2013 Wrap-Up!

Well the year is coming to an end and my darling, Bri, has undergone so many different phases in her growth. This post serves as a countdown to the most exciting things Brielle has done throughout the year!

10. Grandma Time

Bri-Bri has really adjusted to sleeping over grandma's well! Initially, I was so against the idea because I was afraid to let go. I felt like she should either be with or dad or I. After she turned one year's old, I thought it was time to loosen the mommy attachment just a little. Now, I let her spend at least one night every other week with her grandma. 

9. Hair 

I figured it was time that I started doing my angel's hair. I used to just wash her hair and let her wear the curly fro. I noticed that after the first day, her hair would get really dry. And Now that she's getting older, I wanted her to get accustomed to doing her hair. So I developed a little regimen for her. I wash her hair every week. One week I would braid it and/or put it in ponytails. The following week, I would try not to manipulate too much. I use the second week for her hair to get a break. I don't want to be one of those parents who causes their girls to have no edges. I use Shea Moisture products for her and natural oils for daily moisture. 

8. Eating REAL FOOD

Darling Bri has gone from eating baby food to real food this year. She has had a few bumps through the transitions. In my post, Tough Times: Real Food I wrote about the different challenges I experienced with some vegetables and meat. I have made the decision to feed mostly organic food. But growing up with a partially obese family, healthy eating isn't always a priority. I was fed with fast food and unbalanced meals so I made it a point to do something different for our daughter. I will probably write a post about this struggle in the near future. 

7. Growing Machine

Our cupcake has grown dramatically in size. She's not tiny infant we took home from the hospital. She has gone through four sizes this year alone, I think. I believe she started 2013 wearing 3-6 months…now she's wearing 18 months comfortably and 24 months easily. Hopefully she hits a standstill and stay at one size for six months or more. 

6. Trash

Disposing of her diaper. I would give her diaper and tell her to throw it in the trash. My little girl knows exactly what I mean. She runs her little feet to the garbage and tosses the diaper in the trash. Yay!

5. No more bottles

Brielle stopped talking bottles after she turned one. The transition was not easy. But she's officially off the bottles. I lost this battle because having a bottle is the only way I got her to drink warm milk. Now that she's on sippy cups, she refuses to drink milk from them. Maybe I will try it again in a few months, I don't know. I'm open to suggestions. 

4. Walking

My pumpkin started walking two weeks before her 1st birthday. It was an awesome experience and every since she hasn't stopped. She wobbles and even tries to run!

3. Saying Mama

Although she doesn't say on a consistent basis, there are random moments that she calls for me. I think she would've said it sooner and more often if she heard someone saying it more often. It's cool though, I'm just glad that she knows who I am.

2. Counting…1, 2, 3

My second most outstanding phase my daughter has developed is counting numerically. She sings along when you start from one…she says two. And so forth.

1.  Using of the iPad!

My biggest and most proud moment of my daughter this year is her ability to use and work her iPad. We purchased the iPad solely for educational purposes. I have a 2yr old godson and saw how the iPad affected his intelligence. He could fully control the tablet by the young age of 8 months! I was fascinated and wanted the same for Brielle. Although she didn't catch on quite as fast as my godson, she now knows how to manage the iPad quite nicely. She navigates the apps, picks and chooses which apps she wants to engage with and so forth.