Spring and Summer Accomplishments

 As a teacher in the past, status reports were quite necessary to keep track of student's accomplishments and it helped me keep remember what my students still needed to learn. The following is a "Status Report" of our little girl. 

She is currently 17 months to the day, is 25 pounds and wears a size 6 shoe and 18-24 month clothing. 

Ruthie learned to walk on her own the week before Memorial Day. We thought it would never happen. All of the kids her age at church seemed to be walking by 9 or 10 months old! People said once she learned to walk there is no going back and they were right. I have lost weight by trying to keep up with her.

Our little girl bends over and picks up objects, enjoys gazing at her reflection, holds out arm or leg to help me dress her, combines words and gestures to make needs known, rolls a ball back and forth, eats with fingers, empties containers of contents like her Leggo's, imitates others, points to body parts when asked, responds to instructions (e.g., "give me a kiss"), uses a spoon or fork but only momentarily before she resorts to using her hands.

She pushes and pulls toys while walking. Plays with balls, walks backward, scribbles with crayon and "Helps" around the house by cleaning up her toys or tries to sweep the floor. She turns the pages of a book, has temper tantrums when frustrated and has shown love towards her doll by signing the word love and hugging it. Uses the signed word "Please" to ask for something. Recently has discovered the joy of climbing up the stairs, stacks three blocks one on top of the other, uses spoon or fork, has learned the correct way to use common objects (e.g., the telephone). Has gotten finicky about food and takes a solid 2 hour nap in the afternoon. Ruthie enjoys pretend games such as "tea party," riding toys and feeding her doll with a cup or spoon.

Will "read" board books on her own, scribbles independently, takes leggo's apart and puts them back together and shows signs of toilet training readiness by letting me know when she is about to go. 

We have spent the last five months taking trips to church, Target, the zoo, botanical gardens, the spray park, taking walks, walking the river park, visiting, Georgia, Kansas, Arkansas, Missouri, listening to music, playing the piano, swinging on her swing in the back yard, exploring the front yard and hugging our dog, Kit.