my 13 month old

i cannot believe how much my baby has grown over this past month. at 12 months, she was doing a lot. a lot. but over these last few weeks, it's not only that she's doing all that and then that much more....she understands, she reasons, she argues - but with purpose, with intellect. she's definitely still MY baby, but has for sure made the move to toddler. her learned responses and ability to predict have transitioned to unprompted labeling and initiating further growth. she loves to learn and has that incredible toddler hunger for more and more and more!

at 13 months, elena
- loves to help us and even has a few regular chores (feeding the dogs, putting toys/shoes away, etc).
- knows every animal sound from a bumble bee to a gorilla.
- is able to label several animals and objects without prompting.
- tries to repeat everything. she loves for you to give her a word for her to try.
- is getting really close to running.
- loves babies. all she does is kiss and try to play with her young friends. she's going to be a very loving big sister.
- goes up and down the stairs holding onto the railing (with spotting of course).
- gets on and off the furniture all by herself or with the assistance of her toys.
- is super sweet. she goes back and forth between jason and i to give us kisses!
- can point out her head, hair, ears, eyes, nose, tongue, teeth, belly, butt and toes. she also loves to point everyone else's belly button's out and lifts their shirt to do so.
- is starting to follow direction (go get your shoes, etc).
- is loud. she gets this from her father. ;)
- has NO patience/delay of gratifictaion. she wants what she wants NOW!
- tells us "bubble" and grabs when she's made "bubbles" in her diaper.
- loves to bring us a diaper and her wipes and put them away when done, but hates to be changed.
- tries to make a run for it everytime a door to the outside opens.
- plays with toys appropriately (puts the shapes correctly in the shape sorter; 'eats' and 'drinks' the pretend food and drink; rocks, feeds and cuddles her dolls and stuffed animals, will sit and 'read' through a book independtly, etc).
- loves to be chased and giggles and wiggles as if she's about to burst each and every time.
- would live outside if she was allowed.

this is just a little of who 13 month old elena is. our toddler.

"There are two lasting bequests we can give our children. One is roots. The other is wings." ~Hodding Carter, Jr.