Week 84

Dear Jorie,

This week was full of adventure!

Friday it was my turn to stay home with you, since you had developed some sort of rash on your tummy and back. We took you to the doctor and she put you on allergy medicine, which seemed to clear it up. We're still not sure what's causing it, but we're keeping an eye on it. We went out to dinner (just to get out of the house.) The place we went was ok, but I don't think we'll be going back. At dinner we ordered you Grilled Cheese, and it came with Apple Sauce. You decided that Grilled Cheese is best dipped in Apple Sauce, and would only eat the Grilled Cheese if we dipped it for you!

Saturday we took you to a local diner to watch a Dragon Dance to celebrate the Chinese New year. It's the Year of the Horse! Your Aunt Becky, Uncle Michael and Cousin Wesley joined us. You weren't too sure about the big Dragon or the Loud Drum (which was right next to our table) at first, but once you got used to it you seemed to enjoy it. The Dragon danced all around all of the tables and got really close to you. There was also a man in a mask walking around with cymbals leading the dragon around. I think the man's mask worried you more than the colorful dragon! We'll definitely be going back again next year!

Sunday was really busy! Your cousin Wesley's first birthday party was in the afternoon. There were a ton of kids there, and you had a great time running around playing with all of them. There were also a lot of balloons and you spent a lot of time kicking them around. Wesley has this fabric tunnel thing that I think we're going to have to get, you really loved crawling through it. There was of course cake and lots of food. Wesley didn't really "smash" his piece of cake, so much as very carefully pick it apart and eat it. By the time Wesley started opening presents (with your Aunt Becky's help!) you were more than done, and we had to leave to get you down for a nap.

Sunday evening we headed over to Bill & Jamiee's  to watch the Superbowl. You and Zetta had a great time tearing around the house and playing together. The two of you are so funny together. Unfortunately I think all the excitement was too much for you, and when it came time to go down for bed, you were having none of it, and started down the path to a melt down, so we had to head out early.

This morning before I went to work, the City was trimming the trees on our street, and the big bucket truck was parked in front of our house. You spent the entire morning enthralled, watching the truck. You even went and brought your baby doll so she could see. You watched until the truck left, and then watched the dump truck that showed up with the big claw to pick up the branches.

You're becoming a force to be reckoned with baby girl! You know what you want, and what you don't want. Most of the time you're a very happy child, but when you are unhappy, you are sure to let us know!

Your vocabulary is exploding too. Every day I think I hear a new word I didn't know you knew how to say. We realized that when you say bye bye, you're actually saying "Bye Bye To you!" From the Pat the Bunny book. You know every page in that book and will do all the activities as soon as we get to the page. You have a few favorite books now too, and will bring them to us and have us read them over and over. You also know Elmo, you have a little Elmo Little People that you love now. You're always pointing to it and saying "Emmo!"

You wash your hands now, and ask to wash your hands before and after every time we feed you, or when we have you sit on the potty. It's something that you learned at Day Care, and it's really adorable. You look at us, rub your hands together and go "Wash?" until we pick you up and hold you so you can run your hands under the water.

Part of me is having a hard time with the fact that you are most definitely not a tiny baby anymore. You are strong and active and loud and exuberant. You are definitely a do-er. Part of me misses the tiny quiet infant you were. Mostly I think I miss the cuddles, which are a rare occurrence these days. Now, however, you give the best hugs. As much as I loved cuddling you when you were tiny, I think the best is yet to come, even though I struggle sometimes with trying to set limits for you, or keep you from climbing everything.

I love you so much Jorie-bear!