16 months and walking

As I reflect on the last month, it is funny the things that I was worried about. I was worried that Joy wasn't really saying many words or walking....those two things EXPLODED this month. Note to self: worry less :-)  We love you Joy and are constantly amazed at how much more we love you with each passing day. You are a busy girl and get into all kinds of mischief, but your cuteness saves you! You love people and make even the grumpiest person smile. You love nature and always say "wow" when we pass the ocean. Daddy can't wait to take you scuba diving one day. We are amazed that even at such a young age God has already given you passions, things you love and things you excel at.

What Joy is doing 

• Joy can WALK....it is true. I thought the day would never come. One week she started standing more, took a few steps here and there and then all of a sudden when we were at Ikea playing with friends she started walking! She rarely crawls anymore and is very determined to get back up on her own when she falls over. Brad wanted her to walk before our Malaysia trip and she did! Good job making daddy's deadline and mommy's deadline (which was for her to walk before baby brother is born). 
•  
• She is very chatty and has starting her screeching phase again. 

• Total teeth: 8
• Kicking her leg in the pool (with all this hot weather we are at the pool a lot!)
• Blowing bubbles in the bath
  
  

What Joy is saying: She has almost tripled the words she can say in ONE month...It is so fun to see her pick up new words (many words are just from the last two weeks) 

• daddy
• ma ma 
• daaddy (Rudy)..sounds almost like daddy so only really recognizable in context) yes 
• up
• baby
• da da (dog) 
• yes 
• no, no no (when she is doing something naughty)
• up 
• doo (down)
• fish
• more
• amen
• muk (milk)
• uk (yuck)
• walla (water)
• wow
• cook (cookie)
• rice 
• baabaa (baby and bird..a little confusing sometimes) 
• aloo (hello) 
• yalla (Arabic for "lets go") 
• shh (when there is someone sleeping or when Rudy is barking) 
• Sign language "please"
• Animal noises: lion, elephant, monkey dog, dinosaur, bear, chicken 

*Beware the video is almost 2 min...but there is a lot of cuteness in those 2 minutes :-)
 Eats: Well Joy eats all day and eats more food than an adult some days. It is really shocking. She is a great eater and will always try new food.

• Loves: She likes her food to be room temperature or cold. She wants to eat as soon as she wakes up.  
• Dairy Free: She had some dairy when Aunt Ruthie was here...and it went pretty terribly, so we are off dairy for a while. Almond milk is her drink of choice and is doing great drinking it. We have been trying to put some more fat into her diet (since almond milk has such little fat), so her smoothies have olive oil, cashews and sometimes avocado (which she loves but gives her terrible diaper rash if she eats it too many days in a row). 
• Still gives us trouble: Sweet potatoes, carrots, avocado (all give her diaper rash)

Sleeps:Joy is upgrading to a 'real' crib and baby brother will get the PackN'Play. We will see how the adjustment goes as she is used to mesh sides and likes to sleep with her head against the mesh.

•  Night time: 7pm-7am
• Naps: One afternoon nap (2 hours)

Weighs:About 23 lbs

Likes:

*The park, especially the swing and the slide
* Wearing her hat, or anything really on her head or around her neck.
* Any book with animals in it.
* Reading her favorite books over and over and over again. Before the book will even be over she will say "more, more".
*Going to bed/taking naps
*Walking around with things covering her eyes....VERY dangerous. We have a dare devil on our hands!
* holding things by her hear and saying "aloo"

Is learning.....
* to be gentle, instead of showing affection through hitting or biting.

Dislikes: Joy dislikes spending too much time at home and loves to go "bye bye".

Favorite event:  Our family vacation to Malaysia! We had so much fun, a blog post to follow with pictures. Joy had a couple firsts this past month: Disney Land and going to the beach...of course she ate sand and drank sea water...and liked it...:-)