All about Greta at 17 months

Greta is definitely starting to exert her independence. After being content for quite a while to be fed by others she now want to use a spoon to feed herself. This has led to a few after meal baths and some wasted food but she is learning. At times she still gets frustrated and will use her hands for yogurt and applesauce. That is quite a sight to see! She is still not fond of meat but loves most vegetables, fruit, cheese, and eggs. She will eat a huge breakfast but can be quite picky for lunch and dinner. I don't push it too much as she doesn't snack a lot between meals (mainly a few graham crackers and juice) and as a child I ate in a similar manner.

Greta loves to feed herself babybel cheese. She asks for it often because she enjoys taking the wrapper and wax coating off. I only give it to her once or twice a day since it's not the cheapest cheese (thank goodness for costco). She is also quite good at picking up the trash and putting it in the can. Throwing away trash is one of her most favorite activities.

Yesterday we were eating breakfast and Greta was walking around drinking orange juice out of her sippy cup. I got up to get something in the kitchen and noticed Greta was in my towel drawer, a no no place. I told her to put the towel up but she ignored me and started pounding the floor with the towel. I walked over to see what she was pounding and noticed her cup had spilled a few drops. She was trying to clean up her mess although she was about a foot away. A girl after my own heart!

Greta is down to nursing once a day. For some time now she has gotten more and more demanding about nursing during the day - mainly when she is bored and if I tell her no, she throws a tantrum. This week I put her in boot camp and cut out all nursing except for first thing in the morning. This is the only nursing session that she consistently does not cry or demand but waits patiently for. The first few days were rough, but I stuck to my guns, and each day she got less demanding and more respectful of me saying no. Today was the first day she did not ask at all. Graham and I have also noticed a positive change in her attitude when she is told no in other situations. I know she'll continue to have tantrums but at least in this particular area, she seems to be respecting our authority.

Which leads me to a tantrum story....

Earlier this week, on boot camp day 1, Greta had a really rough temper tantrum. I was very frustrated myself and needed some time out. I put her in her club chair, walked to my room, and shut the door. She followed me and banged on the door for about a minute and then she walked back to her room. I waited a few minutes and noticed she wasn't crying. After a few more minutes I came out and walked to her room. She was sitting in her club chair laying on the arm sniffling. It about broke my heart she looked so pathetic. We hugged and she snuggled on me for a good while. I don't love the tantrums but the snuggles afterward are so sweet.

Greta has also become more open to strangers, particularly men. Almost each time we go to publix, she "asks" the bag boy to pick her up. She is also very fond of the regular nursery workers at church and gives them sweet hugs upon arrival.

Greta has added a few words to her vocabulary:
tinky (stinky)
tweet tweet (in response to "What does a bird say")
voof voof (in response to "What does a doggie say")
Mooo (sometimes, in response to "What does a cow say")
Mow (sometimes, in response to "What does a kitty say")
shoes
cheese
nana (banana)
leassshs (leashes)
bess you (bless you)
bye bye
ni ni (night night)
wu you (love you)
bahp bahp (when she hears a beep)
bah (bath, when pointing at the tub)
where go? (asks when someone or something has disappeared) this is accompanied by her arms raised and a puzzled look

doose (juice)
cah-ker (cracker)
cooo-kie (cookie)
kish (kiss)


She knows quite a few more words than she says. I am constantly amazed at her comprehension.

She will point to the correct body part when asked "Where is your belly button". We never worked on this, I just asked her one day on a whim and she's been pointing to the correct place ever since. She also knows where her mouth is and will generally point to it. Ears and Eyes are very confusing and she almost always points to the other one when asked.

Greta is truly a joy and we really enjoy her crazy antics. She is such a sweet girl and has recently started to give and request kisses. One of her favorite nighttime delay tactics is giving the dogs kisses (ewwww). I think I am enjoying this age more than any other. Now if we can just get her potty trained.....

January - playing in her tent with her train in the buff.

Learning that drawers can be used as steps.

Climbing in her stroller to get a good read.

Enjoying black beans and rice.


