Caitlin Elizabeth - 16 Months

Our baby is 16 months old.  She's getting so big!!!!

Everyday I realize more and more that she's less of a baby and more of a "kid"...and it's sad because she's my baby, but it's been so fun!  With Caitlin, I think I'm able to appreciate a little more all the little milestones she meets.  I also am much more relaxed with Caitlin (I think most moms are with their second) and able to enjoy the present a little more!

Caitlin is such a fun baby to be around!  She makes me laugh so much, even when she's making me crazy at the same time!  I think that's something she'll pride herself on when she's older. If this girl doesn't get "class clown" in high school, I'll be shocked!  She's so funny, usually without even trying! 

I LOVE MY BUG!!!!

Here are some pictures of her the past few months....random ones taken off my cell phone...and then an update!

So beautiful!

Her cheesy smile.  When I say "Caitlin, smile" she makes a "Cheese" sound and makes her silly face!

This picture of Caitlin cracks me up because this IS Caitlin.  This pictures sums up her personality!  She NEVER stops moving...she never stays still.  And she makes everyone laugh around her!!!

Caitlin and I went on a shopping spree for a new movie for her (she had to exchange a repeat movie from Aunt Katie) and we had so much fun shopping together!

Her choice:  Elmo!  She LOVES Elmo so much!!!!  He's funny....like her!

We went to Cosley Zoo on a warm, rainy day to see animals and splash in puddles.  (More on that below)

Looking old to me this day!  (16 months)

Caitlin at 16 Months:

*At 15 months, she weighed 18 lbs and was 30.5 inches tall.

*She has a bunch of things she sleeps with.  Her #1 thing she can't sleep without is her glow worm.  She also has a satin blanket, a woobie, and her Olivia doll.  She also uses her twilight ladybug and a sound machine to sleep....GEESH!

Snapped a picture as I opened the door this morning.   This is how she stands waiting for me.

In her crib (with Olivia)

Caitlin and all her sleeping goods. 

*She goes to bed between 7:00-7:30, and usually wakes up at 7am, but likes to play in her crib for a while before I get her.  She usually plays for like a half an hour and I get her at 7:30.  I listen to her on the intercom and hear her playing the music from her glowworm, but she doesn't fuss or cry.  I think she needs this time to wake up and get ready for the day.

*She really only needs one nap.  I have tried to transition her to an afternoon nap, but she usually still needs the morning nap.  The only downfall is then she usually won't nap in the afternoon.  She'll often lay in her crib in the afternoon for like an hour or so quietly, but not sleep.  We are hoping to get her to an afternoon nap by this summer because we have BIG plans of playing at the pool every morning!  :)  So for now, she will usually sleep 2+ hours in the morning if I let her....which I usually don't because of trying to transition.

*She still sleeps with her paci.  I wanted to get rid of it at 12 months, but she's so happy with it.  We spoke with her dentist and pediatrician.  They said she's okay with it now but we should drop it by 2 years.   I want to wait till she's talking more before I take it away...and after our family road trip this summer.  So when we get back from our family vaction in July, we'll take it away!

*She has this funny walk when she's on a mission.  Her head bobs up and down and she walks head first like her head weighs 100 lbs.  It's hard to explain, but it's adorable....

*I go back and forth if she's a picky eater or not.  Usually not, but she'll definitely get in a phase where she is. She LOVES bananas, macaroni and cheese (or any noodle, pasta, etc), cheese, yogurt, edamame, any fruit or vegetable.  She won't eat eggs or most meats (chicken, ground beef).  She still drinks 3 cups of whole milk a day and water the rest of the day.  Her favorite snacks are cheerios, goldfish, or pretzel rods.

*She HATES her potty!!!  HATES!  HATES!  HATES!  She will NOT sit on it, no matter how many books I put next to it, how many stickers I put on it, and how fun I make it look by sitting on it myself (and that's a lot of fun!!!!!).  Luckily we have a long time, but I was hoping she'd like sitting on it and reading on it so by 2 years, we can start potty training.  It's a theme with her...she likes to do things on her own time!

*She's afraid of things with fur.  Horses, Cows, Sheep, Raccoon hats!  Cosley Zoo was an "experience" because she screamed everytime an animal looked at her!  But she did it in a way that had everyone laughing!  She warmed up towards the end...and really loved the bunnies...so there's hope!

*She is starting to like books much more...but she likes to be in control of picking them out!  If you pick it out, she'll fight you to listen to it.  Her favorite books are :  Brown Bear, 5 Monkeys Jumping on the Bed, Baby's First Words, Moo Baa LaLaLa, and anything with "textiles" in it (usually a library book we rotate every 2 weeks).

*Caitlin isn't talking yet, but I've seen a big burst in her expressive language in the last week.  She is repeating sounds and even words when I say them.  She likes the "p" sound so sort of says "up" and if you ask her how the bunny goes, she'll say "hop, hop, hop".  She also makes a "d" sound for daddy and doggie.  We are working on words everyday through books, puzzles, and play (bubbles, dolls).  Like all other things Caitlin does, she does things when she wants!

*She loves games like "So Big" and "Peek-A-Boo".

*She loves music, but not singing!  She will dance and dance all day....but doesn't like to be sung to at night.

*She knows point to most of her body parts (eyes, ears, nose, mouth, toes, hands, hair, head).

*She gives the BEST hugs and kisses!

And finally....the answer to my last post (which I should have made more clear):

Where's Caitlin?

Yes, she's against our new painted walls (which I need to post about) but that wasn't the answer...

the correct answer is time out! 

Miss Caitlin's favorite game is "feed Kramer".  She drops all her food to Kramer.  So we had to start doing time outs when she drops food because when we say "no", she laughs and laughs and laughs! 

How are time outs going?  Just look at her face.....not so well.  She things they are pretty fun! 

You should watch Rob and me give her a time out...we try so hard not to laugh because she's so darn cute sitting against this big wall...she always leaves her legs straight out and just sits there...she never tries to get up....but the look on her face makes it hard to keep a straight face!

Caitlin,

You are the joy of our lives! 

You bring a smile to our face every day! 

 We LOVE you so much!!!!!

You amaze us with your ability to make those around you smile and your carefree attitude!

We can't wait to see how you change and grow over the next few months!!!

We love you so much, Caitlin Bug!

Love, Mommy and Daddy