Georgia: 14 months

This month has definitely been a challenge for Dave and I. Georgia is starting to test her boundaries, testing us both physically and mentally. Throwing food off the high chair, running away from us on walks, refusing to eat what we give her and so on. I know its just the begining of what people call the "Terrible Two's" and considering we have a strong-willed child, I'm expecting the next year or two... well 18.... to be challenging for us!

Weight: 22.8 pounds (estimate)
Length: About 32 inches
Diapers: size 4
Teeth: 10 - cut two molars this month!
Words: 10-15
New words: "apple", "Bell" (her friend Annabelle), "birthday", "bath", and possibly "step"

On a high note, the good things about being a parent get even better! Georgia is communicating really well and can usually "tell" us what she wants. She knows how to make us laugh and can entertain us by dancing or making silly faces.

She loves reading books. We own about 40-50 books for her, and we read most of them at least once every day. Many days can go by without her playing much with her toys, but all the books will be strewn about on the floor. Her favorite ones are "Bear Hunt" and "Spot Goes on Holiday".

Eating: like I mentioned earlier, eating has been a challenge. Every mealtime is a battle. She still has her favorite foods: meat, cheese and clementines. Anything else there is a high possibility that it will be thrown on the floor. We've started implementing time out, but haven't seen much improvement yet.

 

I am still waiting for her to learn to play by herself. It is hard for me to get anything done because she likes me to be in the same room as her. Even if we have toys or books in the kitchen, if I am trying to do dishes or hang laundry or make food, she will ask me to play with her or read books to her.

Sleep: She is getting better at sleeping, but not yet sleeping through the night. We have been working on eliminating the night feedings. Now on an average night, she will wake up once anytime between 2am-5am and nurse just a couple minutes. Then, she will wake up closer to 6am or 7am for another feed. I then get her to sleep for another hour or two! Dave has been a big help in getting up at night with her. She is still taking two naps (most days).

 

Georgia also got her first haircut! I did it tonight right before she went to bed, so I don't have pictures yet. I'll post them soon!

Our Everyday, Week 3: create

 

Pretty much the only thing we "create" around here is artwork. 

Okay.... we also create lots of messes!!!

ps... I'm standing in the very corner of the living room to take this picture. Isn't it teeny-tiny? And that's why I have so many pictures of us at the park. We can't play for long inside because its too difficult. 

pps.... also notice how Georgia's books are pretty much the only thing out? (besides the blocks). All her toys on the bottom shelf of the bookshelf haven't been touched. They could stay like that for DAYS... seriously... she only reads her books. We read them over and over and over....

The best thing

Looking back on 2011 I can say I was so thankful for what our little family of 3 has become. Besides the lack of sleep (seriously, I don't think I slept for one single 8-hour stretch the whole year, and maybe not even one 7-hour one, either!), having Georgia and doing life with Dave and her has been the best thing ever. I love our family!

I know I complained a bit about the lack of space in our house, the terrible weather we have in London, not having a car or dish washer or dryer, not being near family or friends.....

But honestly I feel like we (Dave, Georgia & I) have something that would not have been possible in the US. We don't have as many distractions here. It is just us. Did I mention we haven't watched TV since November? (We do watch football games and our favorite American shows over the Internet, but we "unplugged" our TV). Our life is simple.
Dave walks to the store with Georgia and I.
We make dinner together. (and we don't kill each other!!)
He washes the dishes (yes!).
We go to the park when the weather is nice.
We adventure into London and try to find decent food.
We laugh about not seeing the sun for days or how bad the food at our local pub is.
Dave reads to Georgia before bed.
We eat lunch together most days.
Dave & I play board games in the evenings.

Snuggling with baby doll while Daddy reads to her

I love not having a car. I used to get mini panic attacks driving on the freeways. I felt like life was so fast-paced. It was go, go, go, go. All the time. I felt the need to keep up with the Joneses. Now we have a much simpler life. It is great. Yes, it is hard. Yes, it is different. But we have each other.

Our Everyday, Week 2: Dry

This week's theme is dry - I have two pictures again!

This is pretty obvious - taken right after her bath

Georgia loves to help me do laundry. Since we hang everything to dry, she's been helping me take out the wet clothes and will hand them to me as I hang them up. I have such a great helper!

Our Everyday, Week 1

I'm going to be doing a 52-week photography project, aiming to take at least 1 picture a week (we all know I take a lot more than that!). I'll probably share a couple pictures a week, all related to the theme of everyday life. Each week will have a specific topic. This week's topic is "happy". 

 

Both of these pictures were taken at the park. Georgia loves going to the park and she is happy!

Our internet here tonight is terrible. This aren't quite the pictures I want to put on here, but I'll have to fix it tomorrow.