Messy Girl

So I like my daughter to be clean.  I like her clothes to smell like April Fresh Downey and her hair to smell like baby shampoo.  I don't like seeing dirt under her fingernails and I don't like it when she has dried food on her face.  Her dad feels the same way.  Because of this preference we haven't encouraged Navy to use utensils while eating.  We know that she is going to make a mess and we just don't want her to get dirty.....that sticky, food in your ear kind of dirty. 

But, because she is getting older (18 months on March 4th) we decided that she needs to learn how to eat like a "big girl."  I tried yogurt tonight and when I put the bowl in front of her with a spoon, she cried for several minutes and looked at me as if I had insulted her by not feeding her.  I honestly believe that part of her issue with feeding herself is she does not like being dirty (not sure where she got that from).

Finally her hunger won out and she picked up the spoon and started to eat.  She whined while doing it, though, so I clapped and praised her everytime that spoon touched her mouth and pretty soon she was having a great time. 

Just like old times...

This weekend I had a LONG overdue reunion with two of my best friends from college.  We met in Nashville, rented a house, and had a great time.  We hadn't all been together in forever....maybe my wedding?  But it felt like we had just seen each other.  We picked up right where we left off, as if years hadn't gone by.  Good friends can always do that. 

It's funny how none of us have really changed, even though we graduated almost twelve years ago! We don't look that old, do we??????

Jonathan and I brought Navy along because Amy had never met her (it has nothing to do with the fact that we don't like to leave her that much....) and overall she was well-behaved (for Navy). 

Saturday we ventured to downtown Nashville and had barbecue at Jack's.  Now I'm not a huge fan of barbecue, but it was pretty good.  My favorite item was the potato salad.  Jack's wasn't exactly kid friendly, so after about 5 seconds Navy got restless. Jonathan and I quickly finished up our lunch and walked around a bit while the other adults finished their meal. 

We had such a great time this weekend!  It was so much fun to laugh and remember our days at Campbellville.  Planning has already begun for our next "reunion."  I can't wait! 

On our way back home on Sunday, we stopped to eat at Patti's.  If you have never been there, it's really worth the drive (from anywhere).  Two inch pork chops, amazing desserts.....seriously, it is good! 

 

Navy ate spaghetti!

Navy has become a very picky eater.  I am sure she will change as time goes on, but right now it's very frustrating.  She had refused most tomato-based foods unless you happen to be eating something and she walks up and takes a couple of bites.  Other than that, she would spit them out if you gave it to her.  The other night I gave her a plate of spaghetti to see what she would do.  Suprisingly enough, she ate quite a few bites.  I didn't get any pictures of this because if I made a big deal about it, she would have stopped eating.

Navy is also continuing to talk non-stop, although much of it is incoherent.  She has increased her vocabulary of "understandable" words.  She now says "our car, I'm the map, gross, knock-knock, yes, Mel, Nonna, ok, where is it?, what's that?, I did it, Elmo, look" and other words and phrases that I can't remember right now.  Her babbling is pretty funny and we try to catch her doing it when she doesn't know that we're around. 

Navy continues to enjoy being read to and she also likes to read to people.  Here is a clip of her reading to my Granny. 

Navy also loves to dance and we have captured her a few times in the past weeks. 

I am also excited to report that her hair is growing in.  I can pull it up now, but she PULLS it out immediately, taking her hair with it.  I am hoping that she passes this stage soon, because I have a bunch of bows to put in her hair :) 

Navy and her cousin Tenley are enjoying "playing together" more than they had in the past.  They used to do their own thing while being together, but now they interact more (fighting sometimes) but overall they have a good time. 

And finally, to end this post of randomness....

Jonathan takes Navy to Storytime at the public library every Tuesday.  And when he found out they have it on Mondays also, he started taking her then as well.  Recently on Fridays they started something new at our library.  It is called the 4C Play and Learn.  Navy has really been enjoying it and she gets a free book everytime she attends.