~15 Months~

I really haven't done a detailed monthly update on Vaiosina since she turned one.  That was three months ago.  Holy moley...where does the time go?

Another indication that time is just whizzing by...it seems like it was just yesterday that Vaiosina experienced her first real boo-boo when, in fact, it was  almost half a year ago.  Why am I reminded of this? Well, let's just say that tonight, it was like deja vu.  Same time of night, same oven (although it wasn't open this time), same burn (although not as bad and the other hand).  We were broiling steak again.  While the oven was pre-heating, she was in the kitchen, placed her hand on the closed oven door, looked at me and said (and signed), "Hot!".  Moments later, she put her hand on it again, but at that point, the oven was at full-blown broil.  I didn't get to her in time.  She started wailing.  This time, we (well, really, I) didn't freak out...as much.  Oh, how much we change in a few months time--both the baby and us.  We handled tonight like pros and she's just fine.

So wow, let's see....toddlers are exhausting and Sina is no exception.  She loves action and has to be in the middle of it.  Lucky for us, she is very easily entertained and is tons of fun to hang out with.  She loves to go to the playground (the swings and slide are her favorite).  She loves to "catch" football with Malu and watch the local high school games.  She'd been to two games this season and the entire time, she pointed to the field and either yelled or signed "ball".  She also loves to be out shopping at the commissary or PX.  I really think she just likes being around people.  She is quite the people watcher.

Speaking of people...she gets along very well with others.  We're told that she plays very well with the other kids at daycare.  As a matter of fact, she has a few BFFs.  One is a little girl, Lauren, and they exchange high-fives pretty much all day long.  Another is a boy, Albert, who they say Sina loves to lean on and be around.

The folks at daycare also remark on Sina's bubbly personality constantly and how it matches the bright, vibrant clothes she wears on a daily basis.  She actually has quite the reputation for being really trendy.

For the past three months, Sina's vocabulary and ability to sign has grown steadily.  She recognizes and knows all the words from the Your Baby Can Read program (see cute clip here) and knows a considerable amount of sign language, thanks to the Signing Time series.  She can recognize and sign different foods (i.e. fruits, vegetables, snacks), colors, and other every day signs (i.e. more, please, hot, cold, etc.).  Her daycare providers are amazed at how much she knows.  One day, they couldn't figure out what sign she was giving them.  Turns out, she spent a good part of the day signing for a cookie and no one knew it.

  We get a kick out of her pronunciation of a few words.  For instance...

Baby, Bear-Bear (her favorite doll) and Purple = Ba-ba!

Cheese = Chhhhhh!

Hot = Dot!

Bye = Buh Bye-ee!

Giraffe = Wa wa!

I love you and Umbrella = Ah la la!

Cookie and Cracker = Ka ka!

Moon= Mmmmm!

Apple = Bopple!

Car = Cah-ee!

Clock = Well, I can't say in this forum how she pronounces clock

There are others, I can't think of them all at this late hour.  Her books are her constant companions.  She'll bring books to us to read to her and if you ask to to get a book to read, she'll run to her room to get one.

Music?  She loves it in any form.  Live (as in Malu playing the guitar or the high school band at football games), musical toys, videos, radio and via YouTube.  She'll start busting a move as soon as she hears something and she's definitely got some moves!

She already has quite the imagination.  She has a tea set and knows how to pretend to drink imaginary tea and eat imaginary cookies with mom.  She makes gulp sounds and says "yum!" after every sip.  So cute.

She's definitely in the stage of asserting her dominance and being independent.  She wants to walk unassisted just about everywhere, feeds herself (which we have to strip her down to her diaper for since she's so messy) and brushes her own teeth during bathtime.  She fights the changing table tooth and nail, and occasionally, sleep.  Those times are particularly not on my cool list.

Food remains her true love.  At any given time, she can be found snacking on banana slices, baked mini gold fish and raisins.  I think pasta is her most favorite meal.

Finally, she's just a bundle of happiness.  There is nothing greater in this world than the bountiful hugs and kisses we receive from her as well as the times that we get to cuddle with her.  She just has a wonderful disposition and is so easy to love, love, love on.

Our pride and joy.  We love you Vaiosina.