Kate @ 18 & 19 Months

Our Baby Kate is turning into a little girl! My, how the time is flying! She is already 20 months old, and I can hardly believe it. Where did our little baby go?

I have fallen very behind on the blog again, but I did keep some notes about Kate and her activities while she was 18 and 19 months old. During this time, I have truly realized the importance of documenting milestones, likes and dislikes, behaviors, etc. When we were seeking speech and occupational therapy for Kate--as well as evaluations through Babies Can't Wait and with a developmental pediatrician--I had to complete a lot of paperwork that requested specific information about such things. I referred back to this blog and Tanna's blog--and was SOOOOOO THANKFUL that we had recorded so much detail about Kate's life. The information was extremely helpful, and I urge all parents to record milestones via a blog, baby book, calendar, whatever. You never know when you may need it in the future. Seriously. Do not slack on this.

Anyway, here are some notes about Kate at 18 and 19 months:

• Kate was sick four times in January and February! Four times! It was not a lot of fun, but we got through it and are very thankful for her current health.
  
  
  
  
  
• At Kate's 18-month appointment, it seemed as though she had lost weight since her 15-month checkup. I use the words "seemed as though" because her pediatrician wondered if her weight could have been recorded incorrectly back in October. Nevertheless, she was weighed three times at her 18-month appointment, and we were told to come back in a month for a weight check. Needless to say, I was very concerned and we were very vigilant during this time regarding Kate's food intake (which is easier said (written) than done because she was sick twice in that one month). Anyway, we were so thankful at the weight check because Kate had gained almost (not quite) 2 whole pounds! Thank You, Lord! Her pedi said he would had been thrilled with just half that, so we were very happy.
  
  
  
  
  
• As you know, Kate also was diagnosed with a speech delay at her 18-month appointment. We also noticed a few other delays. As a result, she started speech and occupational therapy. She has made remarkable progress, and we are so thankful. Here she is with Mrs. Jenn and Mrs. Melanie, her therapists. They are great!
  
  
• Speaking of language and her progress during this time, by the time she turned 20 months, Kate had about 8-10 words/word approximations (which her therapist said counts). Those words include: up, please, socks, ball, oops, eyes, see, go (can mean "go" or "car"), op (means "open") and ... paci! YAY! (She has even more words now!)
  
  
  
• Kate loves books--I took a photo of just a few of her favorites during this time period. If I had to pick a No. 1 fave, then I'd have to go with "Wheels on the Bus." Here's a pic of Uncle Steven reading/singing it to her:
  
  
  
  
  
• Kate started attending preschool two mornings a week.
  
  
• Two words: Little People! Aunt Robin brought down a TON of her girls' Little People toys for Kate. Kate LOVES her Little People village and plays with the toys all the time.
  
  
• She loves to have her teeth brushed. This is one of the things that Tanna does with her. I will brush her teeth, too, but it is their special thing before bedtime. She likes to brush her teeth herself, too--but there is not much brushing going on. haha!
  
  
• Kate loves to blow kisses. This is so sweet!
  
  
• Kate finally started pointing and following our point--and I was THRILLED! Seriously, I was ready to do back handsprings all the way down Peachtree.
  
  
  
  
  
• She pretends to eat or drink all the time and loves to make eating or drinking sounds. Even when she is eating, she will "pretend eat" her food--which can be pretty funny ... but sometimes not so funny when you are trying to get her to eat for real. LOL! Crazy girl.
  
  
• Kate knows a ton of body parts and is learning more all the time. She loves to point them out--on herself or on you!
  
  
  
  
  
• She pretends to talk on the phone a lot--and by "phone" I mean my cell phone, her iPod, her play phone ... or anything that could serve as a phone. This is really funny and so cute.
  
  
• Some of her favorite activities include playing with Play-Doh, using stickers, and coloring. She also enjoys her alphabet and animal magnets on the fridge.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Kate loves to help clean and wipe off her high-chair tray and just about any other surface. This pic was taken at a CFA Dwarf House. We'll put her to work just about anywhere. ha!
  
  
• She knocks on closed doors to request entry. Too cute!
  
  
• Her paci addiction is still going strong. We had to get rid of one of her GumDrop pacis as well as replace her frog paci (fortunately, I had bought more than one). Likewise, the pacifier part of her pig Pacimal also had to be replaced (thankfully, they had sent more than one so we could switch them out). She had literally CHEWED THROUGH these pacis! I asked her pediatrician about this, and he said that such a thing is normal. He also said it was time to think about getting rid of the paci--but, for now, since we are going through a lot of changes (speech therapy, preschool, etc.), we can keep them for a little while longer. I was going to take a photo of the chewed-through pacis yesterday, but our camera died. :o( We have to get a new one.
  
  
• She pretends to wash her hands and put on lotion, too.
  
  
  
  
  
• Some of her favorite snacks are Chex cereal and goldfish crackers.
  

A few weeks ago, after her bath, I let Kate watch part of a video. She was sitting on the floor, engrossed in the program, and I just stared at her ... while she stared at the television screen. She looked so grown up, sitting there in her green zip-up pajamas, her hair still wet. I wanted to stop the clock and freeze the moment--but I suppose the moment (and so many others) will be with me for a lifetime. I just don't want to forget or take for granted these fleeting seconds.

Thank You, God, for this precious gift ... this squeezable, messy, beautiful, demanding, loving little girl named Kate. Oh, how we adore her.