Mia at 18 mths

Mia hit 18 mths old on April 9th. It's hard to believe that we're already on the downhill to 2. Guess we're overdue for a progress report.

On March 2nd we had a well check visit with the doc. Mia is now 27.5 lbs and 30.5 inches tall. She's still in some of her 18 mth size clothes but we're transitioning to mostly all 24 mth. She wears a size 5 shoe. She's getting leaner but still a chunky monkey hitting the 99th percentile again on the American growth chart for her weight and 85% for height.

Speaking of the doc, she went all disapproving on me when I told her Mia was not only still taking a bottle at bedtime but also waking about halfway through the night for another. She gave me a good lecture on orthodontia and the damage milk does to teeth... blahblahblah. The doc said if I stopped giving her a bottle midway through the night then she'd stop waking up. I thought "Pshaw! What does SHE know?". LOL!

So a couple weeks later, Mia accidentally slept through the night. Since we were coming into a 3-days-off-for-momma weekend I decided to stop the middle of the night bottles. The next night when she woke, I changed her diaper, rocked her for a couple minutes, put her back in her crib, told her "nigh-night" and walked out. I got a little whimper but she laid down and went back to sleep.

And that was it. She's slept through the night ever since. Except for an occasional bad dream or upset tummy. I know it wasn't supposed to be that easy .... but somehow it was. She was just ready. Or maybe the damn doctor was right.

Another couple weeks went by and my girl came down with that wicked stomach flu. It was AWFUL. We avoided milk and dairy because we had no choice. Her poor little belly couldn't handle it. But it solved the bedtime bottle issue.

So doc, we are now completely bottle free. Only sippy cups from here on out. And no more milk after our bedtime teeth brushing. Happy?

My girl who used to eat everything and anything has become a little picky. It's all hit or miss, too. Today she'll like carrots. Tomorrow...not.

She's also developed a really bad habit of taking the food she doesn't wanna eat... sometimes right out of her mouth... and dropping it on the floor. My smart girl knows the dog is hovering there ready to scarf on her discards. Except she hasn't yet realized that dog is not always there. Like... at a restaurant or someone's house. Then she just looks like a rude kid throwing food on the floor. LOL!

Her speech and receptive language. Wow! That probably needs it's own post. We've run through another big developmental explosion.  I'm amazed at how much her brain can process and understand.

Mia also seems to get more comfortable in her personality every single day. She's stubborn as a mule and isn't afraid to voice her opinion when she disagrees. Unfortunately, she has the stamina of a marathon runner when it comes to making her opinions heard. Which has made for some interesting battles in our house.

She's absolutely hit that moody toddler meltdown stage. We're talking throw yourself on the floor, bury your head in your hands, wail at the top of your lungs, kick your feet and cry big crocodile tears kind of Oscar worthy performances. Luckily, only the sitter and I have witnessed those. For now. I'm sure one will come right in the middle of grocery shopping or at some other very public venue some day. And then I'll have to rescind all the judgement I ever cast on "those" parents who couldn't control their kid since I'll have joined their ranks.      
But on the flip side, Mia can be a ton of fun. She loves to laugh and be silly. I can already see her sense of humor emerging.

She's become very affectionate and will often lift her arms for me to pick her up so she can lay her head on my shoulder and nuzzle into my neck. I absolutely live for those moments. She still likes to snuggle and we rock together for a few minutes every night.

Every day she shows me something new. I can't believe how far she's come in just 11 mths.

The Scary Bunny

I figured the bunny wouldn't go over real well after she had such a bad reaction to Santa. Mia was fine waving to him (or her, I guess) from the safety of her stroller while a few feet away in line. But when I tried to hand her over, she was having no such thing.

She looked like one of those cartoon characters suspended in mid-air in a full run. Her little legs and arms flailing wildly as she pathetically whimpered "momma momma momma". She was terrified.

I felt awful.

I was about to call it quits when the camera person suggested I sit down next to the bunny with her on my lap. This was the first shot.

A millisecond later she glanced to her right, saw the big scary furball and literally climbed my chest and was working her way over my shoulder to get away from him

Unfortunately, momma wasn't prepared for the camera to snap so quickly hence the cropping out of the goofy look on her face. 

So here is our one and only first Easter Bunny photo. At a cost of $38 dollars. Don't even get me started.

Maybe next year....

Hunting for Eggs

For so many years I imagined the day that Mia would join her cousins on the annual Easter Egg Hunt in my sister's big backyard. 

She didn't quite have the hang of it this first go 'round. As you can see by the very visible eggs right in front of her that she's ignoring.

Uncle Bobby tried to give her some pointers. 

But she preferred to just take off her shoes and run in the grass.

Or swing and watch her cousins hunting like crazy.

Maybe next year she'll get the hang of it.

Eventually, cousin Tess came over to sort her haul and swing awhile, too.

This adorable little dress was a gift from my friend, Lisa, right after we got home from China. When I stumbled across the basket liner made out of the same fabric I knew Mia had to wear it for the hunt.

She finally decided to check out the five eggs she found (or that were maybe just tossed in her basket while she wasn't looking).

Tatum came over to help.

And Mia discovered what the hunt was all about.... the candy inside those eggs!

It makes my heart so happy to see our girls all together. Finally.

Travis snuck into this photo. But as usual, Tanner avoided the camera.

Even Teagan shared a little candy with his favorite Chinese cousin.

Another dream realized. My girl hunted Easter eggs for the very first time.

The Bunny Left What?

Happy Referral Day!

I can hardly believe it's been a year since I got The Call that would change my life forever.

Those 5 years waiting for it passed so very slowly.

But now... on the other side of that wait... time is moving too fast.

Mia is 18 months old already.

She's a fiesty, opinionated, active, walking and talking toddler.

When did that happen?

I remember every detail of that day like it was yesterday.

The anticipation, excitement, nervousness, curiosity.

And the pure and utter joy when I finally opened that e-mail and saw this beautiful face.

If you want to relive those memories with me
Part One is here .
Part Two is here.

Happy Referral Day
Mia Renee Ying!
I'd wait all over again for you,
my love.
 

Sick

It started Saturday. This is what I dealt with most of the day.

Nothing made her happy. I thought maybe her teeth were bothering her. But she must of known what was brewing. 

It hit Sunday. And today was the third day of vomiting and diarrhea. My girl is sick and momma is being pushed to her limits. 

The hardest part is being only one person. When there's a giant mess to clean up off of her, me, the furniture, the wall....and there's a baby who just wants to be held and comforted. 

Or needing things from the grocery like broth, popsicles, Gatorade and not being able to leave her or take her out with me. Luckily, Aunt Carla and another friend have dropped off some supplies to keep my girl nourished and hydrated.

I'm just praying it ends soon. I'm exhausted. And I hate seeing my girl so unhappy.