thirteen months

I wanted to start by saying it was a busy month for us and for Renee but then I sort of had deja vu and went back and read my other monthly posts and by golly, I think I start EVERY month that way. THAT IS BECAUSE EVERY MONTH IS BUSY. I just want a month of peace and quiet. I say that now and when it is October and my doctor won't let me leave the county, I'll complain about that. At least we know where she gets her irrational behavior. Her dad, OBVIOUSLY.

After Renee's birthday bash, we did Griffin's birthday party, followed by the 4th of July, followed by a trip across the country, followed by two weeks of bliss where I refused to do anything but wallow around and complain about how life sucks and about how tired I am. During this time, Renee, she was busy mastering her latest and greatest skill and that is walking. I can't believe how one day she couldn't go more than a step or two without diving forward just hoping we'd catch her and the next she could walk all the way across the room. I think maybe she was playing with me, pretending like she needed me just to make me feel better about her growing up too blessed fast, and then one day she got tired of the charade and decided that she wasn't waiting for me any longer. And, off she went {SIGH}. I told her when I got pregnant that all I asked of her was that she was walking by the time the new baby came and imagine my surprise when she actually held up her end of the bargain. Thanks baby, I couldn't imagine how ON EARTH one would go about transferring both an infant car seat and a twenty-pound one-year-old in and out of the car and into the house IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER and I'm SO glad that I don't have to find out.

She grew two new teeth this month and those two teeth just HAD to pick her uncle's wedding weekend to cause the most trouble. They came in at precisely the same time and she ran a 102 fever for three days to celebrate going from one tooth to three. Two days after we got home, she went back to happy little proper temperature baby, taking scheduled naps and going to bed on time. OF COURSE SHE DID.

She has turned into the slowest eater on the planet and it has gotten to the point where I need to get up at 5AM and get her in her high chair for breakfast if I want any chance of getting to work by 7AM. I am exaggerating SLIGHTLY but SERIOUSLY, we are a busy crew and we have people to see and things to do. SPEED IT UP ALREADY.

We're still having a couple of bottles per day, partly because I have been on a too-lazy-to-deal-with-anything-hard kick and partly because Becky at daycare is still giving her bottles. There is another girl Renee's age at daycare that is still getting a bottle and she wants to cut them for both of them at the same time. I guess I don't blame her but seriously, formula is not getting any cheaper. Other favorite foods are: watermelon (I am certain she has eaten at least double her weight of watermelon this month), peaches, bananas, blackberries, chicken, eggs, carrots, broccoli, zucchini and absolutely anything with cheese on or in it. I can smother Brussels sprouts or lima beans in cheese and the kid will eat it. She still moans after every bite.

She is babbling with inflection now like she is totally talking in sentences and looks at me like she's wondering why I'm not answering her questions. The Point is still in effect, especially when her dad picks her up. It's like Dad = The Point. She knows what everything I can think of to teach her is called. Pictures in books, household items, body parts, which cat is which, you name it. She has it all dialed in. My new goal is to teach her the difference between a rubber spatula and a baster and a whisk because seriously, I am running out of things to show her and if she really is going to be a chef someday, she might as well get started on her culinary terms now. Her hands down favorite word, however, is UP. She stands at our feet and says UP all day long. UP, UP, UP and boy does she mean it.

This brings me to the temper tantrums. I need to get one on video. She sits down and puts her head between her legs, forehead on the floor and whines while shaking her head back and forth like she just can't even believe we didn't give her what she wanted immediately. Even though 97% of the time we have no clue what it is that she actually wants. I think she desparately WANTS to tell us what she wants and she just can't figure out HOW and it pisses her right off. She FREAKS OUT this when she's pointing at something and we can't tell just what and don't get it in to her hands immediately or when we put her down (she still likes to be carried and I blame her Daddy Chair for this), when we try to put her in her high chair or car seat or stroller or when we try to change her diaper or her clothes. She refuses to be tied down, in any capacity, at all costs. I am taking the "ignore it and it will go away" approach and that seems to be working so far. Don't let her see your weaknesses, right?

She stands by the window and screams until we take her outside. If she so much as catches a glimpse of her water table or her slide or her swimming pool and she isn't out there immediately she LOSES her mind. Not to mention that the water has to be the perfect temperature. Can't be too cold for little Miss Priss.

Finally, my favorite for the month and possibly one of my favorite pictures of her ever.

**I changed my header for these outside pictures. It was so much fun to see her so happy. And even better that I managed to capture the moment. I hate typepad and what it is doing to my pictures. Have I mentioned that? Compare my header to the same version in this post...an OBVIOUS difference. Why must they do that?

Comments

[kim]

i love the pics of her in her little suit! did you use actions on them? the color is awesome!

i hate typepad too. i just wish they would fix it already.

[Tara]

OMG she is so cute and kudos to the photographer! Glad to know she LOVES her pool. :)

[Kim P]

Wonderful photos! Are you SURE it's been 13 months? Because apparently I blinked...

When our Baby Girl was 13 months old, she could "sing" the Imperial March from Star Wars, known in our house as the Darth Vader song, also with inflection. I was so proud! *sniff* This thoroughly impressed our therapists and convinced them that she was definitely NOT behind in any area aside from gross motor skills. {SIGH}

[jessica]

i am loving your new header! it is much happier. and what a great update. i'm still looking for the pause button on mine :( love her swimsuit too.

[lib]

she is SO cute!! where did you get the cute swimsuit?

[jenny]

okay, i LOVE this post. it is fun to read your monthly updates! great shots (i'd love to know if you used actions too - heehee). they have such awesome color.

oh, and the new blog header - perfect.