison is unbelievable. He was walking, saying words, sleeping in a toddler bed, He was in all words a normal toddler. Don't know if that's normal for that age but he was a toddler. Katie...I still see as a baby but I do know she's a baby. She's not walking, she'll babble your ear off but most words are just that, babble. She in no way compares to that crazy 15 month old we met months ago. You shouldn't compare your kid to any other right? Every kid is different. Yeah, yeah, but it's hard.


So, what is my baby girl doing? She isn't standing alone or walking but we work on it every day. She has stood unassisted & she, on Halloween, stood alone by herself. Well, she let go of her support & balanced. I was so proud! She thinks it's fun to walk holding hands & she loves the praise she gets. I do think her small feet have something to do with the delayed standing/walking. She's only in a size 2 baby which I think is 6 months or 6-9 months. She babbles ALL THE TIME! She'll have conversations on her phone which apparently are hilarious. Her imagination is strong. Or I like to think so. She's a climber, oh heaven she's a climber. If she can climb on anything she will try. I've caught her on top of an ice chest that was next to the counter where her snacks were. I've caught her on the computer chair playing with the computer. She's fast too, she'll get up on something in seconds. She loves her toddler slide. She'll get up the plastic rock wall & slide down the slide on her belly. She's fallen but she's a very rough & tumble baby. I'm not over protective & freak out when she falls or bumps her head. Some would call it being a bad parent but honestly my kid isn't going to be a wimp who cries over every little bump. I want her to know it's ok to fall, I don't want her to be scared of getting hurt. Aware of it yes but not so afraid she won't try new things. She's a good eater & will eat everything we do normally. You're suppose to cut everything in little pieces for toddler but if you do for her she won't eat it. Big pieces or taking bites like mommy is how she likes it. She loves food & baths!! Oh so loves baths. She loves reading also. To herself or being read too. She is a very happy go lucky baby. I tried for months to work on sign language & she wouldn't do it. Funny enough, she's started using some now. I guess she's stubborn, no she is stubborn, & she'll only do things on her terms when she's ready. Like walking!!! I don't know how many words she knows because she babbles so much. I think she takes in the words I say but doesn't say them. I'm constantly telling her what things are. It'll be like sign language, she'll one day just start saying the words I've been trying to teach her.

Wearing: 12m clothes, size 2 shoes(with room), & size 3 diapers. She could get away with size 2 diapers still, the waist is the same for 2 & 3 swaddlers, but I like the little extra crotch room.

How big is my 15 month old? My petite little lady?

16 lbs 10 oz & 28.75 inches

She was almost 29 inches but he wouldn't give it to her. He rounded up for her head but not length. Oh well. I was so happy & relieved she gained a big (to me) amount. 1 lb 11oz is HUGE for her in 2.5 months. The doctor wants her to gain more but ey, I'm happy with her size. I know she's a great eater so I'm not worried. She's healthy, happy, & energetic.

Little Family Farm, Oct 19, 2013

My Minnie Mouse, Oct 27th, 2013

On Halloween, 15 Months Old

14 Months

Hello! Just a little update as not much has changed in 2 weeks. Still 12m clothes, still size 2 diapers, & still no walker, though she is climbing a lot more. She loves to climb on her little tikes slide. Silly Girl!
Stats: 16.2 lbs & 28.25 inches long. Not doctor official but home official. :) Woo hoo, she's 16 lbs!

Hershey isn't too happy but Katie is. Happy Autumn!

13.5 months

Shello everyone. I'm updating just to update & because I can't sleep. Little miss is in 12 month clothes & still size 2 diapers, they fit just fine. I'll probably keep her in them for a while longer since they go to 18 lbs. Size 3 doesn't start til 16 & honestly she probably won't be 16 lbs for another 2 months. We do use size 3 snug & dry at nights because she needs more absorption & huggies are smaller than pampers. I get frustrated by size 12m clothes because of the great variance. Some 12m are getting small which other are still quite big on her. Doesn't help she's so skinny. Lots of 12m pants are too big in the waist but 9m pants/shorts are too short. Oh well, I love my petite princess.

We still don't have a walker but that's good. She's quick enough on her hands & knees. She used her walking helper/toy yesterday by herself. It's been a battle trying to get her to use it but she did a little yesterday, then while I was messing with my phone I saw her use it walk towards her couch. YAY! I was quite happy! She's climbing now. We got her a little tikes slide but one that has a "rock" wall you climb up first & she's climbed that once. Now she nows how to get up on the couch which scares me crazy. Daddy lets her play with the remote & his phone so now she gets up there to get mommy's. If mommy puts it on the back of the couch she stands up on the couch to get them. She smiles real big too because she knows mommy says No & means No. Little miss has BIG attitude like her mommy. She will give you the serious look & she's quite an animated jabber. She gets her arms going & expressions going. It's so funny & I love it. It's going to be fun when she's actually talking. She says mama, dada, hi, & a few other things. She likes to wave & say hi. She's use to dada coming home from work so anytime someone walks in you hear "hi dada, hi", even when I walk back into the house. Daddy's girl much? Much too much! She loves to be read to & will hand me books now(I keep a few on the end table next to where I always sit). She's a really good eater when she wants to be, variety & amount. Still not so keen on meats but loves to eat what mommy & daddy are eating. We have breakfast together every morning & she'll share with mommy. She tends to tease everyone else but she'll share with me. She's also a good kisser. For the longest time she'd kiss everyone else but not mommy. Now she'll kiss me all the time & not so much daddy. All I have to do is make the lips & she'll kiss me and sometimes she'll insist on being kissed. My lovey baby. :) Katie is pretty much a happy go lucky baby or toddler which is really nice. Her happiness rubs off on you. I'm sure most babies are like that, it's just nice she is too. Being a mom is the best thing in the world & I still can't believe she came from me. It still awes me that I was pregnant & I was given that amazing gift, to know & feel my baby growing inside of me. Katelyn, you are so loved!