12-14 months

Here are just a few of the things Jackie has started doing in the last 2 months:

• Crawling backwards (her version of the crawl, or scoot, I guess)
• Going from lying on her back to sitting (yes, you read that correctly - most kids can figure it out months sooner, but our little one has taken her time!)
• Pulling up on couches and other objects
• Bending down and picking things up while holding onto something
• Cruising (walking while holding onto furniture)
• Climbing steps

And some things she's "working on" at the moment:

• Brushing her teeth (mommy still has to do a double-check!)
• Putting on shoes and socks
• Using a fork (looks like we may have a lefty on our hands?)
• Combing her hair
• Coloring
• Turning on the TV using the remote control
• Doing puzzles
• Identifying body parts (she's figured out "nose" and "belly" so far)
• Sorting shapes (she can fit them into the holes but has to be shown which hole to use)
• Building Mega Block towers (she tears them down just fine)
• Turning light switches off and on

Mega Blocks

New toys from my birthday!

Jackie has been reveling in her new abilities.  Her idea of the perfect day is to be placed on the couch where the grown-ups are sitting (can't figure out how to climb up yet, unless we put her little toy steps next to it), where she can spend more than an hour crawling back and forth over mommy and daddy's laps, throwing herself onto pillows in hopes that we'll tickle her, standing up against the back cushions, rolling around, lying down and sitting up again, leaning over the arms, and generally grabbing anything she can reach from her perch.  She hardly ever stops moving, but when she does, she loves to pull Mega Blocks apart and put them back together...open the tin holding the coasters, dump them out, and put them back in...rifle through a book...pull tissues out of the box and proceed to tear them into pieces, put a piece in her mouth, then remember she's not supposed to do that and hand it to mommy.....forget that....she's on the move again, back to the other side of the couch!  Are you exhausted yet?  It's not surprising she's thinned out...and she's also getting taller.

My couch!

Jackie decided this month that she was done taking two naps a day, so it's proving to be a little more challenging to fill the time around her one afternoon nap.  Mommy and Jackie have been making good use of the park, the gym, the library, the grocery store, visits with friends, our music class, and whatever other activities we can find.  She is going to bed extra early at the moment (6:30!) to make up for the lost sleep.

I'm jealous

Trying out Mommy's glasses at the park

Lots of falling asleep in the car at the moment

There is a significant amount of whining going on at our house these days.  I think Jackie is starting to realize how much she CAN'T do and is starting to assert some of that toddler independence.  Plus, it kind of stinks when you can't talk....YOU try it for a day (I know Josh couldn't)!  She'll surprise us sometimes with some words she's been saving up: "Hi Da!" (Hi Dad)  "Bye bye Gah!" (Bye bye Uncle Graham) "All done!" (Get me out of this high chair!) "Uh oh!" (You knocked my cup over, Mom!) "Mama no!" (Stop wiping my face off!) and a whole bunch of words we can't figure out yet.  Our new favorite: she has taken to calling Daddy "Josh!"

Snacking with Daddy

Mommy and me

Sneaking a sip of coffee!

All in all, it's a sweet time of life.  We're enjoying seeing more of our girl's personality come out and her awareness of the world.  It's still easy to make her laugh, and we know it won't be this way forever.  Everything she learns is exciting, and we're looking forward to seeing what's next!

My dirndl from Aunt Amanda!