Progress

N reached the 16 month mark this weekend. She has been with us 5.5 weeks now. In some ways, it seems like she has been here forever, at other times I watch her walking around in our house and can't believe she is actually here.

She is sleeping through the night very steadily now. I have a sort of methodology for getting her to bed...a definite routine. There are nights when it works like gangbusters and other nights (like last night) where maybe she napped too much during the day and won't sleep. Last night she was content, mostly, to lay in her crib and listen to lullabies and watch her crib toys...for hours. Sucking her finger, rubbing her ear with her blanket, and NOT SLEEPING (and therefore, Mommy cannot leave to do other things or get ready for bed herself). But mostly, bedtime has gotten better. Progress.

She won't go to sleep without me in the room...heck, she won't stay in her crib without screaming without me in the room. But she will let me leave a room she is in and then either play a bit or follow me out. Doors closed between us are a big no-no. Today she was playing with clothes in the laundry room and I went to her room across the house to put some things away. I heard her cry out and called out to her...and then went into the living room to call out to her over and over. I found her kneeling in front of our bedroom door, across the house, scratching at the door, screaming, and crying uncontrollably. She was convinced I was in there with the door shut. It wasn't until I picked her up and turned her around to see me that she calmed down. But she will do alone in a room with the door for a short time and she even sometimes leaves the room I am in to go to another room momentarily. Progress

She shows a preference for me around strangers and will cling to my leg when she gets overwhelmed at the park. She will still make a beeline for a stranger now and then. C and I have figured out that she is attracted to people on cell phones. I don't know where the cell phone infatuation stems from, but it's pretty funny. She doesn't usually just walk up to strangers and ask to be held so much. Progress.

She loves to walk around and explore the playground. At first she was completely overwhelmed and didn't know what to do except be held, but now she climbs and plays. We have a very nice playground less than a mile away with big wooden structures that are safe for babies to walk on (they are walled) and she loves for me to slide her and of course nothing beats the swing, but she likes to walk on the wobbly bridge and stand on the swaying platform and climb over the tires and spin the racing car wheel. If she sees water, she is THERE and she and daddy fed the ducks last week, with him working hard to keep her from just going right in. Progress.

She is refusing certain foods. At first she obediently ate everything I gave her. I'm sure that at the baby home they were trained to eat what they were given when it was given and not fuss. Now she is able to express preferences and she takes her time. She likes to help hold the spoon if she is not feeding herself finger foods. For two days she has steadfastly refused the jar of peaches, apples, and bananas I've tried to give her, even though she will eat all three of those fruits in different combinations. But that jar? No way, no how. She loves apples, bananas, butternut squash, green beans, and green peas. And chicken vienna sausages. Won't eat the regular ones...just plays with them. She'd live on yogurt if I let her. She is also drinking more water now. I don't think they had access to any food or drink other than mealtimes at the baby home, so it took her a while to get used to the idea that her water cup is kept down low so that she can have water whenever she wants. Progress.

She imitates us like crazy. Her sounds are very limited. There is "yeah" "hey" "I" and a variety of ba-ba-ba ma-ma-ma da-da-da and assorted gibberish. C has been teaching her all sorts of things, like smacking her lips and sticking out her tongue (aren't daddies useful?). She blows kisses and now she waves bye-bye. When I sing the alphabet song she heads for her alphabet caterpillar, when I sing E-I-E-I-O, she heads for the farm toy. When I say, "Giddy-up, Horsie!" she gets on her horse. She can now get on and off the horse by herself. Progress.

She has gained two pounds, unofficially. I need to make her follow-up appointment with the pediatrician tomorrow. I haven't measured her, but she has definitely grown. She is still in 9 mth clothing, but the 6-9 mth variety is a little snug. Progress.