14 months

Caroline,

To start off this month you got a cousin.  On May 7, your Aunt Amy and Uncle Nick added baby Hunter to their family.  We look forward to when you and Hunter get to meet for the first time, hopefully later this summer, and watching you all grow up together.

On the 19th, you moved from the Bears class to the Kittens class at school.  When Mrs. Connie called to tell Mommy she said you could probably run the Bears class and were very ready to move up .  Your teachers thought you were bored.  You were the only walker in that class for several months.  In your new class your schedule is much more active.  Each day you have playground or gym time, Bible story and signing time, and snack.  You also have a 2 hr nap time using a nap mat on the floor.  Mommy was concerned that you would not adjust well to this since it had been a struggle to get you to take a 20 min nap in the Bears.  The first day with the Kittens you slept on your nap mat for an hour and a half.  I was amazed.  It helps that everyone lays down together in the dark with soft nature sounds playing.  You also have to wear tennis shoes in the Kittens class so you got a couple pairs of new kicks.  It's not easy to find tennis shoes in size 3.  Daddy lets you walk to your class in the mornings and for the first few days you would stop at your old room (you have to walk past it to get to the new one) and cry or bang on the door to be let in.  After a few times you seemed to realize that it was time to move on and after a brief pause you walked down the hall to the new room.

 You also had your first visit to the dentist this month.  At your 12 mo checkup Dr. Bagnell recommended we see a pediatric dentist to check on your bottom teeth.  Dr. McGough did a quick exam of your teeth and found that you have a fused bottom tooth - two teeth have joined and came in as one.  Years from now when you start loosing baby teeth and gaining permanent teeth we may have to have some type of intervention, but for now you just have another special feature.  You did really well at the dentist and did not put up much fuss.  We  have started brushing your teeth at night and next time we go see Dr McGough she will do a cleaning.

Mommy and Daddy took you to your first sporting event.  The ETBU (Mommy works here) girl's softball team was playing in the 2014 D3 Softball Championship in Tyler, TX.  We dressed you in your blue and gold and went to the game.  You weren't very interested in watching the action on the field but you sat with us in the bleachers for a while, then we ate cheerios and walked around the park grounds.  Excitingly we got to see a win that day, but they later lost and were out of the tournament.

At the end of the month you stayed overnight without Mommy and Daddy for the first time.  We went on vacation for our anniversary and Lollie came to stay with you.  Aunt Julie was also with you for some of it.  You were very good while we were away and had a lot of fun playing, riding in the stroller, and going on errands with Lollie.  Mommy missed you while we were away but I knew you were well taken care of.

Other highlights...

• Adjusted to drinking from a sippy cup
• Favorite Book: Baby Einstein Touch and Feel Baby Animals; Favorite page of that book: Hedgehog - made of rough side of velcro.  You now make the reader of the book scratch the hedgehog...over, and over, and over.  :)
• Favorite bath toy: Counting Animals bath book; Favorite page of bath book: 4 alligators.  You take the alligators out every night but not any of the other animals
• It just so happens that your favorite page in each book is the last page.  ??
• New toys of interest this month - purse with keys, phone, mirror, bracelet, and credit card; picnic basket with blanket, plates, cups, forks, and food; alligator pull toy
• You imitate Mommy by carrying your play purse on your arm and holding the plastic phone up to your ear.  You also love to wear the bracelet from your purse, but if not that the rings from the stacker work nicely.  :) You also pat your baby doll's back in bed.  Sooo cute.  Motherly instinct is ingrained.
• Pretend to drink from the cup your picnic basket
• Can point to your mouth when asked..."Where is baby's mouth?"
• Love to climb the stairs in the choir room/loft at church.  Climbed the full set of loft steps three times with Daddy while waiting on Mommy to get out of a meeting.
• Recognize and identify Daddy with "Da-da"
• Sign "more" along with "eat" much more consistently
• Enjoy being tickled, spun around in circles

You are our precious doll-baby.  We love you lots.

-Momma