Changes, changes, changes

Emily recently had her first visit with our new pediatrician. This 15-month check-up put official statistics to what we already know - Emily is a peanut that takes after her mom's side of the family. This has not changed. She is now 17.75 pounds (1st percentile), 28.75 inches long (6th percentile) and has a head circumference of 45 cm (22nd percentile). So, she continues to be very small, but the doctors continue not to be concerned, so neither are we.

She has been doing a great job with her walking and is all over the place these days. She has discovered that she can get into the lower kitchen cabinets, which are filled with Tupperware and plastic cups. She likes to drag out the little bowls and then leave them all over the house. Often, at night, I'll go through and pick up four or five bowls that have been strewn about.

Emily has also decide that she loves grapes and raisins and has been eating them all the time. Of course, it occurred to me that perhaps this is my doing. Perhaps it was the hint of wine in my breast milk that shaped this strong desire for grapes. Uh oh . . .

BIG NEWS - finally Emily has teeth! The two bottom, center teeth popped through within the past couple of weeks. They still haven't grown in very far, but they are there for sure and are mighty sharp.

We have also been amazed with Emily's growing vocabulary recently. She is trying out new words all the time. Her pronunciation is still very garbled, but I have distinctly heard her say: kid, star, outside, couch, house, bird, car, ball, more, cup, shoes, bye, eye, ear, hat, fish, dog, water, balloon. This is just to name a few. There are probably more that I can't remember and these are in addition to Mama and Dada. Interestingly, she is not as comfortable with Abbie's name (occasionally she'll say "Ab") or with her own name. I have only heard her try her own name once. I guess Emily must be a hard word to say.

Emily has also decided to warn us that the "terrible twos" are on their way. She is already showing very strong opinions about what she does or does not want to do and she will throw a fit if things don't go her way. On the bright side, though, she has been charming us with all sorts of flirting and playing and kisses. She also likes to tease us sometimes. There are days when you'll ask her for a kiss and extend your cheek to her and she'll gladly give you a kiss. There are other days when she gets a kick out of withholding kisses. You'll ask for a kiss and she'll smile and shake her head "no." Same goes for food. Sometimes she'll hold something out to feed to you. Then when you go for it, she'll quickly pop it in her own mouth and smile.