14 months

**I'll add pictures to this post later when we're settled into our new place. 


Motor Development. An update on your stair climbing...You grabbed my hand as we were approaching the stairs on the second floor and on your on started backing up to the top stair. You then proceeded to go down the stairs backwards... all by yourself!!!! GO HANNAH! We still don't trust you to do it without supervision, but my goodness you are doing well!

You have a few new signs!! You can sign "milk." This is actually the first sign we ever introduced to you. You must have been pretty hungry when I got you out of your crib one morning because you kept staring at me and signing "milk" until I gave it to you. You can also sign "eat" and "book." We are very excited about this! Signing has helped our communication tremendously! Less frustration all around for us.

Teeth. You have 3 official molars this month and the 4th is beginning to pop through. It's been a tough month of sleepless naps and nights.

Eating. You are officially weaned. I fully weaned you at 13.5 months. With the arrival of three molars and "the yuck" that sideswiped you, I just couldn't take that last session away any sooner. You're still working through the last few bags of pumped milk. I think I'll cry a little bit when it's finally gone. The good news is, we introduced whole milk to you and you didn't blink. You loved it.

You started "correctly" using a spoon this month!!! We are so exited! We've always given you your own spoon at meal time.  Usually, you just chew on or play with it. Out of the blue, you showed interest in putting your spoon in your yogurt. You've done this before and it's ended in a big mess. This month, you can dip your spoon and immediately put it in your mouth!! Go Hannah! What an important life skill you're learning!

Play. You are doing much better with independent play. Daddy and I are teaching you how to play with your mega blocks (clicking and stacking) and also your wooden blocks (stacking). You recently sat down with your basket of mega blocks and spent time clicking them together. This is a great step! Normally, you would only pull the blocks apart and toss them aside.

You are matching puzzle pieces much better this month. You have no trouble matching the pictures. You place the puzzle piece on top of the matching picture and occasionally settle the piece correctly in its place.

You can find Elmo in your book. Each new page, we ask where Elmo is and you point him out right away. You even find him on the lift- a- flap page.

We continued with Gymboree this month. Now that we've had a few weeks in the program I have to say, I am not a fan of their music class for learning the basics. Literally, I could turn on some music, give you an instrument let you play on your own and accomplish the same thing. I do like their play and learn and will probably keep you in that when we move to GA and find a separate music class.

Daddy taught you how to give high fives. It's adorable to watch the two of you.

Words. That's right, you get a new category this month. You said two completely legitimate words this month. Your first, "banana" on 11/15/11 We're counting this as your official first word. Both Sandy and I heard it and literally stared at you and then each other with our mouths wide open. You were munching on your banana and I asked you if it was good and you said "banana." Your second word came a day later. You said, "Conner." We were having a girl's night at Mrs. Mindy's and you crawled towards Conner and said his name. Again, I was in shock. Mrs. Mindy said "Did she just say Conner?" I said, "I heard it too!" So funny! You haven't said them since, a fluke or are we hearing things???

Hannahisms. You are such a sensitive little girl and your feelings are hurt pretty easily. Physically, you are tough and very strong. You are a studier and really concentrate on how things work.

New This Month. You are starting to learn parts of the body. So far, you can point to a nose when we ask you "where's ___ nose" and you point to my nose, daddy's nose, elmo's nose, your nose, etc. You've got nose down! You also know where your ear and head are.

You attempt to put your own shoes and socks on. You haven't figured out how to put them on your feet, but you are trying very hard.

Your independent personality is coming through more and more. This leads to some mini-tantrums when you get into things you shouldn't or if we take something away. We're adopting the philosophy "ignore the negative and praise the positive" We'll see how it works.

Big Changes. This marks your last month living in Chicago. We spent 13 months in this great city. You survived a very cold winter, we made some great friends, we explored, you had many firsts, we had wonderful friends visit and you enjoyed many activities. We will miss Chicago dearly! You will especially miss Conner. He's your very best buddy and we are very sad to leave him and Mrs. Mindy. We know that Georgia will be a wonderful place too, once we get settled in.