Updates on Sarah Beth

Well, I wanted to give you all a quick update on how our little one is fairing these days. She has now been with us for 3 months and about 11 days. She is 16 months and 11 days old. And she is the cutest thing you've ever seen. This precious child has breathed a new life into our sometimes weary family. She is always laughing and smiling, jabbering on about God only knows what (literally), and so on.

Here are some significant milestones we've reached with her in regards to her development and attachment/bonding with us:
*) She will not go indiscriminately to just anyone. Believe me plenty of people have tested this one out to see if she'd let them hold her. :O) The fact that she isn't interested (or even willing) is a really good sign. She happily goes with me, her daddy, her big sister, and her Nana, all people who are very involved in her day to day routine.
*) She has begun showing signs of affection. Laying her head on us, saying "OH" which is what we say when we hug her. She does this with our little Shih-tzu too, and I don't think she much cares for it, but - we think it's really cute! She will also put her mouth on our check, or leg, or arm, or whatever's handy and say, "UMM-A" which is her way of trying to give a kiss.
*) She is finally saying "Mama" on a regular basis after torchering me with Dada, for the longest time. The funny thing was when I would say, "Can you say Mama?" She'd say, "Da Da Da Da!" We decided she was doing it just to spite me. *grin* She now says Mama, Daddy (She says this one real slow and drawn out so it sounds REALLY Southern - I'm not kidding. It's more like DAAAA - DY). She says, "HEY!" when anyone comes in the room, and when she can get her hands on a phone, remote control or anything else that looks like a phone.
*) She is also walking all over the place, sometimes it looks like she's trying to get up some speed and run. She is totally annoyed by the new locks we've added to the cabinets under the kitchen sink.
*) She will play peek-a-boo with us. She does patty cake, and today she blew a kiss for the first time to her daddy!

Oh, there's so much more I could tell you, but I won't go on gushing. And just in case any of you think I've already gone on too much, she also had her first bite of dog food today, right out of the dogs bowl, a little leftover from her breakfast. (Dry thank goodness!) Leave it to kids to help you stay humble!

Christ's richest blessings to you and your families,
Lori