13 months old

First off, I have never before missed posting a monthly birthday of Britton, but being on a cruise ship complicated matters. So, to that end, her photo is from September 2nd, but the post is today. Britton is growing like a weed! She went for about a week eating like a bird, but now she can't get enough. And she's doing really well at daycare and loves playing with other kids. In fact, if she sees another child under the age of ten, she points and smiles and yells "Baba!" She is now walking so well, and has to be in the mood to hold your hand while doing so. That leads me to the newest development of this age - independence. She wants it. She wants to feed herself, walk herself, and gets so frustrated if she can't. But it's a good phase as well, because she's interacting and expressing her needs and wants better to us. She is also teething nonstop now, and the pain sometimes frustrates her to no end. But she's our trooper and only lets on if she's tired. And when she isn't allowed to do something, like hit the buttons on the DVD player or put her finger in an electrical socket, she melts down in an all out cry-fest with this "poor poor pitiful me" pout and wale, and I really shouldn't find it so darn cute, but it is.

New foods she is enjoying include meatloaf, mashed potatoes, green beans, cheeseburgers, apple slices, orange and apple juice, shrimp, steak, and granola cereal bars. That's all I can think of now because she's adding so many in at school that I can't keep track!

She is learning so much so quickly. She taught herself in no time flat how to put the top of an Evian bottle, and twist it on! When we put lotion on her after her bath, she now helps to rub it in. She knows what her "nose" and "bellybutton" are and can point them out on herself and on others. She can say "Mama," "Dada," "Gan-Ma" (Grandma), "nana" (banana), "baba" (baby), "ah duh" (all done), "hi," "dank doo" (thank you), and some other random words. She loves waving and smiling at people, sometimes saying "hi!" or throwing in waving with both hands. She now likes books, and will open them and flip the pages as if reading them. And she loves drawing in her sketchbook with her large (washable) crayons. As well, sometimes things besides the sketchbook get drawn on, but that's just her creativity coming out. At least they are washable and a baby wipe is always nearby!

Likes: Eating, playing in the pool, walking, playing with Grandma and Grandpa, dancing, playing peek-a-boo, sleeping/naptime, drawing, her stroller

Dislikes: Bath time (unless Daddy gives her a bath), teething, not being allowed to do something (like mess with expensive electronics)