13 Months

I wanted to document some of the things Caroline is doing around her first birthday and have meant to do this for the past 2 months...now that I have some time I can actually do this!

At 13 months....

Babbles some...but a woman of few words for the most part. She is starting to mimic us and try to say what we do. She says dada, mama, nana, papa, and attempts to say all gone, brush your teeth, passy, snack, DVD, Einstein, and a few more little phrases.

She understands so much!! She amazes me everyday when I ask her to bring me things, or do things and she actually does! She brought me her boots the other day and followed with her coat, knowing we were about to leave. Whenever I say daddy is coming home, she anxiously waits at the door and points until he arrives.

She still likes to shake her head "no" but doesn't do it quite as much as she did a month or so ago. She is always quick to point when she wants something and communicates very well. Sometimes her expressions crack us up- she can show signs of discontent and confusion very well now. She is always thinking and attempting to figure out the situation at hand.

Caroline is running around 90 to nothing! She is fast...we always have to make sure her little socks have the skids on them or else she's falling all over the hardwood floors. We have the house totally babyproofed though, so she is free to roam.

She loves to chase Isabelle the cat around. Lots of giggles come from her when we tell her to "get that cat!" Bless Isabelle's heart- she has no idea what the next few years will be like!

Caroline LOVES to dance...to anything. Music, singing, the beat of a toy drum, she has rhythm! I love to see her bouncing up and down enjoying the moment. She has no shame and will break it down whenever she feels the urge. We can't wait until she adds some new moves to her repertoire.

She loves playing with cell phones, remotes, keys, and wallets- anything she isn't supposed to have. We have 3 old phones for her to play with, but she still will try her hardest to get mommy and daddy's real ones. She still loves books, but has turned into a speed reader- only interested in certain pictures or flipping the pages. It's amazing how she still has her favorite tried and true books that we can always fall back on- Little Quack, Zoo Animals, Baby Einstein, This Old Man.

She has started finding things very amusing and will laugh and giggle at things that strike her fancy. Something she sees, hears, etc.

Caroline is ticklish under her arms...I love to hold her and hear her belly laughs.

She still looks like her daddy. Every now and then she will flash an expression that people say looks like mommy...but for the most part- she's a daddy's girl! Maybe Emily will be a mini-mommy.

She thrives off of other people- she loves to interact with other babies, people, animals- anything! She is definitely displaying signs of being an extrovert! As long as she can watch or see other's in action, she is happy. She loves going to church nursery to play with the other kids and always makes friends quickly when we are out and about.

She still likes to put everything in her mouth!! We can't wait until that stage has come and gone...it's stressful worrying that she may eat any and everything! We pop the passy in when we are around things that she doesn't need to eat...but we don't want to have to keep it forever!

She loves bellybuttons and likes to peek at mommy and daddy's at any moment. She gives the biggest giggle at mine...of course a 30 week pregnant belly is pretty funny looking. Especially if you have seen mine. No, I will not post pictures of it. :)

She loves to play with hair! She still runs her fingers through my hair each time I lay her down for nap or bedtime. She is so soft and gentle for the most part...and I cherish the minutes that she lays, starring at me, patting me and rubbing my hair. So sweet. Sometimes she finds her own hair and will piddle with it for a bit.

She is still a red head!! All we hear when we are out and about is..."look at that red hair!! Where did it come from??" Grandma Smith...you are the answer! We have no other reds int he family. Thank you for that gene...I love it and hope she keeps it forever!

She loves to eat...what's new?? Caroline looks forward to every meal...and any meals in between if she can sneak some. She eats all table food, finger food, and will try just about anything. She is drinking whole milk like a big girl, and loves apple juice when she gets it. 1/2 water, 1/2 juice of course. :) She can sip out of a straw now- but I don't want her to start demanding my drinks when we are out and about, so I'm holding off on that skill for now! She tried Grandpa's coffee this week and didn't even flinch...YUCK! He drinks it black too!

Caroline loves bath time with her daddy. Brad gets home in the evening and looks forward to playing with her each night. They have a fun routine together and I stay out of the way and let them enjoy. She will lay down in the tub to rinse her hair, drink all the water up in the cups, and wants ALL her toys in the tub with her if possible. She loves to brush her teeth.

She goes to sleep at between 7-7:30 and wakes up at APPROXIMATELY 6:30 each morning- sometimes later, sometimes earlier. She sleeps with her passy, her blankie, a pink tiger daddy gave her, and hippity hop the bunny. When she wakes up she will hand you each item out of her crib almost like she is attempting to rescue them- give them a safe passage out of the crib. Then it's her turn. She is so sweet when she wakes up. Her hair is usually messy and a few sprigs will stick straight up in the back.

She doesn't love nap time- she has too much on her to do list for each day to just sleep! She will still "talk" herself to sleep for the most part. We are still taking 2 naps- one around 9:30 and then other around 2:30. I think she may be attempting to grow out of one of her naps, but it could be her silly teething that is messing us up...or the visitors....or any other excuse I can think of. It's always something....

She has more teeth than any other baby I know! She has at least 10...and I think we have discovered she is getting her molars...so 12?? I loves seeing her sweet smile and all her pearly whites inside her mouth. When she eats we will tell her to "chew it up" and she will chomp her teeth together- simply an act to pacify mom and dad I'm sure- but she goes through the motions. She will put every single piece of food on her tray into her mouth at the same time and get stuck if we don't try to slow her down. She is the fastest eater I have ever seen. Really, you have to see the girl in action.

She follows directions and minds us very well for the most part...until about 6:30 pm...then it's all over. She knows her off limits places- "we don't go into Isabelles room", "we don't get in the trash", and "we don't touch the Christmas tree". I try to make everything else very accessible so it's not a constant "no no no" situation. She knows that if I ask her if she wants a spank to back away from whatever she is doing. She is so smart...and follows our directions well. Hopefully this will last...but she also has her times of testing her limits and we will have our work cut out for us.

She is wearing size 12 month in clothes...some 18 months depending on what it is. She has big feet...wonder where she gets that?? She wears size 4 right now and I feel like they are growing everyday. She can keep a bow in her hair for a little while if she doesn't know it is there...once the word is out that she has a bow in, she finds it and pulls it out with a vengeance. Oh well. I'm not going to be a bow pusher...there are other things to worry about! But I do love seeing her in one. She has a sweet little curl at the back of her hair that curls on her neck. We are no where close to needing our first hair cut, but maybe sometime in the next year??

At her 12 month check up she was about 23lbs, 28 1/2 inches tall, and at the top of the charts for head circumference. :)

What else?? I could continue writing til she turns 2 probably...but I'll stop here. Hopefully this will be enough to remember how precious and sweet she is at this stage. My how fast each stage goes by...I am enjoying every second of it! I love being her mommy and I think I have the sweetest little one out there...I can't wait to have 2!!