One and a Half Years Old Pictures

Ashley Pettit, Mommy's friend, took lots of pictures of me recently. Here are our favorites:

Grandma's Visit!

Grandma came to visit this past week and we had tons of fun! Here we are at the San Diego Zoo (these pis are actually in reverse order of the trip, oops)... Papa was with us at the zoo too, but had gone home before this picture was taken. Panda!

Polar Bear swimming!

There's the Carlin men!

Giraffe!

Del Mar beach near Yia Yia and Papa's house. I love rocks!

This pic was taken right before the ocean got me and Mommy! We were soaked!

Here we are at Griffith Park Observatory, I looved looking at all the balls, I mean planets.

Here we are on Mulholland Drive in LA.

And this is us near the Santa Monica Pier. The beach is fun!

I got to ride in a jeep!

On the pier.

We had an awesome time! Hopefully Grandma can retreive her pictures that got deleted from her camera, because Mommy didn't take that many since Grandma took Tons!

Grandma, it was so fun to hang out with you! I can't wait to see you again!!!

I am One and a Half!

Hello everyone! I am one and a half years old now! We have been celebrating for a while, as I got lots of new toys last week (sit n spin, table and ottomans, airplane, truck, tball, new ball, new books, xylophone), which I love! Also we went on some adventures with Grandma as she flew down from Seattle for a visit! We went to the San Diego Zoo on my actual half-birthday! Today, I painted my feet and Granda, Mommy and me went to see Dr. Clark. Looks like I get to go back for my shots as we were just a little too early for that. But my development looks good:

• 31 1/4" tall, the 20-25th percentile


• 23.4 pounds (with clothes and daiper on), the 20th percentile (huge jump for me!!!)


• and my head circumference is in the 45% percentile

I also "passed" the autism screening checklist they had my mom fill out and all my mommy's questions were answered... no big deals except that I still have rough, dry patches of skin - the only remedy is lotion, lotion, lotion (and hydrocortisone ointment if it gets red and skaly). Ohh, well, they did talk about my hitting too. Mommy learned more about time-outs and I do not like the sound of that! I haven't been hitting Mommy as much anyway, I don't know what the big deal is. OOOH, and that I don't drink milk... Dr. Clark wasn't concerned and she gave us a list of things that have lots of calcium in them, like broccoli, almonds, and salmon... all of which sounds great to me! I met all the other milestones with flying colors... one of which was having 7-20 words... which at this point I have surpassed!

1. Language: I have so many words, even if you can't tell what I am saying, I know what I am saying. For example, Bee = Plane. Mommy knows what I am talking about :) I do say some things really well now, like Wow, Water, More... and I can identify myself in pictures, my name is "Wa wa". A month ago Mommy started writing my words down, back then I was saying a lot, now I say even more! (grover = rowror, drink = dink, baby, star=dar, moon=moor, flower=wower,eyes, yes, please=peass, i love you = wawawaa, mine, yogurt=oh urr, cheese=eese, bubbles=baba,apple/pear/banana/grass/helicopter=mommy cant really tell yet). Like I said, I label sooo many more things but Mommy can't quite figure them out yet. N sounds are hard for me, but I am getting better. I am starting to put two words together, such as "more please"... Mommy is not sure how much I do since I jabber a lot and end with one recognizable word!


2. Cognitive: I am learning shapes and letters, my favorites are X, Y and B. I am good at cleaning up my toys, sometimes even without being asked. I know lots of body parts, hair, eyes, cheeks, nose, mouth, tongue, ears, hands, fingers, feet, toes, belly and belly button... I LOVE books. I love story time every night and get really excited when it is time to pick out my 3 books and sit with Mommy to read them. Mommy often finds me in the laundry basket full of stuffed animals reading books on my own too.


3. Behavior: Mommy also says I am good at restaurants and I listen when she tells me not to touch something (Most of the time). I do hit her sometimes, when I am trying to get her attention (though a lot less) and when I am mad or upset (also a lot less). Mommy says "hands are for hugs" and that hitting hurts her. She makes me say sorry, and then I like to give her a hug! Really... I mostly do it because I can't say what I want to say and I need her attention!


4. Fine Motor: I can make circular scribbles sometimes. I can put small things into holes, like a straw or wood chips into the holes on the playground structures (been a fav for a long time now). I LOVE craft projects and will sit and work on them for a long time (Mommy says she is shocked at how long my attention span is). I like to make collages on contact paper, and paint and draw, and play with play doh and shaving cream! I am starting to string beads with some help. I am good at picking up tiny little things, but don't pick up trash anymore, unless it is a napkin at home... then I bring it to Mama or put it in the trash myself. Apparently I am not supposed to put bibs in the trash can though... I am learning! I love using my spoon and fork and am pretty good at both, though I still use my hands such as to get the last globs of yogurt. I hate it when Mommy tries to help me eat too!


5. Social: I love to watch kids and try to interact with them more, such as playing chase! I also love adults, and especially (still) like to be the center of attention!! I am still working on sharing and am good at waiting my turn to go down the slide for example. I like to give hugs and kisses and all that good stuff. I am learning all the names of my family and freinds with my Favorite People book, which I really like to look at!


6. Gross Motor: I am a little timid when it comes to climbing, but I can do it. I can climb onto the couch or chairs, for example. I still hold Mommy's hand to go down stairs, but can go up stairs with a railing all by myself (sometimes I crawl up) and will take alternating steps up if someone is holding my hand. I can go across those wobbly bridges on the playground, but I take my time. I can jump and run realy well and am starting to kick a ball and hit a ball with a bat (tball - still pretty tough to even lift that bat up though!). I am awesome at throwing and my aim is good! I love to go down slides all by myself.


7. Oral Motor: I ahve 12 teeth and went to the dentist already. Things look good and I do not have a gap in my teeth from that attached upper lip frenulum. I love food, pretty much all food, even salmon! I will eat more veggies now and still love broccoli! I love meat, oh how I love meat. I do not like milk though and Mommy decided a few months ago No More Bottle... so I don't drink milk and instead have yogurt and cheese and stuff. I still suck on my fingers, but not as often, and I don't mouth things anymore... well, really rarely!

Here are some pictures of me and Grover hanging out. Seems like he is shrinking though!

Here I am taking a bath the other day, looking like a Who from Whoville.

And here is my super awesome Daddy.

Well, happy half-birthday to me!!!