Language Development and New Routines

playing hide n seek with Deddy

she LOVES her Deddy! Definitely a Deddy's girl

She really is the sweetest thing!

So our little 15 month old baby girl is not so baby-like anymore. :(  I mean, don't get me wrong, she IS still a baby and will always be MY baby, but she is quickly reaching toddlerhood...as to be expected, but STILL! I feel as though our little one is 15 months going on 3 years old - the "I do it myself" attitude and shaking her head no with a sliver of head nods in agreement (rare) mixed with a few slaps to the face. Ha. Yes, we are definitely having to work on that one!  We tell her "no" when she hits, and then we follow it with modeling correct ways to touch... which reminds me - our poor cat!  Meow-key, bless her heart, is usually the one being beat up the most these days!

Such a sweet face (minus the demon eyes, of course!) heehee

I'm not sure where all of this defiance is coming from (maybe developing her own sense of self, perhaps? ;), but I have a sneaky suspicion it derives from four teeth coming in at once (followed by more and more gum swelling), a lacking desire to communicate verbally, and growing into herself as an independent toddler.  No one ever said it would be easy growing up, and I truly believe it is pretty tough being so little and not being able to communicate your wants and needs without grunts, moans, and squeals.  No one ever said it would be easy on mama either! ;)

We are working on language development, and although I am not worried about it (the communication and eye contact is and has been definitely there), but I still become frustrated when Naomi would rather "ugh, ahh, eee" her way through communication.  Every once in a while, we'll get a "Hey, Bye, Dahee (Dolly the dog), Duck, Mama, Dada, TaTa (thank you), or Pah (Please)," but they are few and far between.  And I know, I know. Once she really starts, it's going to be hard to get her to stop, but I can't help feeling a little manipulated by this wee little priss! :)  She KNOWS that I will give her what she wants or speak for her, so I am really working on keeping my mouth shut more often than not.  For those who know me really well know this is just a tad bit tricky for me! :)


Now that Omi is almost 16 months old, we are also seeing exciting new trends taking place - feeding herself with spoons and forks, drinking from a big girl cup, more and more imaginative play, and one less nap per day.  Although she is taking a morning nap now, she has been staying awake more and more through her morning nap time, and we have had our schedule thrown off for a bit (and I assume it will be for another month or so).  This is great, as she will be wanting to play and learn more throughout the day, but it's going to take some time for the new routine to mesh into our schedule.  Usually it's a mid-morning and mid-afternoon nap, but on days that she stays awake through her morning nap, we'll definitely need to be taking an earlier afternoon nap and an earlier bedtime.  Sounds easy, but it's wearing us both out. Still sticking to my motto: "Do what makes it easy."
With all this new scheduling (seriously, it sounds like a drag, but it keeps us all coasting right along!), Andrew and I have been thinking of ways to stay on top of yard and housework along with exercise in a more scheduled way.  We are by no means "schedule people," but it really does make things easier, and when we get a note from the city on our front door that states our grass is too long, well...we need a schedule for that too obviously! Haha.  We tend to "forget" or get sidetracked with other stuff, so we are taking one day of the week for yardwork, I stay on top of the housework in the mornings, and exercise is squeezed in mid to late afternoon or evening.  Still trying to figure out the home renovations part of all this!
We are psyched to be completing home-reno (slowly but surely) because we are wanting to put our house on the market by the end of the year.  No big rush, I guess, but when "Yung Thug" is written in black spray paint in the middle of the intersection in front of our house, it's time to be looking for a new home.  Sorry, Yung thug. We're outta here, but no worries.  The city had to come out for that too.  Oh, Savannah.  How I love you, but we are wanting to move outside of the city limits out to the country where there are better schools, more land, and privacy.  That sounds absolutely Ah-MAZING, and Yung thug is pushing us out faster than anticipated!

consignment store find! size 2T, so it'll fit even better next year!

more from consignment shop. also scored a handmade blanket for $10 and lots of bows and clips too

Between home improvement and new schedules, we've squeezed in a trip to Athens and the lake, girls weekend in St. Simons, baby consignment sales,  and a girls night out in Savannah.  Lucky me, eh?  It's been a lot of fun and a much needed break from being mama.  There should be a mandatory girls night every month.  Ha. At least I can TRY to tell myself that!

Granddaddy helping Naomi off the swing at the lake

who doesn't love the lake?

leaving Lake Sinclair - we'll be back soon!

I've added some pics of the littlest Lee for a quick fix for those who have been waiting.  I promise, that as things slow down and these new schedules take effect, I will be blogging more and more.  Love to you all!

recent trip to city market