21 months

Another quarter has gone by and Janie is now 21 months old today.  This month was full of new accomplishments and quirks.

1. Janie went on her first cruise and it was to Ensenada.  She had a wonderful time with Ama and Ankong.
2. She also made her 2nd trip to Disneyland and went on the Dumbo ride.
3. Janie also celebrated her 2nd Christmas and 2nd New Year’s Eve.  She stayed up until 9pm (East Coast midnight) with Alice over FaceTime.
4. She learned some new words that she can say: mine, empty, pizza (thanks to Daddy), bravo, Andrew, this, that, bubble, Amen, amo (love), da (give), me, Mia (Mirian), spoon, fork, here you go, thank you, sheh-sheh (thank you in Mandarin), stop, go, bus.
5. She understands quite a bit now and I can send her to give something to Daddy, put something away, or retrieve something for me.  She’ll sit down when asked and really understands “no”.
6. Here are some Spanish words that she understands: frio (cold), nariz (nose), mano (hand), boca (mouth), cabeza (head), cinco (five), uno (one).  There’s a bunch more but it’s been too hard to keep track.
7. Janie has started putting two simple words together.  She often pairs “Mama” with something she wants like “Mama toto” (translation: Mama I want tomato.)  She will also put “no” in front of something like “no poopoo”.
8. She has a better understanding of herself now.  When she does roll call, she will also point to herself but she just can’t quite say her name yet…any of her names actually.  We’ve tried to make up a short nickname for her and she just refuses.  She’s also found her bellybutton.
9. Her hands are doing some cool things.  She can make an “ok” with her thumb and index finger, she likes to give “thumbs up” (especially when you say “love you!”), and she can isolate her pinkie finger.  One day she even made a Shaka (hang loose).
10. She’s eating a huge variety of foods but still loves milk.  She started eating banana this past month thanks to Yai over Christmas Break.  It’s still not a favorite but she’ll actually eat half a banana in one sitting.  She also had corn-on-the-cob for the first time and thoroughly enjoyed it.  We’ve also introduced watered-down juice, which helps her intake of fluids and keeps her regular.  Current Weight: 27.6 pounds.  She’s also wearing clothes in 18-24 months or 2T.  Her Size 5 shoes have also been retired.
11. Fine motor skills are coming along nicely: she can open presents by ripping paper, pour water from one container to another (her favorite thing to do this month), remove the cap off a marker, brush her hair and her GG too, and she found her pockets!
12. Visual motor skills are also progressing: she is a pro at the simple puzzles we have, likes to put shapes in the shape sorter, still enjoys scribbling, and stacks cubes so nicely now.
13. Gross motor skills: climbing onto the dining chair or sofa or bench outside, ascending and descending stairs with the rail and sometimes without anything at all (scary), scoots around on her Moo Cow on wheels, rides the horse at the playground by herself.
14. Behaviors: She has developed a weird giggle.  It’s cute but creepy at the same time.  When she is protesting or tired or bored, she will lie on the ground (we call it “Potato Time”).  She is also becoming more and more willful but it’s been manageable.  Alone time in her bed still seems to help.  Janie is also still very attached to Mama – not sure if there’s an end in sight.
15. Janie still loves music and songs are becoming more meaningful.  She will do all the gestures for “Twinkle Twinkle”, “Wheels on the Bus”, and “Head Shoulders Knees and Toes”.  She’ll also pick up words like “shake”, “side-to-side”, and “around” in songs she doesn’t know and act them out.  She also tries to sing “E-I-E-I-O”.
16. She’s so affectionate to animals and stuff toys.  She will go up to any dog at the park with absolutely no fear.  She will also snuggle her stuffed toys and use their hands/paws to clap.  She also pets them on the head, gives them the pacifier or straw to drink, and combs them.
17. Books are more interesting to her now and she will label things she recognizes.  We also got her an alphabet placemat with corresponding animals to the letters and it really keeps her entertained at restaurants.  I still love her pretend-reading voice and intonations.
18. Outings are more fun now because Janie will recognize and point out the buses, trains, and cars that zoom by.  She can reach the pedals on the tricycle now too.  She also rode Muni and BART lots of times this past month and has been taking the escalators and stairs like a big kid.  Holding someone’s hand and walking on the sidewalk is also more efficient.
19. Favorites: playing with water, GG, Baby Einstein (seasons and on-the-go), and riding Moo Cow.
20. Lastly, we’ve started GG weaning.  The first step was cutting slits into the pacifier to make it less satisfying to suck.  She still asks for it but I don’t find it in her mouth nearly as much anymore.

Does it seem like the monthly list gets longer and longer?  It just goes to show how much she learns day by day.  It’s hard to keep track of everything!  As difficult it is at times, having a toddler is actually pretty fun and exciting.  I love seeing the world through her eyes and appreciating everyday things again in a new way.

Happy 21 Months, Kumquat!  Te amo!