20 Months
Summer is halfway over--say it's not so! It has been such a wonderful time of staying in our own home for the first time in 3 years. We are loving it! There is something so relaxing about doing nothing--days in a row. However, we did just return from Thailand and we are moving in 2 days--so I suppose it's not quite 'nothing.' Nonetheless, our days consist of early morning breakfasts, errands, playtime, crafts, walks, naps, and public transportation--but they're very full and enjoyable! We've been staying cool with playdates inside and pools--HK isn't so bad in the summer after all!
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| Little one can reach just about anything these days--proof the the middle of the table no longer works! (Check out the blonde hair!) |
Stats:
34 inches and 23 pounds. Atley has grown a bit, slowed down on her eating and sped up on her running--we assume this accounts for the weight loss this month. She is not eating as much as she used to at meals or snacks which always surprises us! But, she does have a tendency to chow down when a 'treat' is mentioned. We love that right now, although she can 'count' her numbers, she does not quite understand it. We tell her she should take 2 more bites--she happily picks up her fork--and counts. "1, 2..." and then proceeds to repeat!! It's great! No new clothes needed this month--although she did get a new pair of sandals as she started requesting to wear a different pair (she literally has 2 pairs of shoes so not much choice--and used to hate the other one--so we knew something was up!) She now wears a size 8 (toddler).
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| Waiting for the bus at a very hodge-podge stop! |
Favorite Words and Other Milestones:
Just this past month, I've really been losing track of everything she is saying--it is so much that I've stopped keeping a list. She has really started to form 2-3 word sentences (so fun to watch her practice--slow and steady as she thinks it through), makes requests, labels things, proclaims things that happened in the past (Daddy tickled, Atley running). It melted my heart when she climbed on me and said, "Mommy snuggle!" She even answers questions we ask very accurately (Who did you have dinner with tonight?)--and if we say something that we're trying to be funny with, she gets it and with a small chuckle! She's also started to memorize and sing LOTS of songs! We have been singing the same song to her nightly ("I Get to Be the One" JJ Heller) (and at naps) since she was born and she's started to join in--she knows quite a few of the words (or makes sounds similar) and I'm so impressed! She loves to sing on her own (and perform--arms in the air, spin around) the following songs: "Sunny Days" (Sesame Street), "Let It Go" (Frozen), "Do You Want to Build a Snowman?' (Frozen), "Jesus Loves Me", "Let My Words Be Few," "Rain, Rain Go Away"--and lately, "Beat It" (yes, RIP Michael Jackson).
Favorite Foods:
It's true. Our daughter LOVES chocolate. Even the way she says it makes it hard to resist giving it to her! We can thank her YeYe for truly introducing it to her (after his most recent visit, we found hidden bags throughout the house--even random M&M's in her crib and diaper!). She even walks through the store and picks up a bag and says "YeYe" with a smile on her face. We forever have a sweet tooth! She's also started liking cooked carrots, steak, and loves her local noodle breakfast (requests it often!) which consists of noodles, beef satay, and an egg sandwich. She is a sight to see amongst the locals--they laugh every time they see her eating it!
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| These 2 are my favorite! |
Favorite Activities:
The past month, Atley has continued to bust into song--and will continue to say the same line over and over until we join. I have committed to learning the rest of the lyrics to these songs to alleviate this! She loves to climb stairs still and has become more fond of the buses (yay!) and wants to now ride up top (because she gets to climb the stairs) on every trip (not mom's favorite spot--a little more bouncy!). She LOVES when Taylor tickles her--and although she asks me to tickle her too, she quickly asks for him after my attempt, ha! Atley is very interested in washing dishes! She has stools around the house (for sitting) that when she hears the kitchen water turn on, she will gasp and go running for the stool, set it at the kitchen sink and say, "Wash dishes!" She is a great little helper--and we all come away from the process a tad bit more wet than we started! On Saturday mornings she still crawls into our bed for Sesame Street (and a bowl of cereal after) and this is a highlight for her. She has been wearing a cape lately (an old swaddle blanket of her's--and asking for one tied on her doll, as well. I think it might be from Frozen. She's been having more playdates this summer and is obsessed with other kids and babies. It's hard to walk away from her because she is SO, SO loving (too much?!) around them!
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| Princess Atley! |
Favorite Things:
Atley still sleeps with Blanket and Bunny at each sleep. She rotates toys to bring in the stroller. She got a tent this month that she enjoyed running into and hiding from us--but after falling over in it, she stopped going in as often! We put it away and hope that when we reintroduce it she will enjoy it again. She loves anything princess, Frozen, Disney (although she's only seen about 3 movies--she knows them from some books we bought used from the school--even cuter, she presses the back of the books where they feature all the other pictures of different books you can read, as though it's a touch screen! we've explained several times that it's "just" a book...! Ohhh these times!) She likes to walk around holding her water gun which she insists is a cane (probably from watching all the elderly here) and has recently fallen in love with the British children's song "Wake Up Sleeping Bunnies!"
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| Water gun/cane walking |
Least Favorite Things:
Atley has been very clingly to Mommy lately--she does not like it when Mom is another room, using the bathroom, cooking...she also wants to be carried by Mom everywhere! We've been trying to switch to Taylor (and letting her fuss about it) and it's getting better. We walk SO much daily it is hard to carry her far! She is also not liking being told "No" or having items taken away that she shouldn't be touching (scissors). She's so quick and so tall--she came out of the kitchen with a knife off the counter that I had left for 20 seconds while working on dinner! Ruthless! And keeping us on our toes!
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| First time she smiled for the camera when I asked her to! |
Random Unforgettables:
If "Sunny Days" starts playing, she will come RUNNING into the room and at the top of her lungs yell, "Sunnnnny days!"
Atley has laid on the ground in the hallway a couple times and asks us to lay down too. As we do, she gets the biggest smile on her face and just stares sweetly at us.
Atley said "Love you," in response to us multiple times this week.
She talks about how baby Caleb pulled her hair this week and when asked if it hurt or if she laughed, she chuckles and says, "Laughed." (see video for what Atley did to Caleb---not sure if HE was laughing!)
Atley's 'hiding hand' game at dinner when she wants the attention brought back to her (she tucks her hands behind her in her high chair) and says loudly, "Haaaaaaaands?" (in the cutest tone!) to prompt us to 'look' for her missing hands! After looking under her feet, in her ears, in her hair, suddenly, they 'reappear' and we all cheer!
How her hair is starting to curl behind her ears and be long enough to pull up.
Her full mouth of teeth (16!).
Lovebirds Corner:
We just got back last week from a week in Phuket, Thailand (stayed on Kamala Beach) and loved it! This was our second time to Thailand but first time with Atley. We stayed at a great hotel for kids (this is our new thing--it helps fill the days so nicely to have places built for kids!) and were very close to the beach. We had a great time! Now that we're back, we're packing house (to put it into perspective, besides our furniture, we purchased 8 cardboard boxes (12'X20"), 4 rubbermaid tubs, some large 'China' bags, and some duffels will move us. We live simply (although I feel like we have collected a ton since living here!) We're still enjoying learning to live in small spaces and hope to transfer it to a future Western home. Taylor is working so hard at his master's but really getting the hang of the summer classes. He wakes up very early in the mornings and gets an hour or so done before the girls are up! Such a great man! I am doing very busy things like trying new recipes, my nails, catching up on shows--glorious summer tendencies :) We are already planning our summer home next year--it will go by fast! Love to everyone!
(here are some favorites from our trip to Thailand!)
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