Moriah turned 14 months on March 20th. She has had some sort of mental growth spurt these last few weeks, it seems. I don't know how else to describe it---i'm not really talking about intelligence in particular, just more alertness, using humor, and starting to communicate more. More than ever, it has become clear that there's a little person inside of there and i'm so enjoying getting to know her better and having such a fun time with my cute, sweet, funny little buddy.
These are some of the things that have been happening lately:
* She cut her top right tooth a couple weeks ago. It was a doozy. (how could it not be, us Pates have big teeth).
* Daddy and Esteban hung up her little swing on a tree in our front yard. It's one of her favorite things right now. I got her to say "woooo!.....woooo!" while she was swinging. Then a few days later when we were going near the garage door/outside area, she looked at me and said, "woooo! woooo!" and she does that now anytime she wants you to take her to the swing. Almost every time we get out of the car she says it, and if you go inside the house rather than take her to swing she will start crying.
* Her other favorite toy right now is the little plastic lion that Emily gave her. It's one of those toys that the child pushes and hangs onto that helps them walk with support. She absolutely loves this thing and cries when it's time to put it up and go in. (One thing that we noticed when she started walking more--still walks with support only-- is that her feet go out and her right foot seems especially flat. No offense Mo. We will get Dr. Barret to take a look at it during her 15 month appointment).
* Talking: She doesn't have a lot more words in her vocab than the last time I posted. However she's gotten to where she'll communicate an "idea" rather than just labeling something she sees. For instance, the other day I woke her up and while still in her crib she started saying "Cra-cuh, cra-cuh" (cracker). Apparently she woke up hungry. And like I mentioned before, it doesn't matter where we are, she will say "woooh, woooh" if she wants to go swing. She still says "da-da," "dooh" (not sure how to spell it but it's "door" without the "r" sound), "ma-ma" occasionally, muh-muh (if she likes something she's eating), "di-di" for diaper, and also "dye dye" instead of bye bye. she sometimes says a rendition of juice that sounds kinda like "js." And of course lots of jibber jabber.
* OPINION: All of a sudden, Little Missy has developed an opinion! And it's unfortunate she doesn't have alot of words to express that opinion so sometimes I feel as though we have traveled into a little place called Whiny World. It's still hard for me to figure out if she's just trying to tell me something and doesn't have words, or if she's just being whiny. We are trying to teach her some signs but so far no dice as far as her actually using them. Gone are the days of the always happy Moriah. But it's ok because I'm liking this older, with-it girl who knows what she wants!
* Sense of Humor: One of the things i'm loving about this stage is the sense of humor she's developed. She likes to fake laugh and sometimes she'll squint her eyes, crinkle her nose, and make a big exaggerated smile. Sassy little lady she is. She'll blow raspberries, initiate little games like taking off real fast and wanting to be chased, and basically just having a "knowing" in her expressions when she's trying to be funny where i can tell she really knows what she's doing. She definitely keeps us laughing!
* She's still taking 2 bottles a day (one in the morning & one at bedtime) but I"m thinking she'll drop the morning bottle soon. She drinks out of a sippy cup the rest of the day. She's eating finger foods and her favorites foods are: beans/rice (mexican), grapes (cut in 1/4s), mandarin oranges, goldfish crackers, macaroni/shells & cheese, lima beans, green beans, etc.
* She goes to bed about 7pm and wakes up at 6:30am. She takes two 1 hour naps during the day (one about 9:30am and one about 1:30pm). I'm thinking she will go down to 1 nap in the next couple months.
* She alternates between crawling army style (if she really needs to get somewhere fast) and regular. She walks all around as long as she's holding onto something! She still hasn't tried to take steps on her own. But that's ok!
* She's still quite the dancer. The other day we were at one of Ryan's baseball games and each of the baseball players had some sort of rap or r&b song as their walk up song. Every time a song came on she would start "dancing," and as soon as the music stopped she would stop. She would start again when the music started, and stop right on cue as well. Quite funny to watch. This girl feels the music.
We are having so much fun and enjoying this sweet, precious, beautiful little girl! I know I will look back one day and remember this time with all it's sweet moments and memories...we are so blessed to have Moriah Grace!