February - Valentine's Picture

Greta's Baptism

Greta's baptism was this morning. My parents, J &J, Graham's parents, and his sisters and their husbands joined us at Mitchell Road to celebrate this event. I must say that I have dreading this for some time - basically since Greta has become verbal and mobile. I figured she'd either talk/cry through the whole thing or cry/kick through it. She's definitely one to assert her will and does not generally look kindly on being passed off to strangers. Now, as nice as our pastor is, she doesn't really "know" him so I thought she'd be upset to be passed to him. Boy, was I wrong. Other than her not wanting to be held through the first part of the service, it went so well. Once we were on stage she just looked around and then after being handed to the pastor she just sat there. I didn't see this but evidentally she played with his hand while he held her and baptized her. After it was all said and done he went to hand her back to Graham and not once but twice she clung to him and did not want to go back to her Daddy. Needless to say, the crowd thought this was quite amusing! On to the pictures, courtesy of Uncle Jack.

Greta with Aunt Julie prior to the service starting

One of our class elders and his wife. He assisted with the baptism.

Greta at 15 months

Her vocabulary hasn't really expanded that much. I think she concentrating most of her efforts on mobility so talking takes a back seat. That's not to say she doesn't make noise. She makes lots of that. Most of it, however, is unintelligible gibberish. She did say "ducky" today for the first time. I've also been told she says Momma when I am not around. She doesn't really say it if I am available.

She caught on to us praying before meals and started putting her hands together (unprompted) when we prayed. Now when we say "Let's Pray", she'll generally put her hands in a praying position.

She is a coffee fiend. Not that we really let her drink it but when we have it she wants it badly. She will eat coffee beans and coffee grounds. She'll even go digging in the trash can for grounds. (Yick!)

Greta doesn't like the word No. She has started throwing a few temper tantrums.

She likes to dance and bebop (shaking her head up and down).

Absolutely loves to go outside. It is probably her most requested activity. ('Go" accompanied by "Door")

Favorite toys are her little people house, shopping cart, stroller, choo choo train, and chair.

She has started spontaneously giving us hugs. Generally she'll run up to our legs and hug us there.

She's started to outgrow some 12-18 month items in the length. Most are still too big on the waist except if she's wearing a cloth diaper.

She's not the best eater in the world. Meat is still a battle but she's quite fond of most vegetables and fruits. Cream cheese is her heart's desire.

Greta is generally a momma's girl and has fear of strangers. She's still more fond of men than women. Tonight she was very cozy with our favorite waiter at the local Mexican restaurant. (We've been there 3 times.) She held her hands up for him to hold her and he obliged. She stayed with him for a few minutes and probably would have stayed longer had he had the time.

Climbing is her new favorite activity. She learned how to climb up on Grandmomma's couch this weekend. Unfortunately for her our couch is higher so she can't get up on ours without assistance.

Uncle Jack taught her to say "Uh oh" in the correct context.

She had her first cold this week. Graham fell ill first and then I caught it from him. I knew it was only a matter of time for Greta to get it. She spiked a 102 fever on Christmas Eve and had a fever off and on until Friday. The only other symptom she had was a runny nose. Thankfully she was spared the congestion and cough that Graham and I suffered from. Friday, she was a bear and could not be pleased. I realized later in the day she was getting another molar and the tylenol we had been giving her for her fever was also relieving her pain. After tylenol and teething tablets she was better. Saturday was another rough day. She had not slept well at my Grandmother's and the lack of sleep combined with unfamiliar surroundings turned her into a grump. Today has been much better and although her tooth continues to break through, our happy girl has returned.

I'm sure there is more but that is all I can think of.Stroller surfing?

Sandbox Fun. She's no longer scared of the sand.

Playing in her tent.

Relaxing in her chair.

Color me

I don't know that I necessarily agree with #2. I do love the ocean and it's my ideal place to be but in decorating I prefer greens to blues. #1 is right on.

The Last Month In Pictures

Birthday Girl


Trying out a potential Halloween Costume.
She was less than enthused with having something on her head.


Annual Trip to SC/NC Mountains & Sky Top Orchard


We've had a few chilly days so I broke out Greta's winter coat. This coat is 30 years old and was originally made by Greta's Mimi for Aunt Julie. Since then it's been passed around the family to be worn by all the little girls.




