The Gentry's: Eden - 13-14 months

I cannot believe how much Eden Joy has changed in the two short months since turning one!?! She lost so much of her "babyness" in such a short amount of time! We are definitely in the grabbing phase, which keeps us on our toes. Basically, she is curious and into everything and becoming quite the climber! She also went from speed crawler to full-time walker, which I felt like she was never going to figure out.

She understands almost everything we tell her now, but she still doesn't say many words other than Mama, Dada, bye/hi and yes (and lots of babbling which I'm sure she knows exactly what she's saying). But if you tell her to sit, she sits. If you tell her to hand you something, she does. And if you ask her if her food is good, she smiles and says "mmmmm"! So, we know she's understanding, just learning to communicate back in her own time.

I knew the clingy phase would be temporary and that I should savor it. Sure enough, she turned one and is no longer under my feet wanting to be held all day! She is off and into whatever she can get her hands on! She loves pulling things out of baskets and then putting it all back in, playing in our closet with shoes, following after big sister and attempting to steal whatever "big girl" toy she's playing with, playing with baby dolls, grabbing Mommy's phone, and a water bottle could entertain her for a while! She's also into remotes, iPads, computers.... Basically, she's extremely tech-savvy! ;-)

Eden, just like big sister, has realized Mommy's obsession with taking pictures and will obediently smile and say "EEEEZZZEEE" whenever she sees me holding the camera. She also attempts to take pictures, especially when she's holding my phone. She will put it right up to her face and say "EEEZZEE".

She's also caught on to the "Happy and you know it" and will clap her hands on cue. However, lately she's been too lazy to clap and will just say "Duh-Duh" on beat. She also says "scat" when she or someone else sneezes (I guess she knows more words than I originally thought....!)

I also think she said her first phrase the other day. She dropped a toy and it went under the couch. She crouched down on hands and knees, looked at me, and it sounded like she said "Where'd it go??"

After weeks of showing no interest in walking, she took her first steps on July 26th. After that point, she would venture out and take additional steps here and there but she still wasn't super motivated. Then about two weeks ago it clicked and she is off! She's still not super stable, but she is a full-time walker now. A few weeks ago if she fell down, she would just start crawling. Now, she gets right back up in an attempt to master this walking thing...

The high-pitched shriek is better although she still does it on occasion. One thing that has helped greatly is she has FINALLY agreed to sign "more". Now when she's hungry, she claps her hands together emphatically and looks at us like "you better get me some food or I'm reverting back to screaming!" Like a ticking time-bomb.... ;-)

I blogged a while back about how she would "uh-oh" her paci in her crib after nap or in the morning. Well, I knew the day would come when that "cute little habit" became a challenge! She now chunks her paci wherever we are if she decides she's done with it. So, we're working on that!.... She also will throw it and Roo out of her bed when I lay her down for a nap so that I will have to go back in and give them back to her. Usually it only happens once then she goes to sleep. I guess she just thinks it's funny...

E still gives the sweetest kisses but lately they've been reserved for sister. She ADORES Macy. Even if Mommy or Daddy ask for a kiss, she will look for sister and go "MMMMMM-AAHHH!" and give her one instead.

We are still a big fan of Roo but she only wants her little Roo. She got big Roo for Christmas and likes him, but will push him away if you try to hand him to her at bedtime. Then, when you hand her little Roo, she just pulls him in, kisses him and smiles. Macy started sleeping with big Piglet after her first birthday (one of her presents from Mommy and Daddy) but Eden is content with her little one. She likes to sling him around by the tail while she's falling asleep!

She is still sensitive, still sleeping well, still eating everything in sight and still cutting teeth! She now has the four on top and three on bottom (with the 4th due to make it's appearance any day!) I do think teething (like shots) has affected her more than Macy and I can always tell when she's cutting one.

You are still our sweetie pie, Eden Joy, and one of my favorite times is holding you before bedtime. You will actually let us cuddle you briefly before you start lunging for your bed! Such a bed baby! At night, we will ask you if you're ready to go to bed and you will nod your head forcefully "YES"! Then we will ask if you want your paci and you will again nod and then open your mouth for it. Finally, we will ask if you want Roo and you will again nod and then smile when we hand him to you. Then, to bed you go!

Your giggle is the most precious thing and has a strong resemblance to sisters....

Love you to pieces!!

talking on the phone...