Isabelle Updates: November- December

Isabelle's 12th Month+ : 1 Nov-31 Dec

November:

New words "oh hey!" And "hi!" Says and knows words "mama", "dada", and "wiggle, wiggle, wiggle" (in reference to a song we sing in music class)

Signing "milk" 

Loves exploring all over the house. Brings us things and has us tell her what it is. 

When she gets something in her hands she knows she can't have (like jewelry in drawers in mama's office). She looks at us and runs (FAST) in the other direction!

Learning body parts like "nose" "eyes" and "ears"

So good at being gentle with the kittens (Sophia and Finnegan). She walks up to each of them every morning when she wakes up and tells them "hi!" and pets them gently. 

Loves pulling everything out of drawers and off of tables/shelves she can reach

Favorite foods are anything that we are eating and anything she can feed to herself with her own hands. Working on spoon control. She enjoys mostly finger foods (including pickles and pickled asparagus!!), and her other favorites include cottage cheese with salsa and red beans and rice.
 

Bangs toys and instruments together with hands

December: 

1st birthday wellness exam: weighs 22lbs and 30 inches long. 65th percentile for weight and 90th percentile for height.

Very strong separation anxiety with Daddy (Joe) lately. She cries every time he leaves for work, and many times wants to constantly be held by only him. So sweet!

Brings us items and says "what is it?" (Very mumbly, but we understand it!)

Learned when we say, "What does Santa say?" she says "hohoho!"  

Loves, loves, loves exploring outdoors! Plays with dirt, rocks and sticks, feels leaves and grass, picks flowers and runs around.

Learning so much so quickly! Understands statements like "where are your socks/shoes/water bottle?...etc" and she will bring them to us.  

Becomes VERY frustrated when we don't understand what she wants or what she's trying to communicate to us. 

Loves dancing to music and singing (she sings to herself in her crib and around the house). 

Also learned a new dance move: spinning around in circles. Which after about two spins, she gets dizzy.   

LOVES cuddles and hugs lately! She understands the word "cuddle", so when we ask her to cuddle, she walks up to us and turns her head to lay her cheek up against us and hugs us. Sometimes, she'll just walk up to us and randomly hug us. We love this so so much!! 

Her favorite song from her Music together class is "Sweet Potato" and we love singing it to her! We sing it "sweet potatoes... and green tomatoes!" Because she loves picking the green tomatoes in our garden. 

Also enjoys pulling chairs around the dining room and pulling laundry baskets around the house (sometimes with Finnegan inside!) 

Photos from November/December:
 

Learning about sharing with Lily

One of Isabelle's favorite meals..Tofu marinated in balsamic vinegar with garlic and other spices. Love how she's such an easy eater!

Walking into music class. Love this little sweater dress.

Love this smile. She really enjoys going shopping with me.

Another Lily/Isabelle play date!

Cuties!

Our tree before the Kittens and Isabelle got to it

New winter coat! Now we just need some pants.

 Isabelle's First Birthday!

First birthday "One" shirt and tutu made by one of our talented neighbors!

Joe and I worked together to make this cake from scratch. It is just a yellow cake recipe handed down to us from Joe's grandmother, and we made cream cheese frosting.

We had fun with all the colors!

Experiencing sugar for the first time

Opening birthday presents. I just love her emotions/expressions. She was having a "moment" because I wouldn't let her play with scissors.

"Reading" a new book at her new table

Opening a present from Auntie Elizabeth and Uncle Matthew

Opening a present from Auntie Robin

Practicing scribbling at her new table.

I love how her little feet dangle. Still a lot of room left to grow into.

At the park.

I am always so amazed at how independent/confident she is. Running away from me on a soccer field on base. She, of course came running back with smiles on her face!

Picking grass and flowers on the soccer field.

Sophia loves the new table as well.