Cara is 16 months old!

By far, this has been my favorite month thus far in Cara's development. So many fun things, so much interaction, tons of personality, tons of fun, and really starting to figure her out more than ever before. It's been an awesome month.

Stats:

• We're late on her 15-month appt, so we're going on Friday, but she did get weighed at the doctor when she was sick, and she weighs about 27 lbs. 
• She seems to have lost weight since the last time we went to the doctor, so I guess it's possible that with all the walking and running, she's lost a little baby fat. 
• She is getting tall--probably at least 30 inches or taller. We'll find out soon!
• She's gotten another top molar, so that's a total of 10 teeth: 4 up top, 4 below, 2 top molars, more to come.

Milestones:

• Oh, the language! She is saying EVERYTHING these days. Pretty much anything you say to her she tries to repeat. She's adding new words for things or activities almost daily.

• increasing independence--she is doing things on her own and wanting to try things for herself instead of me doing it for her. This leads to frustration when she can't do it, but I'm teaching her "help" so she can ask when she needs it.
• using a spoon/fork. Oatmeal is easiest because it stays on the spoon, but she's getting good at holding it, bringing it to her mouth and scooping. I usually guide her hand, but she's doing really good at learning.

Personality:

• independent, like I said before--wants to do things on her own or try out by touching/doing
• still very social--would prefer to do an activity (like reading or working a puzzle) in your lap as opposed to doing it by herself
• a helper--good at putting things away, bringing things to us, following directions, helping to get herself dressed
• ultra friendly--smiles and waves at total strangers, super happy and friendly with family and friends, loves to giggle and play with you
• not very patient--wants things when she wants them, doesn't like to wait
• BUSY--is either off or on, playing in everything or sleeping-no quiet in between
• DEFINITELY learned "no" and uses it quite often. We've stopped asking her questions, because the answer is always no, so we just give her directions now instead. It's pretty funny to watch, but at the same time it's frustrating because I know what's coming once she stops following directions too.

Sleep:

• no major changes in this section
• sleeps 7:30-7 overnight
• morning nap around 10, afternoon nap around 2:30
• I think she could switch to one nap a day, and she often does if she sleeps in until 8 or so. Most of the kids in her class at daycare are still on 2 naps, so when she moves up classes, I bet they switch her too. For now, it's fine, and she's really flexible in her sleep if we put her down for 2 naps, she'll take them.
• Still goes down to sleep really easily. We rock and shush for a few minutes after Daddy reads a book, and then she conks herself out. Sometimes she wakes up around 11-12 at night, but that's very rare. And if she wakes up less than 1 hour into her nap, we pat her back and lay her down and she goes back to sleep. I know how fortunate I am that she's a great sleeper, and I'm thankful.

Clothes:

• still in 12-18m clothes, but some 18-24 are starting to fit loosely
• size 4 diapers, and we're still holding strong because we just got a shipment of 180 more diapers--thanks, Amazon Mom!
• size 4.5 shoes are still good, and some size 5 are fitting a little better. I'm glad the money we invested in some shoes a while ago has been holding out for so long.
• I bought 48 new bitty bows (24 colors x2) for her hair since it's getting so much longer, and they are adorable!!! They're the perfect size for her head and for little pigtails later on. I can't wait for that!

Food:

• We've started the picky stage, I think. She won't just eat anything I put in front of her. She's picky about texture and temperature of her food and is quick to spit something out if she doesn't want it.
• When she got sick, we reverted back to baby food and pouches so it was easier on her tummy, and she's still eating a lot of those still. But she typically eats whatever we do, in small pieces or less of it.
• We're trying to teach her to use a bowl or plate, but she often wants to pick it up and toss it too, so that makes a mess. Slow steps.
• Her favorites are still chicken, orange foods of any kind and milk. She got some treats over Christmas--cookies or bites of chocolate, etc., and she would IMMEDIATELY stop in her tracks, sign "more" and return for another bite. Smart girl!
• She drinks 20 oz of whole milk a day. When she was sick, she refused it more often, but her love for milk is back.

Likes:

• reading books in your lap
• taking bites of whatever you have on your plate, fork or hand
• bathtime--splashing her feet rapidly in the water or feeling the faucet stream
• babbling or parroting after us
• drinking her milk as she walks and plays
• going places in public and talking or waving at people
• being social and interacting with friends or family
• being spoiled with attention by grandparents
• showing off for people--she always looks to make sure you're watching her
• dancing to the music from her toys

Dislikes:

• being in the carseat (still, not a fan of being strapped down)
• changing clothes on her changing pad
• waiting for anything
• not being able to get what she wants (oh, dear...)

Most challenging:

• Pneumonia... giving breathing treatments against her will, waking up to dose her with medicine or a breathing treatment in the middle of the night, cleaning up vomit multiple times and changing sheets at 1:30 a.m., fighting fever, worrying about her, side effects from antibiotics, and everything else. It was her biggest illness so far (and hopefully the last one for a very long time), so it was hard to see her sick. I'm thankful she bounced back relatively quickly.

Looking forward to:

• talking with her more, communicating even better
• seeing her emerging personality really solidify
• slowing down a little now that the holidays are over and we have more free weekends and open time together