Sugar and Spice

Its so odd to think of and watch the bittersweet changes that are happening in my house right now...most of them involve my Little Diva. She is starting to leave that "baby" phase behind completely.  Lately, she seems happiest with a baby doll or stuffed animal to snuggle and a tutu on over her pants...and I've had to learn no to leave the comb out after I finish doing her hair because she decides to be SUPER helpful and comb her hair (in spite of the ponytail that I've just pulled it up into...) She is also completely in LOVE with necklaces. If mommy is wearing one, she INSISTS that I take it off and let her wear it. To combat this, I've purchased a bag of Mardi Gras bead necklaces at Desert Industries for $3. She kicked her legs and squealed with glee when I finally opened them after we bought them at  D.I. and grabbed a silver and blue one and immediately tried to put it on (mommy ended up having to help her.)

She is turning into a little girl.

Part of me loves this. Its fun to watch her try to dance along with actors she sees on the screen in her favorite movies...if Hairspray is on, I've learned that I need to leave her a wide birth for dancing, or else we have bonked heads and tears.

Along with these changes comes a list of new frustrations, though. She still doesn't talk. Not even yes or no...once in a while, I think she knows that I am "mama" but then she will babble "mamamamama" over and over again, and I wonder if she just knows that I will respond when she makes that sound. Its frustrating for both of us. She is starting to get "big girl" desires, and she can't verbalize them to tell me what she wants. This leads to many frustrated tears for both of us. She has figured out simple things like: if she brings me the DVD she wants to watch I will put it on for her...but, that hasn't helped with our lunchtime meltdowns because she isn't ready to eat, or doesn't want what she sees...

I keep trying to have patience and have faith that her verbal skills will start to develop soon. She was a preemie, so I guess I just need to wait it out...but on the other hand, it doesn't stop me from being nervous that we need to talk about early diagnosis for things like Autism...I suppose at her 18 month appointment in April, her pediatrician will be able to tell us what we need to do. We try everything we can to get her to talk and help her learn words, but she just doesn't get it. We know she knows what words like "no" mean (her "big girl" temper tantrums when we say no would definitely be testament to that fact.) she just doesn't use them...

In other news...I had to pull out the 6-9 month clothes for Phillie this weekend...talk about a mamma ready to lose it and cry!

To add insult to injury, she was rolling around on the floor today and I looked away to read Faith a book and looked up to find her gumming Faith's cookies that she'd left on the floor...

Of course, I only looked up and over at her because she was crying...and why was she crying? The cookies she'd been gumming were almost completely disintegrated and gone...she was MAD! She wanted more chocolatey goodness...

Her chocolate covered mug and giant smile were probably a testament to the fact that she enjoyed herself thoroughly...

Well..I should go do some laundry...More recipes and reviews of recipe from my latest meal plan are coming...

Hugs and loves until next time, darlings.