Baby A climbed her way into May. She started climbing up onto our couch and walking back and forth while holding on to the back of it and looking out the window. I was surprised to watch her turn around and carefully get off of it. She climbed up onto her tiny swing/slide in the back yard, and stood at the top of the platform and started shaking the swing back and forth. She liked the sound it made and also seeing it move. I can't help but hover, but do my best to let her figure out what to do and how to get herself back down. I was very surprised that she seemed to know to sit down and inch forward instead of blindly step off the mini-cliff. Then, the very next day, I came home and found her with Daddy in the same situation. Intending to just film her on the top acting like a little monkey, I actually captured her very first time down the slide all by herself!
She also started to try climbing into the bathtub. Usually in the bathroom while I get ready, she likes to stand and reach for her toys that are in a basket. Slowly, she raised her right leg, while looking at me. While I am not opposed to the word 'no' it certainly loses its effectiveness when used all the time. Instead, I followed what they do at daycare, and gave her a directive to keep her feet on the ground.
My birthday was the first Monday in May and when I went to visit her at daycare, they told me she would be moving up to the next room "soon." Little did I know it would be the very next day! While this milestone was a bit difficult for me to swallow because it is one more sign she's no longer an infant, she took it all in stride. The very next day, she spent the morning with the "big" kids (1-2 year olds) and did so well, that she was in there with them for half the day the rest of the week! They spend quite a bit of time outside, and she absolutely loves that. When I visited her the next day, her pants and even her shoes were dirty from crawling all around the play yard. They are on a bit more of a schedule in there, which they are starting to prepare her for by having outside play time when she usually takes her morning nap, so that she naps later and longer. But, if she still falls asleep around 10am, into her crib she goes. She is also still goes back over to the infant room after 12pm.
She gets dropped off just before 8am and picked up just after 3pm. I love the fact that she will just have a little over 4 waking hours at daycare before Daddy is there to get her, because their nap-time is from 12:30-3:00 pm. Also, they do art every day, which I love! She already "made" me several things her first week, for Mother's Day. I treasure them like I never could have imagined, and already picture them amassed in boxes in the garage because I'll never be able to throw even one of them out.
At the beginning of the month, I stocked up on baby food, not realizing that she would be off and
By the second week of May, she was routinely going down the slide in our backyard all by herself, with less hesitation. She also started standing briefly, yet steadily, with no support and walking while holding on to Daddy's hand. Right now, it seems like she is learning something new every day. She will point to things that she wants, such as her cup or a trip outside, and understands a lot of what we say.
May 12th was my best visit to daycare by far. I visited her in the morning, just after 10am, when she was playing outside. As I entered the gates, I found her in the sandbox with her buddy. At times, she would crawl off and play, only looking back briefly to see if I was still there. While I managed to steal some kisses and cuddles, she was a lot more interested in playing with the other kids than she was in visiting with me. This made me so very happy! She's spreading her spreading her little wings.
I feel like we have the best of both worlds with her sleeping routine. I put her down in her crib once she falls asleep, and I go into our bed. When she wakes up for a feeding (usually around 3am), I pluck her out of her crib and snuggle with her in the guest room. I usually fall back asleep before she finishes her bottle.
Around the middle of the month, she started snuggling like she used to when she was an infant, laying on top of me, instead of in the crook of my arm. I didn't know what she was doing when she put her leg on top of me, and feared she was trying to climb over me. But she snuggled down once her legs were on either side of my hips and it was the best feeling in the world! One morning toward the end of the month when her tummy was hurting because of the switch to cow's milk, she "pushed" me over while we were both sitting on the bed so that she could snuggle down on top of me.
We had her first birthday party on May 21st and of course that warrants a separate posting, here. She was amazing, as always, and genuinely seemed to have a good time. I love all of the 1,000+ pictures that my photographer took, but the one below is one of my favorites. When I ask her for a kiss, she opens her mouth wide, and leans in. This is how she kisses Daddy, her dog, and her baby. It is so sweet to me and when she learns to pucker up, I know I will miss this.
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| *MUAH* |
On the last weekend of the month, we went to Pretend City and also the zoo. She had a blast at both and would walk around, using my finger for support. She would have a certain direction she wanted to head in and if I tried to go a different way, she would not. So I followed her lead. At Pretend City, she navigated by getting into one of the Little Tikes cars, and having me push her around. Then, when she saw something interesting, like baby chickens, she would open the door and go explore, returning to the car to be pushed again.
She also attended her first live theater performance and I was, and still am, shocked by how enthralled she was. The school performance of The Little Mermaid held her attention for a full 90 minutes! A budding thespian!
On the last day of the month, my husband and I were sitting on the couch and she was going back and forth for tickles and cuddles. I moved so that we were farther apart, on opposite ends. She would walk to me, holding on to the back of the couch for support and fall toward me. I tickled her and she would laugh and laugh. Then, she would go over to Daddy, who would do the same and again, she would erupt with belly laughs. This went on for at least 20 times and was so much fun. There is nothing in the world that makes me as happy as seeing her happy.
Milestones:
- FIRST STEPS 5/18 She was in the backyard, with her walker. I moved it a few feet in front of her, and she took two steps. Quickly calling Nathan to see it, she was able to do it again. Later that evening, she took 4-5 steps.
- Now, 4-6 steps without support
- Pointing
- Can throw a ball, with pretty good aim!
- Scribble with a marker or pen
- Use spoon
- Climb on couch, sit in kid's chair
- Imitates gestures, such as learning to blow kisses. She puts her hand to her mouth and then outstretches her arm, right after watching us do it.
- Bangs two objects together
- Attempts to put shoes on
- Pats baby on the back
- Falling back asleep on me
- Her little "oh" face
- Unsolicited kisses
- "Gunga, gunga, gunga"
- Walking around while holding my finger.
- Purposely finding my belly button, or her Daddy's. When she sticks her finger in it, we giggle and then tickle her, which she loves
- Going back and forth to us on the couch for tickles
- How much she loves being outside
Routines we're continuing:
- Singing to her: You Are My Sunshine, Amazing Grace (bedtime)
- Reading children's books to her. She will now bring a book over to me to read, but often turns the page before I have a chance to finish!
- Evening walks
- Crocheting. I finally finished those darn suns and am searching for a new project to take with us to Europe.
- Nightly prayers
- Morning snuggle time - she now sleeps in the crook of my left arm.
- This little piggy. She now anticipates the "Wee, wee, wee all the way home" part and will smile and scrunch her shoulders.
- Asking "Where's Daddy?" or "Where's Trevi?" and cheering when she looks
- Lunch visits - every day!
- Peak-a-boo
- Brushing her teeth
Routines we're establishing:
- She absolutely loves playing in the back yard and going down the slide. As soon as there is shade, we go back there, around 4pm.
- Playing in her pool and with her water table
New Foods and favorites:
- Quesadillas
- Cow's milk (30% milk, 70% formula)
- Prune juice, due to the milk
- LOVES avocados, green beans and strawberries, Greek yougurt and cottage cheese
Happy belated birthday to your little one. She is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much!!
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