Well Hydrated

Staley learned to drink through a straw today.  And the result--that's all she wants to do.  I finally had to hide her straw and cup behind the Cheerios box at breakfast this morning so that she would finish eating her meal.  She drank about twice as much at lunchtime as she usually does.  I'm assuming that we'll be changing some wet clothes when she wakes up from her nap.  But Staley is so proud of herself.  Drinking through a straw made her very happy.  And at least we know she is well hydrated.

Action Verbs

As the daughter of an English major and the sister of an English teacher, I feel it's my duty to include some grammar lessons as a service to my blog followers.  Now you may be wondering why, with the rich heritage of English teachers in my life, I still find it necessary to write with sentence fragments, hanging prepositions, and (my worst grammar vice) starting sentences with a conjuction.  And I have no excuse.  None at all.  But hopefully this little lesson in action verbs will negate some of my past (and future) grammar sins.

Lounge

Climb

Stand

Sit

Read

Drive

Walk

My life with Staley is full of action verbs.  Next week, maybe I'll continue our grammar lesson with adjectives.  Because Staley makes all my days happy, all our moments fun, and my heart so very full.

If at First You Don't Succeed...

Over the past several months of eating solid foods, Staley has demonstrated some specific food preferences.  Eggs, most plain vegetables, pastas, and bananas have all been spit out or found their way onto the floor on multiple occasions.  I had read (somewhere) that it can sometimes take kids up to 10-15 times of trying something before they like it, so we have continued to expose Staley to her non-preferred foods, hoping for her to turn the corner.  And this week must have marked the 10th (or 15th) time we've offered Staley some of these foods, because turn the corner we have.  This week, Staley ate (plain) corn, green beans, carrots, and mashed potatoes.  Before this, she would eat plain peas--any other vegetable had to either be in a soup or mixed with applesauce.  Hooray for expanding vegetable horizons!  But the vegetables were just the beginning.  She also ate eggs, tortillini, and bananas.  And not just a few bites.  She ate, asked for more, and  polished off leftovers.  I'm not sure if she was getting tired of her old stand-bys or if we just wore her down, but whatever the reason, I'm glad.  I was tired of picking pasta and vegetables up off the floor.

Things a Mother Can't Do

I believe that in Staley's eyes, a mother can do anything.  When she asks for a cracker, I can make it appear.  I can reach the toys on high shelves, turn on and off the lights, read books, lift her out of her crib.  When she says 'please' or 'help', I can usually deliver.

Today, however, Staley realized something that a mother can't do.  We were driving to Washington for some swimming fun.  Staley was sitting up in her carseat, looking out the window when we saw a train going along the tracks.  It was in sight for about 10 seconds or so, and then she could no longer see it.  When the train was out of sight, Staley said 'please.'  I replied 'please what?' To which she answered 'train.'  I explained that the train was all done.  Staley cried for a few seconds and then tried a different tactic.  'Help.  Train.'  Over and over.  'Please.  Train.'  'Help.  Train.'  I tried my best to explain in 1 year old terms.  'The train is all done.  Bye train.'  After we went through this scenario about 15-20 times, Staley finally seemed to get it.  'Train.  Done.'

So it has happened.  At 13 months and 4 days, Staley has realized that there are things that her mother just can't do.  Or at least one thing.  I can't make a train reappear along a driving route upon request.  Hopefully she has not lost all faith in me... because supplying crackers and reaching high shelves is important too.

Happy Valentine's Day

Growing Up

Signs that my baby girl is growing up:

1.  Staley has moved from her infant carrier into her convertible carseat.  Although still rear-facing, she loves sitting up higher and looking out the window.
2.  Staley is now putting 2-3 words together when talking.  She says things like 'hat off' or 'daddy please' (translation: I want to see daddy) or 'box in please' (translation: I want to play in my new carseat box) or 'go bears' (no translation needed).  Although most of her conversations are still in single words, she is finding new ways to get her ideas across.
3.  Staley can count to 6 by herself.  She loves to count and she will hold up her fingers (just the index ones) to indicate that she wants to start counting.  It's so cute!!
4.  Staley's understanding of ideas and words continues to grow exponentially.  She knows that on and off applies to clothing, as well as to electronic toys, lights, and appliances.  When anyone sneezes, she always says 'bear, ah-choo' because one of her favorite books ('Bear Snores On') has a part where the bear sneezes. 
5.  Staley's imagination and pretend play is emerging.  When playing in her carseat box (a new favorite past-time), she loves when I knock on the box and say 'little pig, little pig, let me come in' so that she can say 'no, no' and then (contrary to the story) she likes to be the one that huffs and puffs and blows.  And when playing with her Little People house, she not only activates all the sounds, but now she will put the people in bed or in the bathtub or in their chairs.  Last night, she was trying to put the Little People baby in the refrigerator (indicating that she is not yet ready for the responsibility of baby-sitting.)

I can't stop my baby from growing up.  All I can do is sit back and enjoy all the fun moments that fill our days.

One Smart Cookie

Staley has recently learned one of life's most important lessons.  When we ask her, "What do we say about the Bears?", she answers 'GO!'  And when we ask "What do we say about the Packers?", she answers 'Boooo!'  Smart girl!