Allie's 15 month check-up

Allie went to for her 15 month check-up yesterday. Here are her stats:

Length: 31 1/2" (85%)

Weight: 26 lbs 13 oz (93%)

Head Circ: 18 1/4 " (75%)

I put this headband in her hair to keep her hair out of her eyes.
It was so cute, I had to grab a quick picture. 

Physical Development:

Allie walks, runs and is quite the monkey! She climbs on everything! She's mastered going up the stairs by herself but still needs help coming back down. She likes to sit and scoot down each step. While I was talking to the doctor, Allie, while standing up, put on her green frog rain boots all by herself without falling over. The doctor was quite impressed with her fine motor skills.

Allie loves shoes, and loves to put anyone's on and tromp down the hall. So this skill she has more or less mastered. If we go to the shoe department she'll point to her shoes and then reach out of the cart and point, as if to say, "I want to try those on!" She recently grew out of all Audrey's hand-me down shoes (size 12-18 months) and I took her to get new ones, size 18-24 or 5.5--6. For some reason, none of Audrey's from this age made it.

She is wearing size 18-24 months--3T depending on the store.

Eating:

She was ok'd to move from whole milk to 2% or skim. He suggested healthy foods, which we do already, and skim milk. Allie has always been an independent eater. She never let me feed her with a spoon, so all her foods, even early on had to be something she could pick up on her own. So by now, she has gotten pretty good at feeding herself with silverware and doesn't even make a mess when eating cereal with milk. (except when she deliberately throws the bowl on the floor). Instead of saying or signing "all done" she just starts throwing her food onto the floor. She still takes a "bottle" at night but drinks out of a sippy cup during the day.

Language:

The doctor said he'd be happy with 4 words, verbal or non verbal. Between her vocal &  signing words she has well over four. Her newest, most favorite word to say is "uh, oh!" Other words she uses frequently: Ma (milk) Mo (more), Mum (mom), Da, Da, Da (Baby & Daddy). She signs: please, up, clean-up and "more".  When words and signing don't work, she points or just walks and shows us what she wants.

Allie is my clingy child. She is always hanging on my leg or pushing me back from the kitchen counter so I can pick her up.

Sleeping: (or in her case, waking in the middle of the night)

Her doctor did confirm after looking in her mouth  that she's getting some molars and that he doesn't think her waking at night is anything physical, just learned behavior. We agreed that she will eventually grow out of it. He did like my night light idea but cautioned us from moving her too quickly into a big girl bed. (We moved Audrey around 16 months) With her adventurous spirit, he fears she would just be all over the room.

He asked if we were going to have any more kids. I laughed and said, "Not unless this one starts sleeping through the night!" I do like that our doctor has kids close in age to Audrey and Allie. 

Vaccines:
She got three shots, all in her legs: Hib, Dtap and Chickenpox. She cried, and Audrey stood at the end of the exam table and rubbed her head and said, "It's ok Al, it's ok."  It was so precious, in the midst of all the screams.

Allie loves to help me unload the dishwasher. Silverware is her favorite. Once she hears that door open I can hear her feet scrambling towards me. So cute.

She is lost without her sister. She loves to play with Audrey, or follow her around, or take her toys and run (which really aggravates Auds)!

Allie loves to be outside and will go get her hat and coat and shoes and then stand at the sliding door and point at the swings. I'm sure it's confusing to her how one day we can go out and play and the next we can't because it's too cold.

She loves books and runs to get one when I say, "time to read books!" She loves to be read to while on my lap. And if Audrey is on my lap she climbs and pushes until there's enough room for her.

She is a very happy and sweet baby. "Mellow" was the word the nursery worker at church described her as last Sunday. She always does such a good job sharing her toys with other kids they tell me. I have noticed the occasional tantrum from her and a high pitched scream when she's mad that was demonstrated by her older sister.

Here she is walking away with Audrey's pencil box.
Always taking her sisters things. 

She is a joy everyday.

Sarah