Keeping up with Johanna

Hanna took her first steps back in September and was primarily getting around upright by October. I was and still am astounded by her balance. I remembered the other girls falling regularly and getting knocked over constantly. I would cringe as an older kid walked by just waiting for Hanna to fall, but it only rarely happened. Maybe it is just because Hanna's big sisters are older and so much more aware of themselves and their little sister than the other girl's big sisters were at the time. But I do also think that Hanna is just naturally coordinated.

October 2013

October 2013

Since October Johanna has progressed quickly from walking to running to climbing. Our new upstairs floorplan with the circular flow lends itself well to the motion of a toddler. Johanna enjoys climbing and goes up and down stairs when they are available. She works on them regularly with Aunt Becky and confidently puts her practice into action on our stairs. When going down she goes on her tummy and slides quite quickly to the bottom. While she was mastering motion her verbal skill progression slowed down. She added a few words here and there but it was still pretty much at the same level it had been for months. Until recently.

This February and March Hanna began adding words regularly and putting them together. She began adding phrases too, like "Up, Momma." "More, Please" and our absolute favorite "I love you, too". That just makes my heart swell. She has been saying everyone's names. She calls Megan "Minnie" and Bridget "Bridgie", Emma is easy as are Momma and Papa. Rachael gives her a much harder time and she doesn't say it as often. Sometimes it is "Rae-Rae" or "Raytal", but Rachael was honored with a very clear. "Love you, Rachael".  Hanna has lots of food words, and the sweetest "yes" and "yeah". We hear lots of definitive "no"s as well.

In addition to saying "No" Hanna also conveys her disappointment physically. It is frustrating for her to be told not to climb, or that she can't go outside, or she can't eat trash. Her face gets red and her body gets stiff. She dramatically flops herself on the ground. Sometimes she lays on her back and kicks her feet, sometimes she flops on her tummy and bangs her head on the floor. We can't help but see her assertive adorableness but it doesn't change our answer.

Jan. 2014

Feb. 2014

Hanna is a lover. She is good for our hearts and refreshing to be with. She is a big fan of our kitty and her family and she leans in for hugs. Her favorite of all things to love on is her big brown bear that the girls made for her before she was born. When Hanna comes across Bear she hugs on him, frequently with her whole body and she gives him a big kiss followed by "Awwww" When ever she gave a kiss we all said "awww", so now she says it after she gives a kiss. Hanna kisses the kitties, puppies, bears, and babies that she sees in books, or on magazines, or on boxes, or on my coffee mugs. Pictures grab her affection as well, she points to and touches all of the photos she sees. She loves for us to name the people in the pictures for her. I made her a little photo album of her own that she can kiss whenever she wants. The "kiss and Awww" is so endearing. Hanna is also a big extrovert. She loves people and says hi to strangers. She is comfortable in large groups (I wonder why) and always makes eye contact. She loves on all of the people she sees and we can't help but love her back.

March 2014

March 2014 with Cobh

PIGTAILS! March 2014

 Hanna is quickly heading out of the 16 month mark, and we are enjoying every moment of keeping up with her.