The Harriman Family: 13 Months

Mary Ella this time last year at one month old.

And now...my how you've grown!

13 months old

Reaching for her Bible

She can rock her horse!

And she's off!

Read to me Mama!

"Thank you God" book

Ooh, horsie!

After reading every book in the basket...

Mary Ella,

It seems so strange to be writing about the first month of your second year with us! It seems like we just had your birthday party, but here we are a month later. It has been a busy month for our family and for YOU! You continue to amaze us with your growth and sweetness. You have the biggest expressions and are really "talking" to us and showing us what you know and want. Here's what you've been up to:

You weigh 25 pounds and are 30 inches tall.
You are wearing mostly 18 month clothes and size 4 diapers. Your foot has really grown- size 4!
You LOVE food and are such a big girl at meals. You basically eat what we eat now and feed most of it to yourself. It is so fun and nice to sit down and eat as a family. Some of your new favorites are: mango, Yo Baby yogurt, brocoli and cheese, and strawberry fraise Mum Mums. You do not like avocado or peaches. And you still will not drink milk. For the past month we have taken away juice and only offered milk or water. You like to drink water, but make a face and push away the milk. I have just been supplementing with dairy products, but I think I may check with your doctor to see what else I should try.

You sleep with your pig, ballerina frog, monkey, pillow, and lovie, but all you seem to need is your paci. I just keep that stuff in there thinking you'll get attached to something else, so taking the paci away may be easier when the time comes.

You can say "kitty cat." You don't say it often, but I know I've heard it.
You are so sweet and gentle when you pet Ginger. You have discovered it's fun to crawl under the dining room table and mess with her when she's sleeping. Hope she continues to be sweet to you as you get bigger and rougher!

You can point to new body parts: head, hair, tongue, and booty. I call everything in that area booty, because I haven't actually decided what to call "things." But when I say "Where's your booty?" you grab the front of your diaper not the back. And when I change your diaper you don't grab your real booty. So, booty it will be until I need to get more specific!
You love to dance and play with your new farm toy from NaNa. You are pretty good at putting the animal pieces in the puzzle, but you mostly like to carry it by the handle and make it play music so you can dance. You also enjoy your new blocks, wooden toys, grocery cart, and purse with contents.

You are still obsessed with cell phones and pick up anything available and put it up to your ear if you even think you hear something that sounds like a phone ringing. Sometimes you just put your hand up to your ear to say "hi!"

You are finally putting things in containers instead of only emptying! Yay! Maybe I will start teaching you how to clean up!

You like to climb- in and out of your chair, up in your rocking chair, up on your rocking horse, on the bumber pads in your crib, on the windowsill, up the stairs, onto anything! And you like to do it by yourself!

You love to turn the lights on and off and notice every switch in every room. You point and "ooh, ooh" at every one we pass.

You also want to push the buttons on the thermostat every time we walk by. You are very observant!

You point to cars and trucks when we are in the car, and most recently, deer and horses! I think you may be an animal lover!

You still love to be outside and seem to be very amazed at all of God's creation.

You are obsessed with books! You want to read them every time we sit down in the chair in your room and sometimes wake up from naps pointing to your books. You are content sitting in my lap reading book after book. You are really pointing to pictures now. And you are starting to "read" by yourself. You turn the pages, point, and read aloud.

You also like to flip through the pages of your Bible- I'm serious! Everytime you take it off the night stand I sing "The B-I-B-L-E" and you hold it and look through it very carefully. Sometimes you just want to hold it while we rock. I am also teaching you "Pat the Bible" with your little hands. I think you know it is a special thing. This warms my heart!

You are learning how to call the Hogs with your hands up for "Woo!"

You took your first steps for Gigi and Daddy for mini strawberry cupcakes! I really think you could walk because you barely need to hold my hand. But you must be scared because you don't want to let go and when you do, you plop down immediately.

You have started putting your head on my shoulder for love. :)

You try to throw the occasional fit but you're not very good at it. You're good at kicking, but not sure what to do with the rest of your body. You don't know whether to throw your head back or fall forward. It's funny, but I don't laugh. By the time you look up to see what I'm going to do about it, I give you my best "teacher look" and that's usually all it takes. When you realize you're not going to get what you want, you're over it. I have seen you laugh at yourself afterward, and that makes me laugh!

We have had some incidents in the high chair. You really enjoy eating, and when something makes you mad there, you get really mad. Like kick the chair, slam the hands on the tray, and make ugly faces and noises. You also have tried out the "clinch my fists and make my face turn red." Remember this is all because of food! On the other hand, you also get most excited in the high chair. You like to squeal when I open the cabinets or get something out of the microwave. You know what's coming and the anticipation gets you before every meal. The other day in church I pulled out some snacks, and you squealed loudly in delight. Geez!

Enough about fits. You are actually very good at minding your Mama and pretty good at remembering what's off limits. You know what "no" means and obey. Thank you for this!

You have the sweetest little voice in the morning. Paci comes out, and you start babbling.

You know when you are being asked a question, and you know to respond. But your only response is shaking your head "no" even if you mean yes. It is so cute!

You are crazy about pigs! You point to your piggy bank and my pig watering can.

You know it's YOU in the mirror now. You point to yourself when I ask, "Where's Mary Ella?" The other morning we were looking in the mirror and you pointed to yourself and Mommy. When I asked, "Where's Daddy?" you looked around the room and pointed to a picture of him. You are noticing our pictures in frames and like to point and have me name everyone.