Yeah, We're Mean

Many might scoff, but we were ALL laughing.  

Auntie Ellie visits

My good friend, Ellie, whom I've known from the time we were little girls, traveled across the country to visit and meet my little girl (well she might have had a real reason, like a conference, but my ego stamped it out).  Monica was the epitome of hospitality.  When greeted with a friendly "Hello, Monica," by Auntie Ellie, she began to scream like one being tortured.  Yep, that's how we greet people around here.  She warmed up to Ellie quickly when she discovered that she is totally fun and awesome.  It was a quick visit, but we packed it with going out to dessert and a movie (chick flicks are sometimes best seen with a fellow chick), lunches out showing off local attractions, long chats during nap time and the gym (twice).  Because who doesn't want to work out on their vacation?  Her visit reminds me how grateful I am to have friends who truly know me and love me anyway.  I can always trust her to say exactly what she thinks and help me to become a better person.  Oh yeah, and we have fun!  Thanks for taking all those extra flights to see us Ellie, we love you!

11 Months!

Wow does time fly.  I am already reflecting on the past (almost) year and marveling at how quickly Monica has grown.  This past month her personality has come out in full swing.  And thanks to teething (I hope), her personality has tended to be clingy and whiny. She now has 8 going on 15 teeth and I hope that once her teeth finish coming in, she goes back to our more easy going girl.  Or, if she's anything like her mama, she will continue to be a whiny drama queen for the rest of her life.  She's still plenty happy most of the day: playing, laughing and being silly.  She likes plenty of attention, just don't try and hold her if you aren't her mama.

She is more capably mobile everyday.  Not walking yet, but certainly getting into things.  She climbs on and in anything she can; like the refrigerator (insert a fit here when her strict mother won't let her play with the carton of eggs).  Cup boards, bookshelves, toilets, and closets are all fair game if left unattended by a foolish parent.  She has discovered that the movable baby gate is indeed moveable.  Darn her ability to learn and remember.

She is "talking" up a storm.  I'm calling "hi" as her first word.  She says this when waving which makes me think she gets it.  Tony disagrees. :o)  She is semi-regularly signing for milk, all done and eat.  Although her interpretation of the eat sign has her pointing to her ear instead of her mouth, ensuring that she puts food in her hair at almost every meal.  We are working on thank you, drink and more.  She loves to feed herself and has had several new foods this month: avocado, spaghetti (mainly sucked the sauce off of the noodles) and egg yokes.  I love that she is feeding herself because I can get her set up and happy while I am making the rest of her dinner or ours.

Monica is clicking her tongue and (sending chills up her mother's back) grinds her teeth together.  She sticks her tongue out when she's concentrating.  She might have gotten this from a parent (hint: it's not me).  Even though my demonstration has been minimal (I usually only wear jewelery on Sundays), she uses whatever she can as necklaces and bracelets.  She tries to put sunglasses, hats, socks and shoes on (after taking them off, of course).  While she is certainly a pro at taking things apart, she has also begun to try to put things back together.  Not so great at cleaning up yet. :o)

Monica is a blessed adventure for us.  She demonstrates how to love unconditionally and helps us to work on living in joyful service to our family.