Kate Update - 17 Months

When she was an infant, it was crazy how fast Kate grew in size - from month to month there was a noticeable difference in how her clothes fit and how she looked.  Now, the size differences are still noticeable but more subtle... but her personality and learning seem to change so much from month to month.  She was 17 months on Aug. 17, and here are a few notable things about the past month:

Personality and Communication:

• She communicates well and is gaining words and gestures daily, it seems!  New words this month (that I can remember):  "out," "school," "nack" (snack), "amen" (after the blessing at meals), "t-t," "poo-poo," "meow" (She loves to look out the window at Sydney and say this over and over again), "wa-duh" (formerly wa-wa).
• She is really into trying to say names and is pretty good at names of friends at school and church (Parker, Abby, Quentin, Molly, Will), and her preschool and Sunday School teachers (Connie, Betty, Rhonda, Tiffany).  At home, we like to look at pictures around the house and talk about the people in them.  This month, she has started saying "Uncle" for Blake and "As-lee" (for Ashleigh, although she won't say it in front of her).  MaMa and DaDa have translated into "Mommy" and "Daddy," and she says them often and very clearly - which is so sweet and melts my heart, but can get a little embarrassing when it's really loud at the grocery store! :)  
• One day, when I got her up from her nap, I asked her how she slept (She always says "goo" for good) and if she wanted a snack (She usually says "nack"), and she replied, "apple." So, I thought that was pretty neat that we were actually carrying on a little conversation.
• I can tell her memory is really growing, because she constantly surprises me with what she remembers.  One afternoon, she was staying at my mom's house, and Mom said a few white vehicles went by and she would say, "Mama."  At my parents' house, there is a little bouncy ball that she loves, so as soon as she goes inside, she starts saying, "ball, ball" and looking for "G."  After she spends time with Mimi and Pop, she always talks about the "wing" (swing), which she absolutely loves.  A couple of weeks ago, Jeff was gone for a few days for work, and she would ask about and look for him about every 30 minutes the first day, and then sporadically through the next couple of days.
• She is becoming more attached to us and her stuffed animals/dolls.  She loves her daddy so much and will run to the door the second she hears the garage door opening.  "Lambie" is her favorite stuffed animal, and lately she's been kissing it on the face when she gets it back after not having it for awhile (we usually just give to her before nap/bed or in carseat).  She also loves babies, both real and dolls, and she works very hard to cover them up with a blanket, rock them, etc... although Granna did report that last week Kate threw her baby doll like a ball one time. :)
• Her attention span seems to be getting a little longer, and she sometimes will bring 2 or 3 books to me to read in a row (but only if it's HER idea). 

Reading with Mommy at a restaurant at the beach

Eating her "nack" at her big girl table, which Gran let us have from her house

 Playing and Learning:

• The first week in August she started her new class at preschool, which she really enjoys!  She still goes to 1st Presbyterian mornings from 8-12:30 while I work.  Her new teachers' names are Mrs. Connie and Mrs. Betty, and they are such sweet ladies.  Every time I go in, they are working with the kids doing all kinds of playful activities or singing, and they never seem a bit frazzled - I'm amazed by people who teach preschool!  Her new classroom is nice, big and colorful, with lots of toys and fun centers, like a play kitchen and art area.  She enjoys her class and is usually happy when we drop her off, although she has been a little clingy the last couple of days (which I guess is normal for this age).  I'll admit that I was a bit nervous about leaving her old teachers, who we LOVED, but I've been super impressed so far.
• Favorite toys at home right now are balls, her talking/singing mailbox and teapot, blocks, doll, riding toys, and running around or doing pretty much anything outside.  At the beach, there was an old Barbie from either Caroline or me, and she absolutely loved playing with it. 
• She is very into climbing any sort of step or stair and has recently mastered going back down (although she likes to have something to hold onto - she has a very cautious personality at times, and then other times is a wild child with no fear!)
• At the beach, she really enjoyed playing in both the sand and water.  She would get her beach ball or little float and go to the back door and say, "Bee! Go, go!" 
• She is my little shadow and loves to help around the house with whatever I'm doing.  She starting to really get into pretend play. 

Playing in the backyard

"Helping" fold laundry

 Eating and Sleeping:

• She has a huge appetite, which makes sense I guess, considering the fact that she is almost always in constant motion during the day!  
• She has finally mastered eating with a spoon and fork, which makes mealtimes a lot more peaceful for me! (Before, she wanted to do everything to feed herself but still needed lots of help.)
• New foods this month included lima beans, corn on the cobb, grapes cut in half, and a hushpuppy (at a restaurant at the beach).  She loves any kind of sweet, but we don't give her too many!
• Her afternoon nap is getting a little shorter - closer to 1.5 or 2 hours (vs. 2 to 3 hrs.) lately.
• She still sleeps well at night, and lately is actually letting us rock her for a little while before putting her down (which we love!).  We still put her down awake, but rocking is the perfect ending to a long day. :)

Eating with a fork