Keeping Up with the Clarks: Sweet Summertime (14 months old)

SUMMER! I mean, it is probably technically Spring -- but it feels like summer. Harper and I like to stay active and be outdoors, so we love this weather. Ehh -- we love this weather in the shade.

Harper had a cold and a sinus infection a few weeks ago. I got sick and we were pretty much stuck in the house for 14 days straight. 14 days. Who wants to stay inside? It was no fun at all. Not only did we miss a dozen play dates, we just didn't feel inspired stuck inside the house. So, once everyone was feeling much better, we resumed our normal schedule. Play dates. Trips to the park. Playing outside all the time. Story time at the library. I am so thankful for my group of mommy friends. Not only does Harper love playing with their children, we always have great conversations and I always learn a lot. It is really important for kids this age to be social. Harper doesn't have to cling to me (except when I am cooking dinner -- during that time she NEEDS me) to feel safe. She says "hi" or "hey" to people in stores and at the park. And if you have a dog with you? Oh my -- Harper will love you and guilt you into stopping whatever it is you are doing to play with her.

So, what's new?

Food:
Harper loves fruit. That has never changed. She will still eat green beans and carrots, if I season them. She likes lots of flavor. I don't blame her. She will eat broccoli but only when I prepare it just like Ina Garten does. She only eats one puree a day, which is one of those pouches that has fruits and vegetables in it. She loves yogurt. She only drinks milk or water. No juice. I tried a little juice a couple of times, but she wasn't a big fan and I would rather her eat fruit than drink juice.

Development:
Oh, this child. She has been walking for over two months so she is very confident. She will walk up a single stair (like on our porch) and never break stride, slow down or use her hands. It was terrifying for me at first because I just knew she was going to fall. I was wrong. If she is going up multiple stairs and can reach the handrail, she will hold on and walk up the stairs. Going down the stairs? A different story.

She says several words, although John and I might be the only ones who understand a few of them. Dog. Jackson. Dada. Momma. Cat (she said at playgroup yesterday...what?) Hi. Hey. Yes. She is also very aware of what we are saying to her. If you tell her to do something (pick up the ball), she will pick it up. Everyday I say "let's go feed the dogs" and she RUNS to the backdoor, waits for me to open it, waits for me to hand her one of the dog bowls and then she races to the pantry (where we keep the dog food.) I open the container and she uses the scoop to put food in the bowls. She doesn't get much food in there, so I clearly have to help her, but she LOVES this. She giggles while they eat. She climbs everything. The couch. The dogs. Chairs. Boxes. Ladders. Slides. She is always on the move. She likes to use a fork to eat, but we obviously have to help her put the food on the fork. Haha. I think our favorite thing she does when she wants some of what you are eating is she points and then opens her mouth really wide "ahhhh." She will also shake her finger at me when I tell her no. I have no idea where she learned that. :) She stacks blocks, puts toys away and likes to "read" books on her own. She does really well playing by herself. She doesn't need us there to entertain her. Basically, despite her "hangry" outbursts, days of teething and her strong desire to eat whatever is on MY plate, I'd say Harper is pretty awesome. We have our moments. It isn't easy, but I'd say that we are doing just fine.