Baby Talk and Lil Miss Independent

I have so much to caught up on...Miley and Daddy's first overnight without Mommy, first trip to the zoo, teething, potty training, Miley's independence level, her new language, etc. So first things first:

At the beginning of the month I had an overnight conference in Montgomery. Miley and Daddy had 36 hours without Mommy that was suppose to be a breeze. Daddy's one and only mistake...he decided to stay home with Miley instead of going to work and taking her to daycare. I guess he thought it would be an easy day. Well by 10 am, he called. "Why doesn't Miley and Daisy ever sit still?! I just found Miley playing in the toilet and Daisy drinking out of it!" My response..."You mean you didn't go to work?" Also during this time Miley was really teething so she had runny stool up to three times a day. So around 3, he called again. "Why does she keep pooping, I almost puked last time?" My response..."You meant to stay home for work?!" After those two calls things were under control. They did just fine but I like to tease him a little for thinking work was harder ;). Needless to say the next morning he went to work and Miley went back to school.

We went to the New Orleans zoo on Sunday but I want to save this post for next time so I can upload photos.

Teething is almost over this time around!!! Miley's bottom two molars are all the way out. The upper two are about 3/4ths the way. Those babies are HUGE and so pearly white!!! I think (knock on wood) the 5 am screaming fits are over. Teething really stinks!

Potty training is going pretty good, she's pooped on her potty all week. So proud but still not pushing her too hard.

Miley's independence level has got to be equal to that of a 2 year old. She wants to do EVERYTHING herself. She wants to put on her socks and shoes, get her own snack from the pantry, hold her own fork or spoon, she wants to hold Daisy's leash, push her own buggy on the sidewalk, sit in a booster seat at restaurants (we've noticed her throwing fits in a high chair, tried the booster and bang happy toddler), and she wants to drink out of a cup with a straw because that's how Momma and Dada do it. If you try to help her with some of these things like the shoes or fork, she prys your fingers off of it or throws a fit. I tried to help her push her little Winnie the Pooh car and she literally grabbed my index finger and tried pulling it off the handle. Last night she wanted a bit of my tuna fish because she ate all of hers and she kept trying to grab the fork out of my hand. She's growing up so fast...but on a positive note she does like to help put all her toys away and help unload the dishwasher. Last night she was handing me the clean spoons one at a time and each time said "Tank ew" (Miley talk for Thank you).

I would say starting on Monday, Miley has developed a new "trick" that is sooooooooo cute words cannot describe it. For a little back reference Stephen and I have never talked "baby talk" to Miley. I guess we're just not those kind of people, we've always talked to her normally like she understands. So anyway Miley has now begun to "baby talk" to her dolls. It is so sweet to hear her little voice get higher in pitch and her babbling like you would a baby. She points at the baby's face and says something like "ah baaabeeee ah boo gaaa boo" then holds it really close just gently patting it's back. So cute I cannot stand it! We have to got to find a way to post a video with sound on here!

Zoo post coming next!!!

Health Update and more

Well once again I haven't blogged in awhile but that's because I've been doing field work for the last 2 weeks. Anyway, Miley's ear infection seems to be gone because she's been less clingy; however, her 4 molars are coming in really fast. The bottom two are completely out but the tops are only about 1/2 the way. This makes Miley very whiny and she hasn't really been sleeping so hopeful the other 2 will hurry up. Last week a stomach virus swept the daycare but Miley showed the symptoms for only a day. I was really worried because it took most kids out of day care for a week. So after the ear infection, stomach virus, and teething Miley is doing much better. I've discovered that ice chips really seem to help the teething since she doesn't really chew on anything. The only things she puts in her mouth these days is food and of coarse the right thumb.

Potty training was going okay until the virus struck. Now she tells me after she poops so we've had a little set back. We'll work it out eventually. Lately her vocabulary has seemed to take off. She is like a little parrot repeating most one word syllables. Some new "tricks" include: pointing to her eye and saying eye, doing the same with ear, nose, and belly button (she says baa-ee). She also makes a loud "maawaa" sound when she gives kisses. She loves stepping into my shoes and trying to walk. If you tell her "Miley, get Daisy's numa numa" she runs full and I mean full speed into the kitchen to get Daisy a dog biscuit. She hasn't learned the concept of just one yet but she knows where and what the treats are. We haven't had any other issues with Miley eating dog food but she does like to sit in Daisy's crate and shut the door. I guess it's her "personal" time.

Miley's spring daycare pictures were today so new photos should be coming soon. I'll send her 1 year pictures (5 months ago, what?!!) with these new ones. She has a lot more hair and 4 new pearly whites :)

Beginning Stages of Potty Training

Let me start off by saying that I do not actually believe that Miley understands potty training at 16 months. That being said, I do not think it's a bad idea to try here and there. Lately, Miley has been telling us when she's pooped. She'll walk up to us and say "Poop". She has actually told me one and two times before actually doing it.

This weekend, my Mom found two kids toilet seats on sale (Dora the Explorer even). So I started putting Miley on the potty while I run her bath or if she tells me "poop". She has not yet used the seat. It'll be awhile before she's actually ready but at least she can get used to the seat. She thinks it's fun to sit there and unroll the toilet paper (nice) and she always tries to flush. I actually think potty training may be difficult for us. She doesn't mind a wet diaper. She never has and only recently has not like a poopy diaper. Maybe because her diapers absorb so well she doesn't know when she's wet. Not sure but we'll see how it goes. Wish us luck!

Nigh, Nigh and Mommy's First Real Kiss

I've been a bad blogger :(. Must post more often! Well, Miley has a new super cute trick. On Friday night, Miley and I were sitting on the couch. I was watching TV and she was "reading" a book. She very slowly started leaning toward me until her head was on my arm and simply said "Nigh, Nigh". Aka, for those who don't speak Miley, night, night. It was so cute! I started laughing so of coarse she did it a few more times. Now whenever she's in her high chair, car seat, or sitting quietly, she might randomly lay or turn her head to the side and say "nigh, nigh". She is so cute sometimes we just can't stand it!

Also she now gives a very select few kisses. You just have to point to your check and ask for a kiss. At first I was the only one to receive a kiss but now Daddy and Daisy are on the short list. Oh, I should note that by kiss I mean either her forehead to your check or a big sloppy lick across the face :). Oh well, I love it! We've also started trying a baby potty but I'll blog about that later.