Monday, March 8, 2010

17 Months

We are nearly to the 1 and a half year mark...and to having two under two. We are about to embark on some crazy times at our house.

This past month Jillian continues to perfect her climbing skills. Jeramy's mom found a swing set/big toy on Craigs List for free, so Jeramy picked it up last week. He needed to replace a lot of the lumber and buy some new accessories but it still ended up being a really great deal. I'm surprised how much use she can already get out of it. Jeramy built a climbing wall that was a little less steep so that she could get up by herself. It has been an unusually sunny winter here in Seattle so we've been able to go outside to play several times.




Lately she has taken to climbing into things. For example she likes to empty all the toys out of her red bin, walk around with it and then climb in. She has also climbed into smaller bins, which doesn't always work out as well. If I were a nicer mom, I'd help her out rather than grabbing my camera first.


Jillian continues to pick up a new word occasionally. This past week she learned a new name..."Cujo". Well it sounds more like "Ujo" but close enough. She likes to talk, but you can rarely understand what she is saying. I keep reading that language development really takes off after 18 months, and I'm starting to get excited about communicating with her in a more verbal manner. Right now the game of guessing why she is having a temper tantrum is not a lot of fun and trying to reason with her is futile. For example yesterday, just before succumbing to a nap, she'd cry for help to put her boots on. Once on, she'd kick them off. Then cry because she wanted them on. I'd help, and then she'd kick them off. And cry. It made me want to cry too.

She loves going places and always wants to go "bye bye". Even when there is no place to go. I have taken to go to the drive through coffee stand on weekends, just to give into her pint sized demands. When she wants to go someplace she'll run and grab a sweatshirt and/or shoes. Or she'll go to the front door and cry "bye" several times. When we are not about to head out, I try explaining that we are staying home to no avail (see the end of the above paragraph).

Her molars have been growing in at a snail's pace. I think it was two months ago when I first felt one poking through. That one is still only a little grown in. Two others have since began to emerge. For the most part it doesn't seem to bother her, although we'll get an occasional night that is filled with tears until a dose of Tylenol kicks in.

For the most part she is a pretty good napper, and if we don't throw some crazy kinks into the daily routine you can usually get a good two hours of peace and quiet from her. Last Monday this was not the case. She only napped for Jeramy for 45 minutes all day, and upon my arrival home I could tell that both Jillian and daddy were basketcases. During dinner sleep finally overcame her. This photo was taken at 5:45pm, and she slept from then until 6am the next morning.


One of Jillian's favorite activities these days is having a book read to her. She has a few favorites: Busy Busy Kitties, Hand Hand Finger Thumb and Doggies. Jeramy and I frequently hide these, because they get a little old after you've read them 12 times in one afternoon. I bought her a few new ones in hopes that she changes it up a bit.

Over the weekend we went to Bean's 2nd birthday party. Poor Sunny had to miss most of it due to some contractions (which is bound to happen with you have a baby bump the size of a small planet), but Jillian enjoyed herself thoroughly. She is used to playing with other children, but doesn't rarely more than one or two at a time. She was also a big fan of their dog, who she followed inside and outside, and inside and outside, and inside and outside. She was also a fan of stealing everybody else's food, juice boxes and forks. Apparently she hasn't gotten the memo on personal boundaries yet.

14 comments:

K @ ourboxofrain said...

That swing set is awesome! I can't believe it was free! Awesome find, Jeramy's mom!

I think our kids would get along fabulously if they met (either that or they'll kill each other for being too similar -- one or the other). We seem to be in a number of the same stages, including the climbing into everything stage (we have had to take some things out of the playroom, because Harry kept climbing into them even when they were not meant to bear quite so much weight) and the always wanting to go somewhere stage (with Harry, it's usually just "ow-side," and he won't come back in once you cave) and the extreme love of being read to. For us, it's often Doggies (seems to be a popular choice), The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Curious George Rides, or Machines Go To Work (plus BooBoo and A Cat And A Dog at bedtime -- I'm so glad he's over Goodnight Gorilla for a bit!). I'm glad we aren't the only parents who hide books we can't bear to read anymore.

BigP's Heather said...

You let her sleep in her highchair for 12 hours?!

I'm kidding.

She is so cute!! I'm totally jealous that you got that off Craigslist for free! Apparently, I need to check that more often!

Jamie said...

What a sweet girl! She has soooo much she can teach her little sister. :-)

The playground is AWESOME - even with the work Jeramy had to put into it, it bet it was a steal.

For the record, I would had to have gotten out the camera for the "Help, I'm trapped in a bin and can't get out!" picture. It was too funny!

Kelly said...

She is such a big girl!! I love that last pic!! So sleepy:) I can't believe there are going to be 2 under 2 real soon!! Exciting, scary, thrilling, terrifying!! Ha!

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Cindy said...

You got that swing set for FREE? Whoa! Your family will get soooo much use out of it!!!

Jillian is such a doll, and at SUCH a fun age!

Julie, Todd, Kate and Miles said...

I love that pic of her sleeping in her high chair! Such a peaceful end to a long day. What a cutie!

jenn said...

I can't get over how big she's getting!
I LOVE that stuck baby picture- I would be right there with you on grabbing the camera before helping the child, lol!

She is a little monkey- I fear Caiden is just like her in that respect! ;)

Larissa said...

We've been looking for a playgroung too, Lilian looooves slides. Jillian is so adorable, her face in the stuck picture is hiliarious.

nancy said...

That's an awesome playset! Your kids are lucky duckies! ;)


Two under two. It's hard, but you'll be able to do it! I promise.

Nicky said...

Yep, lots of overlap with LL these days, too. Loves slides. Loves going outside. Loves climbing into ... anything. Loves books.

Oh, and we definitely hide books that we're sick of reading over and over and over. Except that LL goes hunting for them, which is kind of funny. Right now, he's obsessed with "Daddy Hugs" (Karen Katz). And like K, I'm just glad that he's over "Good Night Gorilla." Cute book, but the millionth time through gets really tiring.

Sunny said...

By all accounts, Jillian was a rockstar at Bean's party! She kept up with a bunch of 2-2.5 year olds and a hyperactive pooch like it was nobody's business. Don't be fooled by her soft, delicate appearance... she can hold her own, anytime and anywhere!

Anonymous said...

She's getting so big! What a little beauty she is--happy 17 months Jillian! :)

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