Little Red Riding Hood


Uncle Jack is probably Greta's favorite person. He had just left and she was looking out the door longingly.


Play Time


Poor little girl was so tired last night. She didn't fight at all when getting washed. I think given a few more minutes she would have fallen asleep in the tub.

Greta at 13 months

Has 8 teeth and may be working on some more. We think she may be getting some on the bottom but aren't sure. She has 6 on the top - skipped her cuspids and is getting in both bicuspids. Still only has the 2 in the middle on the bottom.

Her hair is slowly but surely growing. It's stick straight and a light brown color with some blonde and red highlights.

She wears a size 12-18m, 4 shoe, and 3 diaper.

She enjoys wrapping scarves, boas, and dog leashes around her neck. She likes to put on socks and shoes and will put her foot up for me to do so but always puts the left foot up, even when I am attempting to put it on her right foot and her left foot already has a sock and shoe on. She also is trying to put shoes and socks on by herself. It's quite comical to watch as putting socks on involves laying them over her foot and putting shoes on is just stepping on top of the shoe.

Absolutely loves to go outside. One of her favorite activities is taking the dogs out. She knows that when daddy comes home he takes the dogs out and will run to get the leashes for him.

She received a sandbox for her birthday but does not like playing in it. I think she expected it to feel like water and was surprised when it did not. I'm sure she'll enjoy it more as she gets older.

She's starting to enjoy being read to. Today we made it through almost an entire book before she got wiggly.

She likes to eat CA Baby diaper rash ointment, dog food, cardboard, coffee grounds, etc. (I HIGHLY discourage all of these.)

Unfortunately she has started to stomp her feet when she is reprimanded or does not get her way. She also has learned a pout that would rival Aunt Julie's famed lip.

She likes to dance to music, particularly her fridge farm.

She sleeps well - taking 1 nap generally from 1:30 to 3:30 and goes to bed around 8 and gets up around 8. Occasionally she does take a short AM nap (like today) but these are getting further and further apart.

She loves breakfast, particularly cinnamon rolls and apple or pumpkin butter toast with cream cheese. Other meals she is less enthused about so it can be a chore to get her to eat. She'll always eat cheese or apple sauce. Meat is occasionally consumed but more often than not it's picked at. She drinks whole milk at meals and has watered down juice with snacks. She transitioned easily to milk and hasn't had any problems with it.

She nurses around 2x a day. Always upon waking in the AM and then some time either during the day or before going to bed. I've found that if we are to be separated during the day and she is not with family she does better if she nurses in the morning. She seems to adjust better to being away from me if she's had the connection earlier. Strange yes, but it works. I plan to continue nursing as long as she likes and will wean around 2 if she has not self weaned before. So far she's yet to be sick at all...not even a fever and I credit that to nursing.

She loves to sleep with her silky pillow and baby. She also loves the babies in the church nursery and almost always has two in her hands when I go to pick her up.

Nursery has been 2 steps forward, 1 step back of late. For a few weeks I was buzzed each time she was there but the last few weeks it's been better. She's actually enjoyed playing and has been happy when I pick her up. We're considering moving her up to the next nursery as she is highly mobile for her age and is more interested in older toys.

Speaking of mobility, she's starting to run. Look out puppies!

She says lots of words but only people who are around her often understand them: Momma, Daddy, Doggy, Dolly, Annie, Thank You, You're Welcome, Greta, Milk, Juice, Jack, Julie, Door, Down, Out, Go, No.

To wrap this up, a cute conversation we had:

I was in the kitchen preparing dinner while Greta played on the floor. I heard her getting into a cabinet she is not allowed in so I asked her "Greta, should you be in there?" She replied "Nooooooo." I then told her "Okay, well shut the cabinet door." She did as requested so I praised her. (Two minutes later she repeated the behavior so we had the exchange again.)

Now and Then

I've been wanting to post this for a while but we had difficulty locating the picture from 28 years ago.

Easter 1981

Greta wearing the same dress in July of 2008.