14 month Update

Well, we're past 14 months, but I think I forgot to do a blog update. It's hard work chasing around a toddler, especially when you add being in the third trimester of another pregnancy on top of that! The blog gets neglected sometimes, but I did this update and another post to make up for it.
So what does a 14 month old like to do? Well, she LOVES to get in the tupperware cabinet. Recently this has meant that she actually empties the whole cabinet out and crawls inside to play hide and seek. She has now taken to climbing in, and asking for her blankie and sippy cup before shutting the door. We have discovered the key to successfully getting Claire to eat just about anything: If she can dip it in something, she will eat it! It is messy, but we figure that just comes with the territory of letting her learn to self-feed. Here she is covered in tomato soup (the perfect dip for a grilled cheese sandwich). I have some great video coverage of her eating the soup with a spoon as well. It's messy, but letting her learn to be independent is worth it.
On a side note, this little booster seat has turned out to be one of Claire's favorite things. She likes to put it on the floor and sits in it whenever she can. I'm glad she likes it as the big high chair may have a new occupant in the coming months when sister Evie wants to join us at the table.

Claire has decided that any time not spent outside is a moment wasted. One of her favorite activities is going for a walk in her stroller. I'm glad she likes this as it is a good motivator for me to get out and walk. This was her last stroll in her single stroller. Nani and Pop gave us my awesome dream double stroller for Evelynn and Claire, and we are already using it every day (sometimes twice a day) for walks!

Claire also favors her independence and is really taken with the Cozy Coupe, although she's still not quite big enough to really get anywhere in it. Mostly we push her around the yard in it (constantly saying, "pick your feet up"). The other day she enjoyed her cousin Matthew climing in the thing and hoisting it up on his shoulders and running around the yard with it. It was so funny we suggested it for a halloween costume, although we were informed he was going as a white Bo Jackson.

Continuing her outdoor play theme, Claire loves to swing. We have an awesome playset in the backyard that isn't quite all put together and up and running, but will make our backyard as cool as a park when it's all said and done. We still find ways to use it now, and Claire has some growing to do before it can really be useful.

All in all, 14 months is tons of fun! She finally cut tooth #6, giving her a row of 4 on top and 2 on bottom - a very cute toothy smile. She is also showing good signs of growing, which I'm sure will be reflected at her 15 month check-up. Her shoe size has finally gone up, though she still can hardly hold up most 12 month pants. Her vocabulary grows faster than we can keep up with. She understands so many more words than she says. She can follow all sorts of directions and answer questions and point to tons of different pictures or items on command. It's so fun to discover all the things she has learned.

Third Trimester Update

On another note, we have entered the 3rd trimester with Evie. The best thing I can say for this trimester is that I feel constant crazy movement from her, which is mostly fun for me (though from time to time it does hurt). In another week we will begin weekly appointments and tests to help decide when the best time will be for delivery. The goal is to get her out before my placenta gives out, and we are all (including the doctor), wanting this to happen at least 5 weeks from now at 34 weeks. Any time before this and we will be delivering her in Birmingham. So we play the week by week game from now until December 31st. So far, so good though!