We kicked off 2012 with a record-amount of family time, including 2 visits to the Shedd Aquarium, one trip to the Nature Museum and one visit to the Children's Museum all in the same week - as well as a few dinners out and a trip to Mount Prospect for New Years Eve. Lucy really enjoyed all the family-filled field trips and all the time off Joe had because she gets up in the morning and just stands at the stairwell saying "dadda," and then when he doesn't come down we leave for the day, but every SUV that drives by, she says "dadda" to, and then when he still doesn't show up, she just starts calling every man "dadda," - including the car wash man at Fast Eddie's this morning. So, I think she misses her dad :)
All this family-time was a little unplanned as we were supposed to be in Mexico over the break with friends but there was a passport mishap, which isn't entirely unexpected from a couple that previously missed a flight to Paris, showed up at the wrong airport for a flight and lost a passport in Ireland. Anyways, these savvy travelers were stuck in Chicago but it turned out okay since Lucy got to spend two days with Grandma and Grandpa and Joe and I went on a staycation at the Trump Hotel. That place is worth every penny!!!
The break was a great one, but as sad as we were when Tuesday came, it has been nice getting into our old schedules. Between my work, Lucy's classes, and getting together to play with friends, we have a packed schedule to get us through the winter. And, although it has been nice to try and keep everyone updated every week or two on our lives, I decided to change the blog to only monthly updates - focusing just on Lucy's milestones, development, and all the things that we want to remember about this little girl since the months are flying by so fast - all the foods she is into, her favorite toys, all that she is up to, etc. I will also throw in lots of favorite pictures from the month :) Sorry to everyone who wanted to know when Joe and I have date nights or when we have friends in town, but this captures more of what I wanted to capture for Lucy. So, check back at the beginning of every month, and if I am real organized it will be on the 1st of every month!
January Post:
Our little Lu is into SO MUCH these days - mostly talking and trying to sound out every word that we say. Over the past few weeks, Lucy's language has gone from the typical first words (momma, dadda, puppy) to tea, tree, cheese, noodle (new-new), Elmo (memo), top (ta), banana (bana), coffee (ka-ka). We notice her trying to say so many of the things we say and usually when we say "can you say _" she will try to sound it out, so I know she has gotten the game down. So, now I am doing a little more monitoring of language at home, particularly during Bulls games.
In addition to language, Lucy has the "yes" and "no" head nods down, which makes life a lot easier. At first, she was saying yes, but shaking her head no, but we now have them down and I am pretty sure when yes means yes, and no means no. The hand pushing me away always helps.
Lucy also is remembering where things are/making associations with events that happened. On Xmas eve our neighbor's puppy was at our back door and all this week she was saying "puppy" and pointing to the hallway, and I couldn't figure out what she wanted for days....she also knows where we hide a toy, move her stickers to, etc. She is copying us a lot these days - yesterday I said "choo-choo" when I played with her train and today she picked up her train and said "choo-choo" or when she plays with her tea set she makes the sounds we make when we drink her delicious tea. She has also recently started to be a mommy to her dolls - feeding them a bottle and giving them a paci (and sometimes using their paci which means the doll (connected to paci) is hanging from her mouth, but hey, we all have our vices.) But the very cutest thing that Lucy does these days is signing "more" for EVERYTHING. She didn't pick up on "more" until she watched her first episode of Sesame Street and asked for more. Which impressed us, so we played it again. Well, that stuck with her and now she walks around doing "more" all day and if we don't hear her immediately, the arms get higher and she bangs her hands harder and faster since she isn't sure we noticed. She also is signing a lot for "water."
As far as foods and naps, Lucy has settled into a 1:00 - 3:00 once-a-day-nap and sleeps from 7 pm to 7 am every morning. She isn't a very good eater these days, and I am hoping once the doctor tells me she is at a good weight I can start focusing on meals rather than snacking all day, but right now she snacks a lot and doesn't always eat a "meal" like I would like. She is also really picky - some days will only eat mac n cheese and other days just blueberries. We have a lot of standards we always have stocked - noodles, she loves french toast, strawberries, some days eggs or cereal with milk, she used to love cheese and turkey but this week has throw it. She is still into her throwing food phase - I find it in the craziest places after a meal and almost always realize later in the day that I have dried hummus on my pants after I just taught a class. She may be picky but I am not too worried because living with Joe, this girl is going to be trying lots of foods and I imagine she will not be on a food strike her entire childhood. So, now we are just making sure she gets calories and enough variety in any way possible. The good news is that she is drinking regular whole milk at least once a day, in addition to her kefir.
Socially, Lucy is changing so much. She is starting to try and play with other kids, doesn't mind getting hugs from them (and for some reason, seems to attract a lot of hugs), and in most cases, is happy doing her own thing when I am with her or not. We still have a lot of work to do on sharing, and she thinks any snack is her snack, but she gets a lot of practice as we go to my work or a class nearly every day. So, I am not too worried and just enjoying the experience of helping her learn these "basic" social skills. I assume she isn't going to be in school taking people's lunches off their desk - she will probably master that skill before then.
We look forward to seeing how much Lulu changes over the next year - and sharing it all with you!!! A few recent pics, not in any order.....
At the Shedd
Waving to the Otters - Joe did it once and the next time we went back, she waved just because she remembered that spot - there were no otters the second time. What a smarty pants!
Posing with the penguins
Checking out her new safari with "papa" - sorry to my mom who did all the hard work to watch her for two days and not one photo that I got
Lucy was so cute on xmas morning - she wanted to badly to get into that stocking!!! What is in here?!!
Playing with a new walker from Santa. I call it her broom/vacuum since she always wants my real ones.
Skyping with Grammy and Grampy in AZ
Lucy starting using real silverware this week which made me really proud
Back from Xmas, Abigail and Caitlin showing off their new Minnie coats and purses from Chris and Bill.
Also from Xmas Eve - the girls sitting nicely for Bill
This one cracked me up because Lucy so desperately wanted to find her morning fruit squeeze that she practically hung from her Advent calendar trying to get to it
Abigail showing off her birthday necklace
Lucy with Uncle Jake and her Pickle Gift. Uncle Jake found the pickle, and the gift was that the winners gets to give Lucy a gift. Uncle Jake lost out big time on that one. Next year we will need some additional motivation!!!!
Getting a giant hug from Aunt Katie who visited Lucy at the Children's Museum. What a nice surprise!!
