Month 14 - Review

Enjoying the swings at a friend's birthday party.

S

Lets see whether I can sum up the past month in little Banjo's life.

4th of July at Grandma and Grandpa's house.  Didn't see any fireworks this year, but I have a sneaking suspicion that she'd have liked them and not been spooked.  She very much enjoyed the swing on their back porch, the wading pool and puppy.  I took video of her standing on her tippie toes and playing Grandma's piano (the highest and the lowest notes were her favorites).

signing "airplane" while standing on a stump

The love affair with Baby Signing Time continued, right up until my 2nd overdue notice from the library.  I showed Banjo how to drop them into the return slot and we waved bye-bye as they zipped along the conveyor belt.  She still asked for the videos several times daily and was extremely puzzled when I replied that they were "all gone."  I've already requested some new DVDs from the library system and we're hoping they show up soon!

There have been great strides in using utensils to eat, although the fork is effective only about 30% of the time.  The other 70% she just picks up her food with her fingers.  Spoon skills are much better!

Ever since we came home from our camping trip, Banjo has been a fan of coloring.  I tape paper to the floor and she squats down and scribbles her heart out.  She holds each color an average of 2 seconds before tossing it aside and reaching for the next one.  It is pretty fun to instruct her to "Color the cow's eyes" and watch her redirect her scribbles to the correct area.  I'm experiencing a tad bit of early motherhood guilt, as I've thrown out all her "masterpieces."  But really, I already have a cluttered house and I don't know if I am sentimental enough to make an effort for these wrinkly dollar store papers.

A favorite new pastime developing in the nicer weather - playing in the back yard!  Its really just a weedy fenced in space with delightful pebbles gathered around the edges.  At first we had a little wading pool there, which she loved.  She's come a long way from her screaming 2 minute baths of infancy.  Alas, the dog popped the chambers of the wading pool during two afternoons of backyard boredom.  So now, Banjo takes her little white paint bucket and toddles here and there, bringing me treasures from the grass and hooting at the sounds of passing cars.  She signs "play" and points at our sliding door at least 4 times a day.  She loves it out there.  We have captured a few grasshoppers to examine, but they hop away too quickly for her to truly see.

"Rocks, mom!"

The last highlight in her 14th month - an airplane ride to Arizona!  She was a great traveler (although her enthusiasm sometimes was a tad bit louder than would be considered appropriate for a 737) and upon our arrival she had a marvelous time playing with her bigger cousin Kaitlyn.  Nana and Papa had a water and sand table at their house, which was a huge hit.  We also visited Bearizona, a wildlife preserve that involves driving past habitats filled with wolves, burros, bison, and of course bears.  Banjo was allowed out of her car seat as we rolled slowly through the different wildlife areas, and loved seeing all the animals.

Interesting new stride in her development - she now will pretend to "feed" her stuffed animals.  Nana gave her a baby doll and Banjo will kiss that doll (but not Mom or Daddy!) and give it a snuggle.  Then she tosses it aside with a clunk.

Sand table fun with cousin Kaitlyn

The most "aww" -worthy moment of this month?  Hearing "Mama" and "Dad da" for the first time!  She switches us around sometimes, but that makes her even cuter in my opinion.  I love being this girl's mom.