Big Girl

Lizzie is 22 months old going on 22 yrs! She's talking in full sentences and insists on doing everything herself. The desire for independence is strong in this one. Dave and I have really had to step up our game to match Lizzie's increasing skills in the continual battle for control! We've found that we can no longer TELL her to do something...leads to her refusing and trying to push our buttons by doing things like putting her finger in her nose. She'll respond really well though if we ask her to do something with an additional clause like, "Do you want to clean your room and then we will play a game with Lenny?" She'll then run around her room throwing all the toys in the basket and have the room spotless in less than a minute.

The other day I gave Liz a complex set of directions, "Will you go get the white burp cloth for Julie? Its in Julie's room on top of the rocking chair. Then bring it to Mama please!" (wasnt sure if she even knew what a burp cloth was) She continued playing like she didn't understand. So I said, "Go get it fast and I'll play the ABC game with you!" After that she flew out of the room and was back with the burp cloth in about two seconds.

Liz loooves to wear my shoes around the house and she says, "Mama's shoes are too big!" over and over then laughs.

Lizzie: You are right. Mama's shoes are too big for you. Someday, though, that won't be true. You'll be all grown up, probably faster than I'd like.

But, for now you're still my little one year old and i like it that way!

1 Month

Julie is 1 month old!! One month plus a week to be exact! This post is a week later than I wanted it to be, not a big deal, but I am realizing that I will never be able to match my perfectly timed and never ending supply of pictures that I took of Lizzie as a newborn. Its just harder to get the camera out and get cute shots of Julie with Lizzie dancing around for my attention! Thank goodness for nap time, or I may have never gotten around to recording in time lil one month old Julie! Babies change so quickly! She's already so much bigger!

Developmental Updates:

She's smiling!! I can usually get a smile out of her when I've been out of her view for a little while and I come back and make cooing happy noises at her! Daddy doesn't get nearly as many smiles, but he can coax it out of her with a lot of work when she's in the right mood! I'm enjoying the favoritism while it lasts...she'll soon discover what a fun guy daddy is and then it will be over for me!

She enjoys looking at mobiles, toys, and moving objects.

She makes cute little cooing noises when she's really happy!

She slept through the night! (last night it was 9 hours but usually its 6-7 hrs) What a sweetie!

She still sleeps alot during the day, too. Her favorite time to be awake, alert, and more smiley is usually around 7-8 pm.

And...

She takes a binky now! I am a big fan of the binky. I like knowing that I can eventually get rid of it when she becomes too old for it (unlike a thumb!)

Julie is a great little baby who is so mellow and very patient/tolerant. She's a minimal crier and even puts up with all of Lizzie's affectionate hugs (imagine a bear mauling). She's a fun little girl to have around!