Happy Birthday, Whitney Rose!
Today, you went to Dr. Hepworth's for a checkup and birthday shots. You are in the 75th percentile for height, 20th percentile for weight, and 50th percentile for head circumference. You screamed while getting your three birthday shots but as soon as it was over, you acted totally fine. The choo choo train came overhead through our exam room right after your shots, which distracted you and captured your excitement. Easy :)
This month, you learned how to point. You point at everything you see, and say with enthusiasm, "Da!" I think it's because I've been trying to teach you how to say "Daddy"--I point to him and say, "Daddy". Good little mimicker that you've become, you now point and say, "Da!" to everything. Appropriately, though, when you see Daddy, you also call him "Da" or "Dada". Super cute.
About that mimicking. Oh my goodness. You are so stinkin' smart. You copy Mommy and Daddy all the time.
You love to clap. If there is applause on the television, you join in every single time. You get so excited and clap like crazy. If we say, "Good job, Whitney!" or "Yay, Whitney!" you clap appropriately for yourself. It's awesome. And adorable. You're so smart, Honey.
You have become even pickier with eating. No more carrots, sweet potatoes or leafy greens. No mashed potatoes. No combinations thereof. I have to mix carrots and leafy greens into your fruit smoothies to disguise them sufficiently. I can tell that you know it's in there because you don't eat your smoothies as voraciously anymore. You give me a glare that tells me you know that you're being tricked, but you eat it anyway. You love to eat bagels and whole wheat bread. I cut them into sticks that you can hold and take bites off of. You like that. You also like to eat a whole banana by taking bites off of it like a big girl. You love peanut butter. Oh, and figs! You will eat a whole bowl full of black mission figs in one sitting. It's awesome, cuz we have a tree in the backyard full of them. One time, I made you a fig and peanut butter sandwich and you gobbled it up.
You have six teeth, four on top and two on the bottom. I love them. I can't wait for you to have a mouth full of teeth. They are so cute. You like having your teeth brushed each night. It must feel good on your gums. You always sing, "Ahhhhhh!" throughout the brushing ritual.
Your confidence with walking is gaining, Sweetie. I think that you'll be walking in a few months. You love standing up and now you've started to walk along the furniture. Sometimes, you let go for a second and you stand freely and steadily. But as soon as you recognize that you aren't holding on to anything or anyone, you sit down right away. As though you totally didn't mean to do that. ;) You use your walkers a little bit, taking a few steps while Mommy or Daddy applies some counter pressure on the front. You hold on really tight and take tentative, wobbly steps.
Play: You used to always want to carry your toys around two of a kind but not anymore this month. You're changing! Last week, you got a couple of baby dolls as presents and you instantly loved them. You talk to them in a high-pitched voice and your face lights up. You hold onto them and sometimes draw them near to you (mimicking what we've modeled for how to treat a baby doll). One of your other new interests is balls. Rolling, chasing, bouncing and throwing them. You like to turn the pages of every book and pull them all down from your bookshelf. You have been "sharing" everything you hold this month--holding out your toys and food for Mommy and Daddy to take. You even feed us your food.
We still get compliments all the time when you are at church's nursery or the gym's childcare. Everyone says that you are so sweet and so easy-going. You cry each time I hand you off, but they tell me that you get over it within a minute. It is interesting to watch you interact with other kids. You really like older children but seem jealous and/or less interested in other babies. If Mommy is holding another baby, you get super jealous. You steal toys/sippy cups from other babies and they steal yours. Yet, I've seen you chasing after older girls at a recent birthday party because you wanted to play with them. You love watching other kids on the playground and are always trying to talk to them. Pretty funny to watch you socializing, Sweetie!
This month, you've become a little girl that knows stuff. Like, you're not a baby anymore. I keep thinking that you're an innocent little baby but over and over you are reminding me that you are growing up. You have become a little girl who is constantly learning. You have emotions that you sometimes don't know how to deal with (tantrums and hitting). You are playful, giggly and silly. You are curious about everything. You are sassy at times and also really sweet. You love us so much and we love you, too, Baby...
More than you'll ever know.
Happy Birthday, Angel!
