Transition from "mostly crawling" to "mostly walking"

Disclaimer: I don't actually think anyone besides my mom is interested in the specifics of this post -- however this blog is the only record I keep for my own reference, and I know once we have that mythical baby #2, I'll want to refer back!!!

Today we noticed that Leslie has completed her transition to walking. Whereas she once would walk a few steps then switch to crawling, she now chooses to walk everywhere. When she falls, she gets up to walk instead of staying on all fours. I have to admit this process went much more quickly than I expected.

We have had such a great weekend with our little one! She has become quite bossy, telling us "op" when she wants something. "Op" for the sippy cup, "op" to turn around her walking toys, "op" when she wants something to eat. Jody and I completely disagree on what "op" means. He thinks it's a random sound she's come up with...I think she is saying "help." I got my proof this morning when I asked her to say "mama," and she said "mama"...then I said "help" and she said "op." Jody still thinks I'm crazy.

Now that she finally points at things, I am amazed at how large a vocabulary she has. She can identify the following:

• fan
• light
• milk
• eyes
• mouth
• nose
• ear
• hair
• teeth
• fingers
• toes
• knees
• Walker
• ball
• sun (in books, of course)
• book
• bubbles
• egg
• diaper
  

Anyway, I've realized that I need to step up my teaching -- because she is READY to learn.

12-Month Stats

29.5 inches (55th)
22 lbs. 4oz (75th)
47cm (90th)

Other 12-month developments

• She has eight teeth now, two just came in this month
• No sicknesses this month, though she did have a random, unexplained 102 degree fever for two days.
• She has fully transitioned to whole milk. It wasn't necessarily easy (we had to slowly ease her tummy into it), but I'm thankful it went as well as it did.
  
• She finally started drinking from the take-along sippie cups. We've tried everything to get her off the straw ones but she had refused until this weekend.
• At her party she REFUSED to eat her cake in front of everyone. After they all left of course, she dug in!
• She had a blast blast blast playing with her cousins during her birthday weekend.
• She loves walking behind her push toys.
• She still kicks her legs like crazy when you take her out of her bath
• She eats all kinds of big-people food -- and loves it all! Watching her pick up and eat English peas is hilarious!
• She loves to pick up a book and give it to you to read. Her favorites are Elmo's colors, Baby Signs (She loves books and movies about sign language, although she still doesn't do even one sign. I mean it's her favorite book -- go figure), and she likes for me to make animal noises while looking through her touch and feel animal book. She also likes this Little People book with little flip-ups in it.
• Sometimes if I look at her and laugh, she laughs back...love it!
• She points to eyes, hair, and toes. She use to point to my nose when she was nine months, but that was SO last month that she refuses to do it now.
• Sometimes I think she's trying to give me kisses, but I'm not actually so sure about that.
• She calls balloons and books "aba." No other words other than mama and the rare dada,though.
• She loves yogurt so much she cries when it's all gone.
• Her favorite restaurant is Locos -- she loves the quesadillas.
• She had developed a sudden interest in stuffed animals...she grabs them and holds them against her face and giggles.
  

REALLY walking

So thus far Leslie has walked a few steps here and there, between two adults coaxing her to go from one to the other. Well, about five minutes ago Jody was talking on the phone and I was on the couch. Leslie was on the opposite side of the room from both of us. She stood up all on her own and walked all the way to one of her toys she wanted to play with. TWICE. Oh, our little independent walker!

Birthday Party!

Happy Birthday, Leslie!!!!!!

Leslie and Ashley

First Steps!

Well, Leslie took her first three little steps about 40 minutes ago.

I had just gotten home, and Ashely, Leslie and I were by her changing table. She stood up, very sure of herself, and took one step toward Ashely.

Then Ashely and I screamed.

Leslie waited for the screaming to stop, and then, still standing, she took her remaining two steps toward Ashely. SO CUTE. But I'll still be so sad when she stops crawling....I love her little crawling personality!

Leslie's 1 Year Pictures

As usual, my bff at Michelle Ashe Photography in Thomson, GA, has made beautiful pictures of my precious girl :) Enjoy!

Leslie, in the same jeans I wore as a baby

Spaghetti time -- better than Supper Club? hmmm....

Beautiful lines....

She's gonna be a great dancer :)

Leslie helping daddy!

My first swim!!

We took Leslie swimming today. We were worried because the water was very cold. But she was a champ and loved chillin in her lady bug float!

On the golf course with Daddy

My first swimsuit

No pictures, please...no pictures...

Ashley took this one!

Leslie in her 10th month

10-month developments:

• Waves bye-bye (actually started this a week after my 9-month post
• Says mama and dada, but mostly in a mumbling kind-of way!
• Is cruising like a champ
• Balances while standing
• Eats turkey and cheese for lunch (what a big girl!)
• Sat with us in the sanctuary at church to listen to praise band -- she LOVED it. Then she goes to the nursery...not loving that so much :)
• She's full-fledged torturing Walker -- she loves to pet him, but she also loves to pull on his ears.
• She has made HUGE progress with the word "no." She is really good at minding us (for now)! Of course, this only applies to touching and biting on things. If only we could say "no" to whining!
• Her two top teeth have really come down and show every time she smiles.
  
• To me, she is looking more and more like Jody. When she was a baby, I thought she was all Bray all the way, but, wow, is she starting to look like her daddy!
• Aunt Susan, Jenna, and Lauren came to babysit this month -- I think fun was had by all!
• We visited Aunt Tricia in Tennessee. Leslie adores watching Bray and Kate play.