We were too busy having fun, playing and watching Natalie grow and learn to actual blog about it! Here's a review of what's been going on in Natalie's world in the past 2 months!
~Natalie is a full-time walker. She rarely falls, can walk on a variety of surfaces, and is gaining speed every day. She enjoys being chased and thinks it's hilarious when we attempt to catch her. She's easily able to transition from sitting to standing without needing to pull herself up on something.
~She often "dances" by bouncing up and down and nodding her head when she hears music.
~In addition to her front 8 teeth, she has cut two top molars. They are taking their time coming in completely.
~Natalie likes to be independent and just like her siblings at mealtime. She wants her bowl/plate on her highchair tray and wants a utensil. She's doing well feeding herself with utensils, including scooping food with spoons and stabbing food with forks. She's often hit or miss with eating food, but enjoys playing with it. Her favorite foods include yogurt, cheese, grapes, blueberries, pickles, pasta and canned pears. She is guaranteed to chow down on these foods. She enjoys drinking from sippy cups. She also loves dessert and will get excited when we bring out the sweets!
~Natalie continues to nurse several times during the day - when she wakes up, before naps, and at bedtime. We're starting the weaning process for daytime feedings. She's done well with the transition!
~She often "reads" books by turning pages while babbling.
~In addition to enjoying her freedom with walking, she also loves to climb. She climbs onto the fireplace hearth, Brennan and Gavin's platform beds, and their Tow Mater chair. Thankfully, she's also able to safely crawl off.
~Natalie appears to be another Mommy in Training. She enjoys carrying around babies, giving them kisses, snuggling them and pretending to feed them with bottles or spoons.
~Natalie seems to have mainly focused on motor development during the past two months, although she has gained some words. Most commonly heard words including "Bup" (Up), "Ni Ni" (Night night), and "Bye Bye". Additional words include "Mama", "Dada", "No no", "Boo" (Book), "Uh Oh"and "Baby". She often babbles with varying inflection. Natalie frequently says "Ba-Gak!", which her siblings find hilarious and think she is making a chicken noise. Her receptive language is blossoming and she appears to understand a lot of what we say to her. She also shakes her head for "no" and has an upper body nod for "yes".
~Natalie likes to tickle! She repeats "Ticca, Ticca" while tickling with her fingers.
~She also loves to give kisses, especially open mouth kisses!
~Natalie's play now includes pretend play. She puts phones to her ear and says "Hi!", she pretends to feed and snuggle babies, and she also pours drinks and drinks from play cups.
~She loves to take clothes out of drawers and baskets. Thankfully, she'll usually return them when requested. She often seeks out her siblings' underwear.
~Natalie enjoys bringing us items. She often claps her hands in celebration after handing them over.
~She is such a happy, smiley, giggly girl!
