Big Girl Chair

Kimberly Higgins
Chipotle
(C) 813-767-1078
khiggins@chipotle.com

Baby Olivia Shower

On January 28th we through a party for Baby Olivia. Some call it a baby shower, but I really think of it more like a party with some of John and Laurel's great friends and family. We can't wait for Baby Olivia to arrive in just few short 8 weeks.

Vero Beach- Aunt Lisa's 40th

We went to Vero this weekend to celebrate Aunt Lisa's 40th Birthday! We had so much fun!

15 Months

Time is just flying by! We have lots to update:

Stats:
* 24 lbs and 10 Ounces (75% percentile)
* 32 3/4 inches tall (according to Dr. Dekel "Off the chart." "The size of most 2.5 year olds)
* 18.5 Head Circumferance

Maggie knows ONE word: Da Da.
-At 15 months babies should know 5 words. But because Maggie was in a Bi-lingual child care for her entire first year, it is typical that words can be delayed a bit. The peditrician said, that when they do start to speak, it is an expolsion of words. Often times if the child does not have 5 words, they do a hearing test. She doesn't feel that to be necessary at this point, because she can understand commands and does know a several signs. She said to continue to read,read, read to her and be "Mr. Rogers" by sounding everything out all the time. Talk to her constantly, which she assumes we already do. She said she is healthy and thriving.

Maggie can point and knows the following:
* Hair, Head, Eyes, Nose, Mouth, Toes, Feet, Hands, Arm, Bebo(Belly Button)

Maggie knows the following signs:
* More, Milk, Eat, Please, Thank You, Doggie, All Done, Yummy Tummy

She knows
--to raise her hands up in the air like the refs do when we say, "Touchdown"

--the motions to "If you are happy and you know it."

--Five little monkeys, Jumping on the bed.

--Ring around the rosie, All fall down.

Ever since end of November we have a bout with the sniffles, cough, croup and teething. December (Month 14) we had many sleepless nights. Teething is right on par at this age. She has so many breaking through it is hard to count... at least top and bottom molars and more. They are all coming in at the same time. We will be so happy when all the teeth are finally in.

She eats everything and anything. When she is done eating she likes to signal by throwing the item, say a piece of chicken off the side of her high chair. Buster must have taught her that.

She is back to loving the tub. We have more water toys and she loves to splash around in there. After bath, her favorite thing is to brush her teeth.

At Christmas, Aunt Lisa bought her a fairy princess nightlight. We turn it on to read books and she waves at it.

She loves to take rides in her wagon and at Grand Ma and Pap Pap's she has a red convertible that she insists folks pull her around in.

Her favorite books these days are 'Flap' books, Elmo ABC, Elmo Manners book. She loves taking the books out of the pew at church and turning the pages. The angels always seem to help us and she can sit through Mass without fail.

Naptimes can vary, but usually she only takes one a day. 1.5 hour is good nap. 2 hours is great. Anything over 2 is awesome. Dinner is around 6:15. Bedtime is at 7:30. She usually sleeps 12 hours, when she does sleep all night. Most of the time wake up call is at 7:15, but can go till 8:00-8:30 at times (not often).

Her lovey is cloth receiving blankets. Only for naptime and night time. We don't take them out of the bedroom if we can help it. Doc said these usually go away around 18 months. Really I think she uses them most to teeth. Color or design does not matter as long as it looks and acts like a receiving blanket it will work.

This month we started with a new child care lady. Gloria moved back to Miami. We now have Miranda. Miranda worked part time at a popular day care here in Brandon but wanted to stay home with her 1 year old son Gauge while babysitting other kids. We found her on Care.com and it is been the best transition. Maggie felt right at home there from the first visit. She and Gauge play nicely together. Their place is less than .5 mile from our house and we can be there in 3 minutes. Gloria's was about 15 minutes with traffic.
Maggie has done her first finger painting last week and seems to be doing very well.

Our love and awe of her continues to grow more each day.

St. Augustine

This past weekend we were able to go and visit Uncle Johnny and Aunt Laurel.

Maggie was able to celebrate Christmas and open her presents. She got her first ever Cabbage Patch kid whose name is Hope Jade. She got the book MOO LA LA and lots of clothes and treats!




Aunt Laurel and Uncle John opened the present we got for Baby Olivia. Uncle Johnny saves us so much by letting us use the Marriot Friends and Family certificates, so we were able to use some of that savings toward a present for Baby O.


We had such a nice visit and are counting the days till Baby O arrives and joins in on all the fun!

Mandi BD night

Kimberly Higgins
Chipotle
(C) 813-767-1078
khiggins@chipotle.com

!4 months

From the Babycenter.com:

New this month: Say it again ... and again


At 14 months, your toddler understands many more words than she can say. Her spoken vocabulary likely consists of about three to five words, typically "Mama," "Dada," and one other simple word such as "ball" or "dog," but she learns the meanings of new words every day. As she starts to add words to her vocabulary, you'll notice that she looks for opportunities to practice them. Once she can say "dog," for instance, she'll look for dogs everywhere — in books, outside, on videos — just so she can point and say the word over and over again.
What you can do
Rhymes, jingles, and silly songs are big hits with toddlers. If your 14-month-old is already speaking several words, encourage her willingness to repeat after you by singing silly or repetitive songs, such as "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." As she becomes familiar with the refrains she'll chime in one word at a time and before you know it she'll be singing the whole song right along with you.

If your 14-month-old isn't speaking many words at this point, you can help her with the other two elements of language acquisition. When talking to your child, vary your tone, facial expressions, and hand gestures, all of which will help her understand the meanings of your words. Maintain eye contact when you talk to her so she learns to listen to you. And don't rush her when she is trying to use words — listen patiently and look her in the eye.
Other developments: Communicating with gestures, hide-and-seek fun
Now that your toddler can indicate her needs with actions and some words, expect her to use "tools" to help her communicate. She'll bring you her jacket to let you know she wants to go outside. Or she'll point to a CD that she would like to hear. She is trying hard to make you understand what she wants. And you can expect her to repeat many words she hears even though she doesn't know their meaning (so starting now you need to watch what you say, lest your little parrot repeat any swear words!).

Her ability to remember people, places, and events gets stronger every day. This month she may even be able to respond to two-part requests, such as to go to her room and fetch her shoes or a toy, or retrieve a lost pacifier.

Hide-and-seek is still very entertaining, especially if your 14-month-old gets to do the seeking. Here's a variation that's sure to evoke lots of laughter: Show your toddler a toy and then stash it in your pocket and ask her where it went. She has the cognitive power to realize that just because the toy is out of sight doesn't mean it's gone. She'll giggle as she searches your pocket, purse, or backpack to see where you've hidden the toy. You can also hide little toys in her own pockets and see how much fun she has trying to get them out

Hello 2012!