Forever Young: Kellah Grace {17 Months}

On the 17th, Kellah was 17 months old, but I didn't get around to blogging that day. Then, yesterday, I was all excited to sit down and write about her newest accomplishments but couldn't find the camera with the pictures I wanted to include in the post. Well, I found the camera today, in my purse, and discovered that I had already downloaded the pictures anyway!

So, I'm a few days late, but I've finally got my act together -- or at least enough to make it look like I do!

Just a few weeks ago, our Parents as Teachers representative came over for Kellah's screening. She asked me a bunch of questions about what Kellah can do verbally, physically, etc. The list included things like:
*Does your child frequently take steps on his/her own?
Um, yeah, got that one covered...for the past 8 months now!

*Has your child started to climb on objects?
The child has no fear and would climb up the wall if physically possible.

*Does your child take a pencil or crayon and write on paper?
Yes, she likes to help me chart for It Works, take notes in Daddy's journal, and help me write out my grocery lists. Oh, and jump right in for the craft times I do with the older kiddos.

*Can you child stack 3 blocks?
I knew this one was coming, so we worked on it in advance, just so I could say yes :)

I certainly wasn't worried about any of Kellah's milestones in regards to what she can do physically. But then, the PAT person asked me if she could throw a ball. Nope, just roll it, seeing as how that is what we do with balls in the house and I haven't encouraged Coralyn throwing balls at her little sister outside for that matter either. Well, now we had something to work on.

Let me just tell you, Kellah must have caught on that she was supposed to be able to do this because in a matter of a few days, her favorite game had become "Throw the ball down the driveway, say Uh-oh, and smile really cute as Mommy runs down the street after the ball." She does this over and over and over again. Thank goodness we live on a cul-de-sac!

After her motor skills, we turned to her verbal skills. Yes, she can communicate and let us know what she wants, no doubt about that! But, when the PAT person asked if she had more than 8 words in her vocabulary, I was coming up short. Again, something to work on.

Again, Kellah must have sensed that she was "supposed" to be talking more, using actual words, because in the past 2 weeks since the PAT rep came, Kellah has become a talking machine.

Ball

Bat

Book

Shoes

Socks

T-Bone (our cat)

Dog (when she hears one barking)

Trash

Night-Night

Outside

Uh-oh

No (no, no, no shaking her finger at me or pushing whatever I am giving her away)

Mine

Potty

Car

Truck

More

Milk

Please

Snack

Eat

And more I am sure, but with Coralyn pleading for me to paint her nails, I can't seem to focus and think of the other words Kellah has started saying out of the blue. It's like she adds new words every day!

She's a smart little thing, catching on quickly to what's going on around her. She brings the daycare boys their shoes when their moms come. She tries to carry the daycare baby's diaper bag to her mom. She knows to go to her chair when I say it's time for lunch. She knows to grab her shoes if I tell the kids we're going to play outside.

Sometimes she grabs TWO pairs!

She runs up the stairs when we announce it's bath time. She will even open her drawers to get out her pajamas or clothes if I say we need to get dressed. She's even started going into the bathroom and sitting on the potty (not too many actual "successful" trips yet, but we're getting there). She knows to wash her hands when she is "done." She lunges at Coralyn when we finish our Bible story at bed time and say "Sister Hugs." She is getting good at giving both hugs and kisses now. Sadly, though, she was kissing the daycare boys earlier today. :)

My Kellah Bear is growing up quickly!

Part of me is happy, and part of me is sad to see that my baby isn't my baby anymore. I guess that's why we have more children :) But boy is Kellah going to have a big change coming to her when baby #3 arrives this fall! She gets so jealous if Coralyn sits in my lap or even looks in my direction. She wants nothing to do with me holding the daycare baby or letting one of the boys sit next to me to read a book. I am HER mommy and not to be shared with anyone! Like I said, she'll have a rude awakening come November!

For now, though, I am having lots of fun with Kellah and Coralyn. I love how the girls love each other and play together so well, for the most part.