17 Months

I know that Kalaya has a lot more going on and is learning lots of new things, but it seems like I just listed them all, but that was already a month ago!

17 months and talking up a storm! Kalaya has been a babbler since she was 3 months, so that's nothing new. But, her sounds are actually making sense and turning into words, it's very exciting! Here are all the words I can think of that she says: Mamma, Dada, dog, fish, shoes, what's that?, yeah, neh (nurse), bye bye, ball, bath, hi, wow, night night, car, thank you (some times), bird, Bapa (for grandpa), Gamma (grandma), uncle, horse, and she signs; dog, cat, bird, fish, horse, please, more, shoes, nose, help, all done, walk, eat, drink/water, book, flower, music (when she wants us to put it on) and I'm sure there's more of both, but I can't think of them right at this second. It's pretty amazing to watch!

I finally feel like I have an eater! Well, most days, she is still a toddler after all. I continue to make almost everything she eats. Some days that means more like baby food (though it's more like those Gerber Toddler meals. I'm still freezing upgraded, home made food), but she also eats almost everything we have. Most nights at dinner, she eats what we eat, more or less. Lunch is more catered to her, whether it's ready made from the freezer or something typical lunch. We are still struggling to get her to eat fruit. She will eat apple sauce, some dried fruit and I hide purees in things. She'll eat oatmeal with apple or banana and we have discovered that she'll eat fresh blueberries in whole wheat pancakes. I need to see if she'll eat other fruits like that too. Every once in a while she'll pig out on strawberries or melon, but it's short lived. Other than that, she eats most things we give her.

I am pretty sure she's grown. All of a sudden, she can reach the tops of furniture she couldn't before and drawers. More baby proofing! She has a cupboard and 2 drawers in the kitchen and she LOVES emptying them multiple times a day. She loves her musical instruments I found for her (at a garage sale!) and plays them all the time. She loves to play her harmonica and Pippy loves to howl along with her, too funny! She still loves books more than almost anything else and loves to sit and read several times a day.

I can't believe I'm already thinking about it, but I'm starting to plan for Christmas! I'm starting early, because I am looking for her big gift on Craig's list. We're looking for a good quality used play kitchen. Let's face it, those things last forever and stay in great shape. It's cheaper and so much greener. Plus, she won't know the difference! We recently got her a little tykes climber, also on Craig's list, but she's not quite ready for it yet. Our friends just moved out of state : ( but were nice enough to give us some things their 3 year old has out grown; a Cozy Coupe, a Radio Flier wagon and a Little Tykes picnic table. We are set, thanks Heather!!

Here is the famous duo of Pippy and Kalaya:


And here's Kalaya reading her favorite book, which we do about 10 times a day : )