Arden is so fun and full of personality. This is a typical face she gives:
(these pants are supposed to be capris, but Arden has short legs)
She is very smart although she still isn't talking very much. She doesn't say things she used to like baby, book, hi. She says shoes (and loves to put everyone's shoes on herself) and she can count to 3. She apparently goes through phases of words where she'll say a few, then stop saying old words and say a few new ones. She does have big gibberish conversations with us though. She reminds me of a little girl I watched in nursery at church a few years ago. Essie May. The cutest little girl (aside from Arden of course ;). Oh I loved her. She would talk and talk to me in baby talk and then laugh so I would laugh along with her; or she'd say something and stop and wait for a response, so I'd respond and she would smile and tell me more. That's exactly how Arden is.
I finally turned her car seat to forward facing three days before we went to Charleston. My goal was to wait until she was 18 months, I knew she wouldn't be happy on that trip rear-facing. So 16 months is good enough. I just think that people are so quick to hurry up and turn their kids around, when their little necks are just not strong enough, but everyone thinks it won't happen to them...Here's a crash test video for you!
She enjoys watching me push the radio buttons and laughs when I put sunglasses on (maybe she's telling me something)
She is very interested in and likes watching people, and when they acknowledge her, she hides her face, but if you give her about 5 minutes of your attention she'll usually warm up and start playing.
This was at my sister's brother in law's wedding three weeks ago. Arden just wanted the bubbles
Arden is still very clingy (I'm tired of everyone saying it's a stage....seriously? Well she's been in this stage since birth. It's not a new thing)
(not exactly sure what's going on there-bobbing for eggs maybe?)
She finally likes strawberries after many attempts! Now I'm just working on the carrots. She used to love them. Arden is also eating a lot less now finally(most of the time). The doctor said between 10-13 months food intake would drop a lot so we aren't too far behind.
She loves pasta, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches cheese, apples, oranges, pineapple, pears, strawberries and bananas and sometimes blueberries. She will no longer eat canned fruit- it has to be fresh. She still loves any kind of beans; peas and broccoli are a hit or miss. She loves avocado on toast (mmmm I do too!)
Arden LOVES the water (but still doesn't like it in her face). She loves washing her hands, she even puts soap on (well she thinks she is, but she can't push the pump down by herself). I used to fill the tub up for her bath and then put her in, but now she gets so excited, I have to put her in first so she can play with the water coming out.
*warning* Jealousy may occur....
Arden gets up between 7:30-8, but will stay in her crib and play for ONE HOUR if I let her. Then I put her down for a nap at 12:30-1 and she'll sleep for 2-3 hours and play in her crib for another HOUR or more if I let her. She goes to bed at 8:30. It's so great if I need to get things done. She plays with her 2 cats, her lovie and teddy (she must go to bed with all those). I love peeking in and watching her play with her babies. She has a great imagination.
Her favorite toys are purses (and other things she can put on her arm) and her stroller.
She is just so cute and so silly.
