Sophia is 13 Months Old!

Nope, I didn't over look it. I just didn't have many pictures to post and I knew we'd be dressing up today for a wedding reception and I'd get a few then. Last Thursday, Sophie turned 13 months!

Side note: Oh, how fun it is to have a daughter to dress up! I didn't think I'd really care all that much, but now I love any opportunity for Sophie to wear a pretty dress. :) And with all the babies being born in our family, spring time is going to be "birthday season"! Cecilia in March, Sophie in April, Cora in May, Mya, Stella, Will and soon-to-be-Lincoln in June... we're going to have lots of party occasions every spring to get dressed up! My mom got Sophie this dress when she was just born. She's finally able to wear it:

Ahh! She looks so grown up and tall in these pictures!

This was only for a second and she took maybe one step.

Lots of new physical accomplishments this past month, but still not walking. I know I've already mentioned some of them, but here's what she's been up to since her birthday:

1) Standing alone briefly... until she realizes she's not hanging onto something, and then she drops down or grabs anything/anyone to hold onto.

2) Walking very well holding just one of our hands. She's got the moves down but just doesn't seem interested! I mentioned she's taken a few steps when I've set her down and backed up a bit, or when she was hopping off of that rocking chair and stepping over to me about a week ago.

3) Climbing...on everything. I mentioned the rocking horse and how she loves to get on and off and rock away to her hearts content. She also just learned today how to climb onto the couch in the living room and knows to get down feet first on her belly. She climbs on her bookshelf, on the dishwasher, up the stairs, onto stools, onto toys, attempts to climb into the bath tub, etc. Here she's trying to climb the side of the couch from her ride-on toy...

...and then just cheesin' it out when I tell her to be careful. Honestly, I just don't worry about her all that much. I let her do things that I'd have been hovering over Will for. She is really coordinated with very good balance. Craig teases me all the time because I predicted she'd be SO far ahead of Will in all the physical milestones and she's still not walking. But even without walking, she's VERY mobile... and determined and strong!

4) Recently, I taught her how to come down the stairs. I don't really let her on the stairs all that much at all, and she actually seems a little less interested in them than Will was at this age. But I think it's good for her to at least be capable and know how to go down as well as up. So she turns around a few feet before the stairs start and scoots backward and then goes down feet first on her belly, with me right behind her.

5) Playing with all of Will's toys (which really bugs him) and pulling EVERYTHING off her little book/toy shelf in her room. She has been more interested in looking at books recently.

6) "Rolling" a ball back and forth between us and saying "ba". You can tell she understands quite a bit of language but isn't really saying any words consistently. She'll look for or at things or people you say to her. Sophie can and does make a lot of word sounds, but doesn't much put them to purposeful use. "Ba" seems to be one of the first words she's repeating purposefully, besides like "uh-oh" or "mama". But even "mama" isn't something she actually calls me. I'd like to include Will in helping me teach her some animals sounds pretty soon too. I think they'll both like that.

7) Giving kisses and "kissing the baby" in her board books like I mentioned recently.

8) Sticking out her tongue when you ask "where's your tongue?" Also recognizes and can sometimes pat her head and belly on request too.

Feeding this child continues to be a challenge. She loves to drink from her cup and gets super excited whenever she sees it. I'm just persistently offering healthy things and she eats what she eats.

Sophie's also been very clingy and wanting to be held by mommy a lot in the last few weeks. I can SEE at least one (maybe two?) top teeth just under the gums, so I think that may be a factor in a lot of her behaviors, including eating. But otherwise, she is generally doing very well.

I think that's it off the top of my head. Another fast and fun month!