Leaps and Bounds

We are currently experiencing a massive learning spurt. It is freaky how quickly things change at this age! Every time she does something I consider amazing and surely advanced I take a mental note that I must blog about it. Now I can't remember exactly all I wanted to share. Also because they come so fast and furious, changes that had us shocked 3 days ago have become old hat and are shadowed by something greater. I guess it is just an overall "wow she is actually a little person" realization. Very hard to describe unless you see and experience it. She has a sense of humor, she listens to directions, she purposefully makes me laugh. She is awesome.

Liliana makes it very clear when she wants her diaper changed. She will lay down on the ground, sometimes with diaper in hand, and put her legs up in the air. Then she gropes for the velcro tabs keeping her Cruisers in place. It is quite cute but after I noticed a very wet, sagging diaper at the playground a few days back, she made a big show of becoming supine on the sidewalk.

She is really showing off her maternal, care giving instincts with her baby doll and Wally. She diapers both of them (she is quite good at it) and is now rocking baby doll in her arms. Her dexterity is taking off too. It is very easy for her to buckle Wally or Baby Doll into her mini stroller and take them for a walk. Speech is starting to come in tiny spurts. The debate is still on in my head about speech therapy. I am sure I will get a call next week from my case coordinator about what we are going to do.

I can also recognize signs of "two" behavior peeking out. Several seemingly pointless, lay on the floor boneless tantrums a day occur. Luckily they last about 10 seconds. She has also reverted back to a shy, clingy baby when around strangers. She has to be held when she sees people coming and she lays her head on our shoulder and won't let us put her down. I just keep remembering what my brother told me- everything is a phase. I appreciate a certain amount of stranger anxiety but she is being very anti social. She has also developed a hatred toward baths. She used to love splashing around in the tub but now you would think I was bathing her in razor blades. She screams and cries so hard and won't even sit down. She tries to climb out of the tub. I try and get in with her to hold her but she will have none of it. It takes all our physical and mental strength just to wash her hair. These things are so minor though. The joy and fun we are experiencing with her right now is beyond description. We are having so much fun- can't wait to add one more to the mix so Liliana can practice those sweet, caring acts on a real baby!