My baby is going to be one

It is sad how fast they grow.  I've been reluctant to attach the toddler name to her even though she acts like one in every manner, but since she isn't one yet she is still a baby.   We've definitely got our hands full with this little girl.  She is very tactile and always has been.  But now that she's getting older the hitting, head butting, pinching, etc are not as easily avoided and more problematic.  She is constantly going after Selena and its hard because sometimes Selena retaliates.  It's hard to blame her.  I get frustrated too.  Especially in the middle of the night when Allie has decided the only way she wants to "sleep" is while nursing and pulling my hair.

I think it is also about time where we are going to have to be more equitable.  Allie notices what Selena has and she wants it too.   We went to Northwest Trek today and Selena got some juice that came in a gorilla squeeze bottle.  Allie spent the entire time trying to steal, trick, or sneak the juice away from Selena.  When she did finally manage to get it Selena said, "Everything is terrible".  She really is pesky.  She will take Selena's toys and run off with them giggling and laughing.  When will they play together?  Selena tries, but Allie doesn't get it and thinks its more fun to make Selena upset. 

Allie's getting quicker with her walking.  She's almost running.  She is also good at climbing and has mastered stairs.  Her talking is coming along as well.  She can say diaper change (dida uh) while she signs it.  This is very consistent so I guess besides mama and dada, diaper change is her first word.  I've also heard her say Nana, Dyna, and bear. 

She loves to explore things and gets very angry when you interrupt her.  She likes toothbrushes and at the moment specifically Floyd's.  She also loves shoes and is always insisting on wearing shoes; even to bed.  So I've put her to bed with her little soft soled shoes over her footed jammies.  (See she is like a two year old.  Selena did the same thing a 6 months ago)  She likes playing peek-a-boo and will cover her face and then uncover it, or hide behind a wall and pop out.  She also likes the game I made up, "Allie is walking, walking, walking Allie is walking all day long."  Then we go on to jogging, running and jumping.  She'll wiggle her legs in anticipation of the game while getting her diaper changed.

She usually takes two naps a day.  I think I've convinced her to make bedtime a little later 8 - 8:30, which means she is up at 7.  Which isn't ideal, but much better than 6am.

Busy, busy, busy

The past month has been busy trying to sell our house and look for a new one. The unfortunate side effect of this is that Selena has been less able to cook and paint because it is messy. But we've been taking more trips to Nana's and Papa's and to Grandma and Grandpa's.  We went to the zoo a couple times and to the spring fair.

A few months ago I declared success in the potty department, but then after 2 1/2 months she started having accidents once a day again.  That lasted about two months and now we're back to no accidents.  She also decided to start wearing underwear at night.  I bought her some new undies and there were stars on them and she declared them good night undies and wanted to wear them to bed.  But I do have to be diligent about reminding her to go first thing in the morning and in the evening if she hasn't gone in a while.


Selena's comments and observations of the world:

-  Allie is messy like Papa.  When I was a baby I was messy like Papa too.
-  Selena says that Allie is going to the baby village when she tries to escape upstairs.
-  I say, "Nobody's perfect."  Selena replies, "Mama your perfect"
-  We are looking at new houses and Selena says she doesn't want to move because she likes the carpet in this house.  When we look at pictures of new houses she would point out one and say, "I like that one, it has nice carpet"
-  Curious George is one silly monkey.
-  My socks aren't in good order. Can you fix them?
-  "Why is daddy driving?",  "He's a better driver."  "Why?"  "Because he has better eyes than me and can see better than me in the dark."  "Hmm.  Maybe green eyes are better than brown eyes."
-  Me and my mom were snuggling on the couch and Selena comes up and says, "Look two mamas."
-  Floyd fell off a ladder painting the house.  Selena said he forgot to switch tail for balance.  (This phrase comes from the book High-Wire Henry)
- She is always climbing, but if you tell her she is being a monkey she says, "I'm not a monkey. I'm a cat."
-  Oooh Allie is the cutest baby.
- Mama you are a mama and you don't know better.  (She got this from me telling her that Allie is a baby and doesn't know better, except somehow she has applied it to me)
-