It's been awhile since I did a post specifically on B's development, but since she's just had a pediatrician's visit it's a good time to check in.
Beatrice weighs twenty pounds even, putting her in the 10th percentile for weight, and she's 30.5 inches tall, or around 25th percentile. She also has tiny feet, an infant size 3.
She's walking all the time now and she's fast. She loves to climb and by now she can climb onto any piece of furniture in the house--the other day she even climbed a rope ladder. She's still brave, reckless, and adventure-seeking, and still outgoing and friendly, quick to hug adults, though not always so eager to share with other kids her own age.
She is talking, too, though less than average for a girl her age. Every day she says "Mommy," "Daddy," "hi," "dog" (or "doggy") and "cat" (or "kitty cat" or "cat-cat"). There are a handful of other words she uses more or less regularly, including "yeah," "no," "duck," "baby," and "bird," and still more she can't say but understands when they are spoken to her.
She has a great sense of humor and loves to "tell jokes," like putting a magazine on her head like a hat or trying to put her tiny baby shoes on my feet. No matter how upset she is you can nearly always jolly her out of it by making her laugh--my father once imitated her when she was was having a tantrum and it cracked her up so much she forgot what she had been upset about.
With Kaitlyn, entranced by the music coming out of the speakers at the Americana
She excels in tool use and in the manipulation of objects. On her own she figured out how to use a comb, a toothbrush, a Q-tip, a cup, a spoon, a lock, and a door knob, and she helps dress herself and put on her own socks and shoes. She loves to experiment with objects like blocks and magnets. She can throw a ball, use a hand puppet, and put on Cromwell's leash. She very much enjoys her play food, particularly stirring items together in a pot and pretending to drink the resulting soup out of a ladle.
She is very active and has a hard time sitting still, which means she isn't yet very interested in listening to stories, singing songs, coloring, or watching videos (except the one mentioned below). She's slowly becoming more interested in books, particularly in pointing out pictures and turning pages, but she won't sit still long enough to listen to the words. She's affectionate but extremely squirmy if you try to get her to sit in your lap (or sit at all) and even the slighest restriction on her physical movements enrages her. She has a hard time with some group activities because so many of them are predicated on the ability to sit and watch a puppet show, listen to songs, etc., and she gets very upset if she feels like she is being made to sit down.
Like all toddlers she is prone to willfulness, aggression, and obstinancy, and she's not above stamping her feet or pounding her fists in tantrums, but happily it is always very easy to snap her out of it and she's never upset for more than a minute or two before she's forgotten about it and she's happy again (though whether this a function of her good temperament or her short attention span I can't say).
Passport photos
She loves animals, especially dogs and cats. She talks about dogs constantly, even in her sleep, and thrills to see dogs or cats while out on a walk. She loves this video above all else. This one too.
Beatrice and Cromwell in her new wagon
Up next for her? Further refinements on walking and more words.
Beatrice using a spoon (sort of) while talking about dogs
Beatrice looking at pictures of dogs in a magazine (and kissing them)
Beatrice also had her first Starbucks hot chocolate.
