The next (14) steps

It's that time again... the Babe is another month older! This time: 14. Can you believe it? I am not sure I can. Calista has had quite a month. Since her 13 month "birthday," she's learned to walk. The day before she learned to walk, though, she kept doing this:

Over and over again. Stand up in the middle of the floor, the slap her hands down on the carpet while making a funny yell. Over and over and over. I think she was experimenting with what to do when she fell? Who knows.

On Kyler's and my anniversary, we went to lunch, a movie, and dinner, kidlet-free. In between lunch and the start of the movie, we wandered around the mall with the cinema in it. And we found Beatles Rock Band for 8 bucks. Happy anniversary, us.

The result:

The girl loves to dance! And we're teaching her proper music appreciation early.

Some days are easier than others, which is life. The days that are hardest are the ones Calista decides she doesn't want to nap.

Which often end up like this. Her, asleep, way later than I'd like, and not in bed. At least she's cute, right?

Calista is also quite the little helper. She loves to feel like she's a part of the action.

Screwdrivers are for eating, right?

Kitchen drawers are some of the best toys ever.

Hmm, 1/4 cup? I really wanted the 1/3. Oh well, I guess this will have to do.

This is how you make food, right?

I discovered that I need to go through her laundry basket before I just toss it all in the wash.

Yeah, she just pulled a book out. And the other day, when I didn't check, a green megablok got a nice bath. Whoops.

Since she's starting walking, the park has gone from just a slightly fun place with an awesome swing

to an awesome place with an awesome swing and rocks!

We're still working on getting her not to eat the rocks. The best way is to accept them when she's offering them to you. If you don't let her give the rocks to you, she'll stick them in her mouth. What can I say? She's a baby who will have a healthy immune system?

I've been experimenting with Calista's hair. It's starting to get a little longer and fuller, so I decided to see if I could put pigtails in it.

I can! But she hates getting them done, and having me pull her hair taunt while I get the rubber bands in.

Do barrettes work better? Well... they work, and she is less grumpy about getting them put in. Success.

In the entry way, playing with the diaper bag and shoes. Silly baby girl.

Speaking of silly babies... we were folding laundry before Calista went to bed, and she took one of my (folded) shirts and kept playing with it. So I put it on her.

This was what she wore to bed that night. She loved it.

Since she's walking and getting taller, Calista can get into a lot of things...

Like flour that I, uh, left out within her reach. Oops. She tried to eat it. And then started coughing. And had to have a bath at 9 AM.

Calista absolutely loves to read. She will come up to you, a book in her hand, and then hold it out to you. Once you take it, she holds both arms out, asking to be picked up. Into your lap she goes, where she will gladly help you turn the pages on her book. Once it's done and you set it aside, she will slide off your lap, go get another book from her shelf or the library bag, and repeat the process. Sometimes over, and over, and over.

At not even 10 AM the other morning, this was our stack of books we'd already read that day. She's really good at following the direction to go get a different book. It's awesome. Actually, she's really good at following many directions. She will go to the bathroom if you ask her if she needs to use the toilet. She will go to the changing table in her room (stopping to pick up a toy on the way) and stand there waiting to be picked up if you tell her it's time to change her diaper. She will start heading for the door if you ask her if she wants to go outside. It's so cute, and also... almost a little sad. The Babe really is starting to grow up.

But sometimes, like when she's sick, Calista is back to being a baby again.

Including waking up every 2 hours or so. She had a stuffy nose and couldn't breath very well. Poor babe.

She's feeling a lot better today, though. Which is good, because she is 14 months!

Play a little birthday tune!