Jordan is 14 Months!

I know that I am a very lucky mom. I absolutely love spending my days with my sweet baby girl. I mean - how can you not love that face??? She is independent, happy, affectionate - and okay a little stubborn, too. She loves her dog and her Dad. She loves all the kids in her new neighborhood. She loves spending time with her cousins and friends.

We play outside every morning before it gets too hot - Jordan loves playing with Willie and on her new swingset. She is learning how to go down the slide. A new favorite game is throwing the ball for Willie - it's a combination throw/keep-away game.

Jordan had a very fun month with her cousins - meeting Taylor and Madison for the first time. They played so well together and enjoyed family bonding. Grandma Connie also came to visit this month for a quick weekend trip. We had lots of fun play dates with Preston, Alayna, Elena, Will & Brynn. Here is what else our big girl is up to this month...

Rocking Chair
Still a favorite pastime, Jordan loves to rock in her birthday rocking chair. She rocks it herself, which is basically adorable. She also loves to take her "baby laptop" up on the chair with her. Here Will is helping her hold MORE toys.
Girly Girl
What a surprise to realize that I have a girly, girl on my hands. I should have known when she loved jewelry when she was such a little baby. She has graduated to purses - especially her Grandma Ceil's.
Feeding herself
At the beginning of the month, Jordan began refusing to be fed. She will only eat if she feeds herself. This has been a very messy, inefficient development in our eating - especially considering that Jordan really needs to pack on a few pounds.
Playing outside
Jordan loooooves to go outside. We have been going out at least 30 minutes in the morning and usually after dinner/before bedtime. Willie likes this new development too, since usually he gets to tag along. Here is an example of the fetch game that we play.
New Words - Dog, Ball, Uh Oh!, Book, No, Bye

Favorite toys - Very loud ball popper (1st birthday present from the Moses Family), Balls - and she still loves any music!

Kiss - MUUUWAH!
Jordan is starting to give kisses on command - although it's more about the sound and leaning toward you.

Rubber - what?
Jordan loves to play with my hair rubber bands. As soon as I give her one, she sits down and starts to put in on her feet.

Other fun pics from this month:

Fun with Dad at Science City, Union Station

First Missouri thunderstorm

Helicopter at Science City

Making brownies with cousin Taylor.

Playing with all the Eckerberg girls

A very special guest dropped by our house one day....

Feeding the goats at Deanna Rose Farm

Checking out the cows with Grandma (notice the purse??)

So happy Daddy is home!

Another favorite toy from this month - Jordan can push herself backwards, but not forwards.

In diapers, they look like twins! Playdate with Preston.

Bye-bye :)

Jordan is 13 Months Old!

It's been a crazy few weeks! We started the month in Charleston and ended it in Kansas City. Big changes for a little person. But Jordan handled all the chaos like a pro. I counted all the different places she slept this month - it was at least nine. Good thing Jordan is mellow and goes with the flow.

Besides this month being rough with all the transitions - it was rough for Jordan in terms of falls. We had our first Emergency Department visit (on Father's Day!) after a fall and cut near her eye and our first double black eye from a climbing/tumble.

We also spent a few nights down at the lake house once we got to Missouri. It was so fun to take Jordan & Willie there. She had fun and we got lots done. Here is what our big girl is up to this month....

Understanding EVERYTHING!

I just can't get over how Jordan has turned into this little mini person who is walking, talking & understanding everything around her. She follows commands i.e. Shut the door, pat the dog, let's go outside. It's so much fun to interact with her in this whole new way.

Signing

I was so excited to start baby sign language with Jordan around 7 months. Needless to say, she didn't really pick it up till this month. All of a sudden she started making the signs for milk, more & done. It's so nice to know what she wants!

Sippy Cup

We had been trying sippy cups with water and milk but Jordan didn't really pick up the sippy cup until this month. She likes a specific kind (handles from the bottom) and it didn't hurt that mom started coaxing her with chocolate & strawberry whole milk to get things moving. The doctor wanted to "fatten" her up - so we are doing our best. Here she is drinking while watching Willie on the dock.

Much better eating

Jordan did start eating much better this month - trying new foods (not just yogurt!) and eating more volume. She still doesn't like to hold onto anything slimy (which I sort of understand).

A whole new DANCE

Jordan took her head bopping skills and moved them to a whole new level this month. We graduated to the knee bop, whole body dance. It started when we were packing and she was imitating us (we are horrible, horrible dancers). But it's pretty cute when she does it!

One Nap

Um, Mom.... 2 Naps are for babi

es. Right around move day, Jordan started refusing her afternoon nap. The strange thing is that she still naps in the morning. Most kids drop the morning or move to a mid day nap. Not Jordan.

Feet

I love Jordan's curiosity and this month is no different. She loves different feeling under her feet (sand, cheerios, grass). She really loves to feel the difference - going from stone to grass. So much fun to see her figure things out - but not so much fun to see her crunching food under her little feet.

A few more fun photos from this month:

Tough baby - goose egg & two black eyes.

Last night in Charleston with the Moses Family

Night out with Justin & Holly

Beach the day after the ED - check out that eye!

Playing with Chloe at Botany Bay on Edisto Island - such a fun day

Best friends

Fun at the aquarium on Father's Day

Willie learns how to dock dive at the lakehouse

Grandma & Grandpa's new horse toy - it was a big hit

Birthday Girl

We celebrated Jordan's birthday a few weeks early while Doug's family was visiting. We hosted a pool party & BBQ and we were so lucky to have some friends and neighbors join us, too! Jordan handled the party great, although she didn't exactly tear into the cake on cue. It was more of a "You want me to eat that?"

Pool party with our awesome neighbors!

BBQ lunch with the Moses family

The cake that Grandpa Steve decorated!!

Opening presents in her birthday tutu (every girl needs one!)

Blowing out the candle

On her actual birthday, it was a more low-key affair. The four of us at home with a few cupcakes. This time, we had some actual contact with the frosting.

Awesome birthday candle from Aunt Mary & 1 year cupcake

Milestones always make me reflective and this one was no different. What an amazing year for our family. Can't wait to see what our little one has in store for us this coming year.