I Have a New Friend...

Each night we gather around the dinner table to eat and share what happened during our day. We usually ask Austen and Peyton who they sat next to at lunch or what was the best part of their day. Tonight, Peyton was very eager to share what happened at school today. She said:

• a new friend started today at her school
• he was from China
• he wore golden shoes

I then asked how old he was. She said five and she told me his name. She then proceeded to ever so innocently tell me that he makes these cups. And with that, she picked up her plastic cup full of milk and looked at the bottom.  You see, Austen has been on a mission lately to find out where everything is made  and he has mentioned that these cups are made in China. I could barely contain my laughter as I explained to Peyton that her new friend likely didn't make the cups just because the cups were made in China. In fact, I went on to explain that there are many things made in the U.S. (okay maybe not as many as are made in China!) and that doesn't mean that we made them. She looked a bit confused but I really hope she doesn't ask her new friend tomorrow if he makes cups!

16 Months

She did it. She finally started walking at 16 months. The latest of the three to start walking but I wasn't surprised. She did everything later - sitting up, crawling and now walking. I predicted 16 months once I

saw her pattern of doing things a bit later but I never really thought it would take her until 16  months. We had her doctor's appointment this week and they said she now is 75th percentile for weight (although she still seems small to me) and 25th percentile for height. Although I think those are a bit off based on her age and the fact that she wouldn't let them properly weigh her. Still she's doing great. The doctor asked if she had at least 5 or 6 words and I said she had more like 10 but thinking about it later her vocabulary is more like 15-20. She is a very verbal kid.

Her eye-hand coordination is also spectacular and she can throw a ball like a pro. This weekend she even started dribbling a soccer ball! I was floored! She just started walking now she's dribbling a little ball in our basement. I think she's showing her desire to play sports even earlier than Austen. But she has a little Peyton in her too. She's feisty that's for sure and she loves to read. Just wait until my next post on this topic. Hilarious!

Anyway, as soon as she started walking it's a whole new world for her and more work for us! She constantly wants to climb stairs and stools and her brother's bunk bed ladder. She keeps me on my toes all day that's for sure since you need to keep an eye on this one!  But at the same time it's so great to see her grow into a toddler and interact even more with her siblings. Watching her and her brother and sister growing up just keeps getting better even if it means I'm getting older too. 

Is She Walking Yet?

She is. Sort of. She keeps taking lots of steps and then dropping to her knees.  Although she is not walking consistently, each day she walks a little more. At almost 16 months, Hailey definitely took the most time out of my three to learn how to walk. 

But, I also think she is a smart little cookie. She understands far more than even I actually realize. I tell her things like give me your pacifier or out your blanket in the crib and she does. Today, we caught her in the pantry with a lint roller pretending to take the dog hair off her pants! She knows where her nose, head and mouth are located and is learning animal sounds. Her favorite - meow! I think Peyton has brainwashed her already!

She has more words like baby, snack (pronounced 'nack'), bow (and her hand flies up to her head to show me she understands her bow goes in her hair), more and milk. 

She loves looking at pictures and often lays on her back on the floor looking at them or a book. She definitely has her own voice and makes sure that her brother or sister don't exclude her. She may be our youngest but she may be by far our toughest.

Frozen

Literally. It hasn't stopped snowing in 24 hours. Almost at 18 inches now and our cable just went out. Good thing it waited until after the Super Bowl. 

Of course today was the day we also had Frozen on Ice tickets and had to drive to the city. Stinks that we used to live only a few blocks from the venue where it is being held until our move to the burbs. That would have been a short commute! But we made it in 40 minutes and the kids enjoyed the show. Hailey especially liked the popcorn. Austen and Peyton liked seeing Sven the reindeer on ice skates. 

Made it home in time to snuggle up to the fire for the Super Bowl and for the kids to watch and then play. Hailey has been practicing her 3-4 steps of walking and growing more comfortable. She has also acquired some new words- no and baby. She likes to say both of them often along with hi and bye and blowing kisses. In fact, she melted some lady's heart today in the grocery store waving bye to her and blowing kisses. Leave it to her to make people smile on this frozen day.