Just One More Time

 I don't know what it is, but in the last two weeks, Michael and I have realized that we  no longer have a baby. Eliza is a full-blown walking, jabbering toddler. She has gained a sense of independence and wants to do most things on her own. However, she has realized what she needs us for. When her cup is empty, she'll walk up to me and tap me on the leg with it and jabber something. I assume that means, "Mom! More please," because when I refill it, she totters off jabbering more happy sounds.

Eliza painting for the first time

 I was telling Michael that I would give anything to go back to when she was tiny and hold her again. When I told a friend the same thing, she said it was time for another one. That's not want I want, at least not right now. I want my tiny Eliza just one more time. Specifically, when she would fall asleep in my arms, and when she would wake up with a big toothless grin. A time where she was content being held to go from place to place and where shhhhing still worked. The same time when we were amazed that she made a sound or when she rolled over.

 I say just one more time because she is so much fun right now! Although I miss her as a little baby, I have never seen anything cuter than her running away in just a diaper when we are playing "I'm Gonna Get You." I am also in love with her little baby imagination that can turn anything into a phone! It can be my shoe, a spoon and, just yesterday, a wireless keyboard. (I was amazed she could even pick it up)

Eliza's bikini she got for her birthday

 I know I have said several times over the past (almost) 14 months that this is my favorite. I remember writing that when she started smiling, and again when she was Army crawling. I probably said it again when she started standing. But this is the best so far! She is a little person now that is learning how to play and enjoys being around others. She is a happy girl who waves to everyone she meets and enjoys playing with her two dogs (who now are very interested in her since she sneaks them treats). She likes to go swimming and kick her legs.

 Right now, she loves being outside. We go out many times a day to explore and play. She loves the swing and watching the bigger kids run around. At home, she likes to bend down and talk to the ants in a voice we swear only they can hear. She is very interested in our garden and is learning (very slowly) that we have to look with our eyes and not our hands.

We seriously have the coolest kid! She is beginning to play dress up with any item she finds around the house. I don't even dare do laundry around her anymore because she is the fastest unfolder I have ever seen. She puts shirts around neck and tries to wear our shoes on her arms. Flip flops are great because she can slide her arms through them and wear them near her shoulders. 

The newest thing she is working on right now is learning how to scoot on her new scooter/tricycle. She mostly like to stand in front of it and push it around. It has a little trunk in the back where she store things. I am sure she'll have the hang of it before too long.

Eliza at 2.5 months

I would give anything for one more day of her at this size, but I am thrilled that I get the rest of time to have new favorite stages!

**Every photo except the last one was taken while Eliza was 13 months old.

Learning

 Our life at the Cleveland House is getting much more interesting now that Eliza is a walker. She can explore new parts of the house and has figured out that the dog door is a portal to the outside world. Now, it is cool to throw the dog bowls, toys, food and other items through there. We have to keep her gated out of the room or else she tries to put herself through the doors.

She has also mastered the skill of getting in a chair to sit down. Before, she would climb in and tumble out or knock the chair over. She likes to carry the chair to different places in the house and sit down. She tried to climb in the chair to get something off the counter, so we only get the chair out a few times a day. 

My favorite thing she is doing right now is learning to play with other children. When we were last at the library, a four year old girl was very interested in playing with Eliza. I felt sorry for the girl because Eliza played well for about 5 minutes and then wanted to do other things. The girl couldn't understand why she kept walking away and didn't want to play anymore. The girl was building towers for Eliza to knock over, but Eliza rudely walked away. The girl was resetting all the puzzles so Eliza could put them together, but she would go somewhere else. I think we still have a little work to do in this category, but she's getting there :)

Above is a video of my little dare devil at the Children's Museum. For other videos, you can subscribe to our YouTube channel..