What time is it? Summertime!

It’s been awhile since I’ve updated the blog. Part of the reason is we’ve been busy enjoying the summer! Also, my parents moved back from Florida to Ohio and camped out at our house for about a week and we’ve been busy doing things with them since.

Reflecting back on the summer it hit me what milestones Meredith has had this summer. When she was a baby the milestones were easy: sitting up, crawling, eating solid food, standing, walking, and talking. Now they are more subtle, but sill significant in my opinion. Here’s some of her summer accomplishments:

• Pumping herself on the swings- and I mean high. I will often have to tell her to not go so high because she catches air under her seat.

• No more tricycle- she has moved from a big wheel, to a big girl bike with training wheels.
• More independent swimming with an inner tube
• Dressing herself and undressing- girl likes to be “nakie”
• Going to bed by herself- this has been an issue with us since we moved her out of the crib. She got accustomed to us staying with her until she fell asleep. Several months ago we were finally able to gradually move ourselves out of the room
• Going to VBS as a ‘big girl’ this year. Didn’t go up in front yet for the last night performance- maybe next year
• Letter recognition and sound (phonics is still going strong and she loves it!)
• Number recognition and counting very high- gets a little stuck and calls 30 20-10, but once corrected can zoom right along
• Knows about 911 and when to use it
• Knows our home phone number

Meredith tends to be a, well, careful little girl. When it comes to trying new things she pretty much clings to Frank or I like a koala bear and often there are tears involved. I’m not talking shots at the Doctor’s office either; fun things that other kids delve into, like swimming at the pool or bowling. I have to say, it annoys us. And I know why it annoys me specifically. I was exactly like that and more of a scaredy cat if possible. She likes to scope the scene, take things in, and watch other kids before she will try something. I do push her a little and typically she comes around and tries things and gee, they actually are fun.

Oddly, the one exception to the above is roller coasters. She will ride anything, asks to ride the bigger rides that she is not tall enough for yet, with reckless abandon.

It’s been a summer of growing up, as I am sure all of the summers to come will be as well. I just hope she never stops calling nail polish, paint nolish.