16 Months

Jordan is my little sidekick. Mom's big helper. She is so busy and loves to be involved. "Oh, you're closing the dishwasher? I will do it for you!" She loves to turn the lights on/off. She is chatty - more and more words all the time. She continues to love her dog so much. She actually loves all dogs - if she hears a collar jingle, a bark or sees a small animal - "DOG!" Checking out the animals at the zoo? Penguins, seals, lambs - "DOG!"

This month, Grandma Ceil starting coming over to watch Jordan one day a week. She is also going to a Parents Day Out (PDO) program one morning a week. So along with playgroup, MOPS and story hour we are really busy!

Jordan has finally adjusted to one afternoon nap and is such a happier baby in the evenings when dad gets home. She still goes to bed early between 7:30- 8:30 and is sleeping close to 12 hours.

She continues to be so clever and fun. She loves to listen to a music box that her Great Grandma Marie gave her for her birthday. We usually play it during diaper changes. We couldn't believe it when she figured out to wind the tiny mechanism by herself.

New Words: Low (Hello), Baa (Bath). Bye is becoming a big word at our house - and imagine that word as short of a syllable as you can possibly manage. Whenever we end a phone call "Bye" she will echo. She says goodbye to anybody when they are leaving and even to her bath at night. When I pick up Jordan from PDO, she is usually a bit teary but immediately waves and says, "Bye".

Oh and speaking of waving - Jordan's wave has progressed into more of a raise the roof motion. Which she loves to do when she sees anybody walking or driving by. My mom lives on a fairly busy street and Jordan is entertained by standing at her front door watching the cars and people pass.

It's so fun to see her language develop and also see how her little mind works. Every now and then we will video chat with Daddy at work. So whenever the video chat rings on our computer - Jordan says, "Dada?" She does the same thing when she hears the garage door in the evening. It's so cute.

One of my favorite new things this month - the back up/lap sit. Sometimes if she is in the mood to read a book or drink her milk, she'll back herself toward you and find a comfy spot. When you don't have an especially cuddly baby, you take it whenever you get it. Although she is still good with handing out hugs and kisses. There is something so sweet about her kissing sound - mmmmm.

Some fun photos from this month:

Thai restaurant with Mom and Dad - I'll eat my puffs with chopsticks - ThankYouVeryMuch!

Relaxing with Dad

First Ponytail!

Boo! Scary pajamas.

How I get ready in the morning - Jordan sitting on my vanity table and going through my cosmetics. Not exactly relaxing, but fun.

Chilling on a quick trip down to the lake house

Jordan's new, amazing dollhouse/bookcase made by Grandpa Steve

Weston Applefest

And a good one with Grandma Ceil

Fun playing with Preston

Can't get enough of this beautiful weather! The trees are absolutely beautiful here. This is a picture we took down at the lake near our home. We love to take Willie down to the dock to swim at night.

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 :)

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.

{New} Home

Since I recently posted my goodbye love letter to Charleston, I thought I should show some love for our new home - Kansas City. We are settling into our home more and more everyday, meeting neighbors and getting into our routine. The house is amazing and I still pinch myself everyday that it's ours. Everyday Jordan, Willie and I go outside and play - Jordan on her playset and Willie with his frisbee.

We have loved seeing friends and family and looking forward to seeing many more folks in the coming weeks. And yesterday, as I looked around my table on a Thursday and saw my sister-in-law, cousin and her kiddos, my nieces, my mom and daughter - I thought to myself- this is what this move means. Jordan growing up around family.

Doug started his first week of work and is adjusting to his new role and new job. Looking back, I think I should have celebrated and recognized all of these milestones much more. At the time we were so busy with moving, but something that took 26 years of school and study should have been a bit more celebrated. I know that he doesn't mind at all, but I am so proud of his accomplishments.

So now we are back to our old routine. Jordan, Willie and I spending quiet days (trying to avoid the crazy heat) looking forward to when Daddy comes home. Home {Sweet} Home.

Jordan is 12 Months Old!

Such an amazing, busy, awesome, bittersweet month with our baby girl. Or should I say, big girl? Jordan took walking to a whole new level this month - running all over Charleston as we tried to soak up every last bit of our time there. She developed a whole new love of beaches - especially a fun time with friends at Carolina Beach. Jordan was excited to have her Burgess/Bonus family visit just in time to have an early birthday party. The Heffners also visited from St. Louis - which was such a great time for all of us.

Doug coined a new phrase that we are loving for her this month. She is always so busy - picking up a blocks, moving things around, playing so well by herself or others. Doug started calling it her "baby work". And it's such a perfect way to describe it. The way she tackles each task, does make it seem like she is doing a job.

Walking/Running
Do you remember the scene in Forest Gump where he says, "Now you wouldn't believe me if I told you, but I could run like the wind blows. From that day on, if I was ever going somewhere,I was running!" That is a great quote for Jordan this month. She wants to walk (run) everywhere. We struggle to keep up with her baby energy.

Stacking Blocks
Jordan has always loved to play blocks - usually knocking down any structures Doug or I would build. But this month, on her own - she started stacking blocks. It was so fun to see her doing it all by herself.

2 - It's the Magic Number
This month carrying things around the house became a big pastime. But it is always two things. And if possible, it's two matching things. In fact, one day, Jordan went into my messy closet and found a flip flop. She then went back in and found the match to the pair and walked around with them for an hour or so. So funny.

Words
Da (Dog), Ge (Doggie/Willie), Mama, & Dada are her words this month. Although she isn't saying a ton of words, I am absolutely amazed at how much she understands what we are saying. She really comprehends so much of what is going on. She throws away her own diapers and with very few gestures really follows commands very well.

Opposites
Someone gave Jordan an opposite book and she really loves it. This month - she was very into opposites. Up/Down, Asleep/Awake. It was so much fun to see her throwing her arms in the air for up or laying her head down to be "asleep".

Books
Although we have always read books, Jordan became very, very interested in holding and opening them this month. In fact, changing her diaper is so much easier now. When you lay her down, she points to her shelf with books and I give her one. She lays back while her diaper is changed, quietly turning the pages. It's too funny.
Teeth
Jordan's bottom two teeth got really big this month - prompting us to teach her how to "show us your teeth" as explained in this photo. She also cut her top two teeth - which are looking big, a little spaced out and completely adorable.

Other fun photos from this month:

Fun with Grandma & Grandpa at Middleton Place Plantation

Loving her new tent from James, Kim & Will

Dinner with the Moses & Heffner Families

Jordan was playing Hide and Seek...

Boxes, boxes. We are never moving again!

Beach babe on Memorial Day

On her birthday on the steps. My big girl.

Playtime with Chloe, Will & Parker

Sandcastle fun at Carolina Beach