Monkey See, Monkey Do

The Nugget is officially on her feet and walking around - her balance has come a long way over the past few weeks and although she crawls when she feels like it her preference seems to be walking on two feet.

Liana has started to associate more and more and a few examples come to mind - she has always chased the cat around (much to Frankie's dismay) but now when the Nugget chases Frankie she clicks her tongue like she has heard her mama do so many times when calling the cat. Too funny. Also, about 1 week ago Mama was clipping the Nugget's toenails and when she was done mama put the clippers on an end table. The Nugget reached up on to the end table, grabbed the clippers and flopped down on her bottom. She then proceeded to put the clippers near her toes and tried her best to clip the nails like mama had just done.



Liana has learned a couple more signs - "eat" and "more" are mastered and used appropriately 95% of the time and she is now using the sign for "cat" and she does it most of the time when Frankie appears or if she says another cat in the neighborhood. This is accompanied by a "ka" sound over and over again. The newest sign is for "milk" which her buddy TJ helped her learn this past weekend. We love watching the Nugget grow and every day is as special as the next.

Notes: A molar popped through on Monday and more seem on the way as The Nugget's appetite has decreased and so has her penchant for through the night sleeping. We knew the molar was on the way given the horrible rash and diahrrea she had over the weekend.



Attached are a couple pics of Liana doing her favorite things - walking behind her push toys, swinging at the park and cuddling with "DA"

Number 1

It has been a few weeks since I updated this blog - not for lack of wanting to but for lack of the right time and opportunity.

The Nugget turned 1 yesterday and I can't believe it. Seems like she was just born yesterday and I have been told by countless friends and family that "it flies by". Well, now I know what they mean.

In addition to turning 1 there were some other firsts recently - first steps took place last Wednesday, May 20th. I didn't see the very first one but I did witness the first series of steps - 3 to be exact.

First real bump on the head - that happened today about 10 minutes prior to taking the Nugget for her 1 year pictures. A nice egg that left a mark - we iced it down and went anyway - pics came out great with a little touch up :-)

More firsts will come this week as she gets to have strawberries and milk (not at the same time, but maybe) - two things she has not been able to have until she turned 1.

Liana knows so many more words since the last time I wrote and although she still says "ball" and "shoe" a lot she says "blue" (for blueberry), "boo" when she wants some mommy juice, sock, wow, Mama (and she means it now), "da" for daddy and she tries very hard to say "balloon". She uses her signs for "eat" when she is hungry and "more" when she wants something again (food, being tossed in the air, etc.).

We have been teaching her to hold up one finger when we ask "are you gonna be one?" She complies most of the time but reserves the right to ignore us if we over-ask.

Her birthday party was a success and she wore her birthday princess crown all day long (until it got frosting in it). About 45 friends, neighbors and family members joined in the celebration at our house and she put on a good show.

I love my baby so much and I love her mama for doing a great job organizing the party and making it extra special with picture collages, special name banner, "Liana" m&m's, and home made birthday cake (for the Nugget - we all got sheetcake from BJ's with her photo on it). The joy our family brings to me is beyond the scope of the written word but I know that everyday we are together I am a happier person determined to do all I can to provide for and protect my girls.