Baby Caroline

Caroline is 13, well almost 14 months.  She has grown up SO much in the last 2 months.  She is walking everywhere now.  She was taking steps here and there, but while up in Montana the first weekend in January, she really started taking off.  Following Montana she was sick for a week or two and John continues to point out to me that I just don't do well with sick kids.  They drive me bonkers with their wining, crying, and neediness.  Caroline, who is already a super mommy's girl, is hooked at my leg or hip when she is sick.  But this last week has been awesome.  She's healthy, walking around everywhere, and playing so cutely.  She has a few dolls and her beloved kitty blanket that she will put in her toy stroller and push around the house.  It is SO adorable. 

She seems old to me - like Joshua did.  I think it's because her communication skills keep getting better and better.  She has a handful of words.  Her favorites are "there", "there tis" (there it is), "haaa" (hi), "shs" (shoes).  Everyday on her changing table I ask her "where's the baby?".  She then points to the picture of herself as a one month old that Jennifer took and says "there".  Then she waves hi to the baby.  The other morning I asked her "Where's baby Caroline?".  She pointed and said "There's baby Care".  I was so impressed, as every mother always is with their amazing baby!! 

Caroline loves going to school to pick up Joshua and his friend Jacob.  She gets excited to see both of them, and wants both their attention and kisses.  Jacob is a little hesitant to kiss her, but I think he's getting used to her lunging in at him for a kiss. 

Caroline is so far my most obedient child.  It amazes me.  I can tell her "no" and she LISTENS!  Also when she gets into things - Like a box of tampons in my bathroom - when I tell her to clean them up - she does!  Seriously - I'm so excited and hope this lasts for the next 18 years.

On the yucky side, she sure loves the toilet.  If there is a seat open, she's in there drinking whatever water she can get up to her mouth.  And on the even yuckier side, if one of her brothers has gone number 2 and forgotten to flush, she grabs up the toilet paper out of the potty and sucks on it.  Needless to say, we have a BIG rule about closing the lid. 

At her 12 month check up Caroline was still 65% for height and 20% for weight.  That makes her my fattest kid.  Joshua and Luke can't break the 15% for weight.  They are just skinny boys.  She also eats more than the boys at times.  She does a better job of finishing a banana or sandwich, and definitely can put away more scrambled eggs in the morning.  She loves drinking from a straw, and eating off my fork when I'm eating my breakfast or lunch.  Veggie soup is a definite favorite (Luke does good with that one too), which is good because she's not doing so well with the baby food these days. 

Kitty is Caroline's favorite companion, and she cuddles it every time she gets it.  She takes two naps a day - usually around 9am and 1pm.  And goes to bed by 6:30pm.  She usually wakes up around 5am for a bottle, then goes back to bed until sometime between 7:00 and 7:45am.   The bulk of her sleeping is at night as her naps aren't usually too long.  She's much happier in the car these days, and is loving watching the Fraggle Rock movie in the car.  She claps along with the theme song (along with the rest of us, it's just so catchy - we love it!)

It seems like forever ago that she was born, yet this time has gone by so fast.  She still feels like my baby, yet she's acting so much more like a big girl.  When cries become fake (seriously like "wah, wah, wah") you know your little baby is turning big. 

We love our little miss Caroline!  Can't wait to see who she becomes this year.