[1y 3m] Talking and mimicking

Lara is talking all the time. She's also constantly mimicking everything we say and do. We swear we heard some intelligent words from time to time. She learns something new and understands more and more every day.

Teeth: 4 at the bottom (one half out), 4 on the top.

This month:

* Lara loves the "play kitchen" area at day care. Giving her appetite and love of food, I was not surprised that she likes "kitchen/food" toys. She also loves playing with tea sets. On my days off, we could sit together and play poring and drinking tea for a long time!

(Fortunately, sickness has not made her eat less!)

* Like to "share" things with me. We take turns playing with her toys (Lara will give me the toy to play with and then want it back, then give it to me to play etc). Lara sometimes takes out what she's eating and gives it to me to eat. One of her bad habits is: if she sees another food being offered while she's still chewing, she spits the food in her mouth, so she can put new food in. Food time is quite messy sometimes.

Understanding of words:
* Have clearly said "Ta". She could say "ma-ma" and "da-da". She calls her own name after we call her (it sounds like she's saying "wa -wa").
* Would give me a kiss if I say "kiss Mummy". She also kissed Daddy, Grandma and teddy.
* Husband said "don't drop it" and Lara looked at the floor, so we think she understand the word "drop". When I say "have a bath", she walks to the bathroom. When I say "go to bed", she shakes her head most of the time (even when she's very tired).
* More and more, Lara uses shaking and nodding her head to tell us what she wants. When I ask "More?" for food, she shakes her head when she doesn't want any more. Sometimes, Lara's confused and shakes her head on minute and nods the next or sometimes she shakes her head to things she wants.

* Dislikes having hair washed but likes to pretend to wash her hair. Dislikes having her teeth brushed.
* Still facinated with other kids.
* Like to walk backwards. Able to lift her walker up for steps. Able to run.
* Likes to wipe table with her flannel.


(Play with pebbles at Cypress Lake)

* Lara had her second cold. No temperature just running nose and lots of mucus and coughing. I was debating with myself whether to give her antibiotics (doc said there was a secondary infection and there was a 50/50 chance it would develop into something more serious. I could give her antibiotics straight away or I could wait to see if Lara's immune system could fight it). Luckily I gave her antibiotics (Amoxil) on the Friday night before we left for Hunter Valley, because Saturday was the worst day of her cold. She really was quite sick and not happy at all. By the way, she loved the taste of antibiotics.
* Lara traveled well during our Hunter Valley trip. She slept most of the way there because she was not well and she didn't complain for too long on the way back. She's generally able to sit longer in the car.

* Health concern these two weeks - nappy rash. Generally better on the weekend, but gets worse as Friday approaches. Somtimes it looks like it's all cleared one day but gets very bad again the next day. Pepole say it could be due to teething. I'm trying different cream and ointment at the moment. I don't think it's allergy because she never got nappy rash in her first year and we use the same nappy and wipes, but I'm asking child care if they changed wipes.

* The other big thing this month (or since last month) is her "security" blanket. She wants to hold this particular pink blanket(s) all the time. Luckily I have two so it can be washed. If she sees her blanket, she wants it whether she's at day-care or home. She robs the blanket on her face and she sleeps with it. I'm trying to get her to like another smaller blanket, but so far the bigger pink blanet is still her favorite.