Healthy Toddler

Dr. Alcantara signed off on Riley this morning as one healthy toddler at 20 lbs. 15 oz. and 29 1/4 inches. Thank goodness...I was especially worried about her ears again, as she was poking at them quite a bit last week. The doc mentioned it's probably related to some new teeth on their way. Riley survived 3 shots today and only cried for a short minute. Her stuffed bear help ease the tears away. If all goes well, we don't report back until the 15 month check-up.

At 12 months Riley is, what I believe, to be very addicted to her bottle. The doctor wasn't upset at all, which gave me great relief. She mentioned that 15 months is the magical deadline. So, since JD is returning this weekend and will be home for 4 weeks straight, you know what habit we will be working to break together. We will also have to work on swinging...as she is not really crazy about it.

At 12 months, Riley is very active. We signed her up for a class at "The Little Gym" that meets each Tuesday morning. She had a ball interacting with the other toddlers...going up to all of them waving hi. She loves the free exploration time, yet seems to bounce from one area to the next, instead of investigating each station. She just loves roaming to see what all of the other kids are doing. I guess you could say she is simply curious and notices everything! We can be in the house, and she will see a lawn mower on the golf course (across the street in the distance) and walk to the door and wave at it. When playing outside in the evening, she will hear the birds and point to them, even if they are sitting in the empty lot behind us.

At 12 months, Riley has a lot of favorites...She adores books. I did have to put away all of her paperback books, as some were taking a beating. Now only board books are within her reach, which she doesn't mind at all. Some of her favorite stories right now...Dr. Seuss "There's a Wocket in my Pocket" and "Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You?" and another story "Daisy the Firecow". Sometimes she will get quite upset if you only read these just one time. Her favorite toys right now, besides purses and shoes...Learning Puppy (she carries him everywhere) and board puzzles (she loves playing with the pieces), and when she comes across her Shamu puppet, she will bring him to you so you can make him squeak and grab her finger.

Thanks to everyone checking in on us from time to time. Hope you are loving each adventure as much as we do!