Toddlerhood

There have been a lot of changes around here in the last month or so. Lily is walking all the time now and even tries to run when she needs to make a getaway (like when it's time for a diaper change). She insists on going up the stairs herself instead of being carried and never seems to slow down. Of course this means lots of falls, but it doesn't seem to bother her too much. She is completely weaned - the last time I nursed her was on Mother's Day - and is now drinking cow's milk. She's sleeping through the night again and if she does wake up it usually just takes a pat on the back to get her back to sleep.

Lily has added a few more words to her vocabulary, but she understands far more than she can say and will follow simple directions. She is doing adorable things like putting daddy's shoes on her feet, brushing her hair with mama's brush, and getting the Swiffer out of the closet to try to clean the floor. Also ornery things like trying to put her toy fish in the toilet and looking at me and gravely shaking her head no while doing something she knows is not allowed. She plays with her stuffed animals like they are little people and will hold her favorite teether up to her teddy's mouth to give him a turn. We're having lots of fun with her!

Lily Learning to Walk

Cousins

All of the cousins got to play together over the weekend when Tyler, Christy, Ryan, and Michelle came to Fort Wayne with their kids. The toddlers are very close in age!

13-Month Checkup

Lily had a doctor's appointment yesterday and at 13 months she is 29 1/2 inches and weighs 21 pounds, 4 ounces. Her height, weight, and head circumference are all at the 50th percentile now and she is healthy and developing well. However, for the past month she has been waking up crying many times every night and can't get back to sleep without nursing or coming in our bed. We think she is teething but we want to break these bad habits and help her learn to soothe herself (and get some sleep). If anyone has been through this, we could use your advice!

Happy Easter

Lily had fun getting Easter baskets and decorating an Easter egg tree this year.

Opening eggs with Alex, Leah, John, and Isaac

We meet the twins!

Yesterday we visited Ryan and Michelle in Rensselaer and met the 17-month-old twins they adopted from Russia in January. They are incredibly cute and adjusting well to their new life. Lily was excited to meet her new cousins, Alexander and Allison.

Michael introduces himself to Alex

Alli is completely at ease with her daddy

She is such a pretty little girl!

Lily is instantly enamored with Alex

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She reaches out and leans in, open mouthed, for a kiss...

But he evades her. She lets him know what he's missing.

It was a fun afternoon of play

Lily (Briefly) Stands for the First Time