Growing Up

Wow, what a difference a few months make. At 15 months, Leah is really starting to show her personality. It seems like everyday she learns something new.

She is talking a lot. Some things are very clear, like doggie, mommy, daddy, baby, cheese, yes, no, Annie, choo choo, duckie. Some things aren't so easy to make out, but we understand like Elmo (sounds like Mama), Ball (she calls them Dadda. Probably because she LOVES when he juggles for her), outside and shoes.

Some recent developments. She loves lounging on the couch with a blanket, baby doll, and bunny and watching the Jim Hensen's Pajanimals. Not one of my favorite shows, but she gets really excited as soon as she hears the Sprout On-Demand music and then waves her hands excitedly and then starts to march in place.


The concept of getting dressed. Yesterday she spent probably an hour trying to get her pants on. She could get one leg in pretty easily. It was the second leg that kept messing her up. So she would try it from different places--standing by the couch, sitting on the stairs, and sitting in various places. She would get frustrated and come to me waving her pants. When I tried to help her put them back on, she would get upset and insist that I take them off and let her do it.

She also likes reading books by herself while sitting on the chair in her room.

We sure do love her! She is such a sweet independent girl.

Baby Girl #2

Expected arrival: August 24, 2010

More Gardening

Fifteen Month Stats

Height: 31 1/2 inches, 75th percentile

Weight: 20 pounds 4 ounces, 25th percentile

Gardening

We've been spending some time on our deck in the mornings when its shady and cool. She loves being outside, and she gets right to work carrying her red bucket.

We planted the azalea bushes last weekend. The before and after pictures are on another computer so I'll post them later. I really hope they don't die. I guess azaleas are pretty low maintenance if you plant them exactly right. Otherwise, they will die within 9 months. Let's keep our fingers crossed that ours live!

Azaleas

Last year was full of numerous updates to the inside of our house. This summer, we are focusing on curb appeal. We are in the process of getting a new door, and today we picked up some azaleas with bright pink flowers for the front of our house.

We went took our time looking at all the plants.


The four azalea bushes barely made it into our Honda Accord.




Next week we are going to plant them, and then David is going to build me some planter boxes for our deck. I think they will look so great with some tomatos, peppers, and flowers.

Eastern Market

I love Eastern Market. It's one of my favorite things to do in the district, especially in the Spring. So this morning we picked up Lisa and headed in.

In addition to lots of cool things to look at and buy,


...there are also lots of dogs. Leah was in heaven.


We enjoyed some strawberry, bannana, and nutella crepes. Yum.


We also introduced her to bubbles. She wanted to give it a try.

Leah fell asleep immediately in the car. After being completely zonked out for about 20 minutes, she woke up suddenly and shouted, "doggie! doggie!" and then she feel back asleep. She must have had a good time.

Walking and Accessories

She's up and moving on her own, and she spends most of the day walking from the kitchen to the front room and back again.

She also enjoys a little bling. Sometimes she will wear bracelets to match her anklet.

Easter

It really was a very lovely weekend.

We started the day out with a basket of eggs to open and close.





The weather was perfect to play at the park.

After the playing at the park, we headed to Richmond to have dinner with Grandma and Grandpa Stathis and the Mathis family.

Playing with Grandpa and her cousin.

Leah pointing to all the dogs as we walk around the neighborhood.

Recent Developments

It's been two weeks since Leah gave up the bottle and binkie. We took them both away the same weekend, and she hasn't really missed either.

She's been walking while she is holding someones hand for awhile now. If she is being stabilized on both sides, she runs.

Today she started taking unsolicited multiple steps on her own several times during the day. She was also wearing pink polka-dot shorts, which made it that much cuter to watch.

Smoothies

I've always been a fan of smoothies. I can drink one everyday. Lucky for me, Leah also enjoys them. In the morning, she will open the cupboard and point excitedly at the blender while both saying and signing "more" "more."

She helps me get the ingredients out of the fridge, and then she nervously touches the blender lid when I turn it on.


This is pretty much what she looks like until we take the last sip.