I have a 16 month old toddler!!

(As usual, my post is a few days late. I wanted to have this finished by last Wednesday, but as a parent, you know how something always come up)
 
 As of June 6th, 2012...I have a 16 month old toddler! Didn't I just write about her 15 month milestones last week?? Time sure flies! I have a busy toddler who loves getting into things, cuddling with mama, following her daddy, and just altogether learning. 
I am excited to share with you the new words she has learned since last month!
In addition to the 30 signs I listed in last month's blog post, she has picked up some more listed below. I've also listed some signs that are evolving.


ASL:

1. Happy
2. Cat (Evolving sign: looks like "food" on the side of her mouth/cheek)
3. Down
4. Nose
5. Eyes
6. Mouth
7. Flower (twists her finger at the corner mouth, almost like the sign for candy but more side movement)
8. Sheep
9. Horse
10. Socks
11. Shoes (evolving sign, looks like sign for "with" except with correct movement)
12. Duck (changing from thumb-finger pinch in the air to whole hand backwards on the lip)
13. Tries to sign her name sign but with 1-handshape on the cheek
14. More (with two index fingers against each other) to mean "more" or "I want that!"

English words, in addition to last month's blog:

1. Tango
2. Down
3. Up
4. Baby
5. Mommy (changed from last month's "ma-ma-me")
6. Kitty
7. All-done
8. More (sounds like "muh")
9.  Nana
10. Bapa
11. Dat (means "that")

There may be more but my husband couldn't remember any and typically she tries to copy words at times but doesn't always repeat it later. 
 
RaeRae's developing skills (gross motor, fine motor, social, etc):

1. Throwing!
2. She tries to put her socks and shoes on by herself. They don't get on her feet without my help but she knows where they are supposed to go.
3. Eating more with a fork/spoon.
4. Running
5. Stomping feet
6. Walking backwards
7. Pulls string toys against the floor (example: doggy toy with a leash)
8. Ride her sit-down scooter back and forth
9. More dancing (sideways instead of just up and down)
10. Turns individual pages in her book (been doing this for a while, but getting better at it)
11. Pretends to drink from her tea party cups and pour her tea kettle for more
12. Can buckle her seatbelt and stroller clips (but can't unbuckle! Phew!)
13. Understands puzzles have pieces and tries to put them on the board, even if they are in the wrong place
14. Connect building lego blocks together (the large ones)
15. More I'm sure, but that's all I've remembered...

 Things I like about having a 16 month old:

• Language spurt
• Communicating with me on what she sees (i.e. Daddy has a nose, daddy has a nose, I have a tongue, etc). 
• Watching her explore objects with her hands and eyes
• Reading books
• Watching her run like a wild monkey
• Visiting fun places like the zoo and the parks 
• Becoming a Daddy's girl (She will want only Daddy at times, and pretty much is all his when he comes home from work)

Things I don't like about having a 16 month old:

• Picky eater! 
• Understands and uses the word "no" 
• Tantrums
• Down to one nap a day (and having to schedule our outings far away from nap time so they do not affect nap times)

Here are pictures from the last month. Enjoy!

We got a new carseat!!