Delayed

Libby has developed a speech delay.  At 12 months of age, she only says Mama, Dada and Baba.  99.9% of things in the world are "Dada" according to Libby.  She does point at Craig and proclaim "DADA" and she usually calls me Mama but otherwise, no words. 

Technically, this is a speech delay.  According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Speech Therapist and all parenting books, Libby should have 3-5 solid words beyond Mama and Dada at this point. 

There are some glimmers of words occasionally.  She points to the dog and to D-words in her books and says Dada.  But then she also points at the picture hanging over our bed and the baby on the shampoo bottle and says Dada too. 

Today, the book she was looking at in the car had a cow on the front.  She pointed and said Dada, I corrected and said cow.  She then said "oooo" - as I interpreted to be Moo.  Horray she associates cow with moo.  Celebration ensued.  Followed by Libby again pointing and saying Dada.

We talked to her pediatrician about our concerns at her 1 year well check.  Melanie feels like we can give her another few months before bringing up the subject of speech therapy.  I completely agree but I'm at a loss as to what to do to help her.  All the advice in the AAP books, the parenting books and websites recommend increasing reading time and naming objects.  I feel like this is all we do with Libby.  The majority of the time, she is being read to, "reading" herself or looking at books.  We constantly name things, go over animal sounds and sing together. 

I don't have any concerns about her hearing and processing (also known as receptive language).  Libby knows 3 body parts, can follow commands and will look at Mama, Dada and dog when asked. Its just the expressive or vocal language. 

She is not a particularly vocal kiddo.  She is pretty content and for the most part quiet.  She giggles when things are funny and certainly lets us know when she is bored or unhappy.  But this kid plays in her crib for 30+ minutes when she wakes up in the morning without seeming unhappy.  We hear her over the monitor talking to her cribmates - Dada, dada, dada.  All with different inflection.  Its pretty humorous.

I am trying so hard to just be patient and not get frustrated.  Libby is so sweet and happy; the likelihood that this speech delay is a precursor to anything significant (like autism) is small.  Since one of my best friends was recently telling me the joys of a talking toddler and the amounts of Nos and attitude that come with that age.... maybe I'll just enjoy the quiet :)

A girl on the move

 

 

If there is a way to be moving at all times, Libby is finding it these days!! 

She is constantly crawling, cruising, rolling, banging, shaking, flipping, tearing, swinging.... MOVING!!!

Who wants cake?

Libby's first birthday produced numerous funny and memorable moments for me.  I cried, I laughed, I marveled.  I struggle to find the words to describe how blessed I feel to have this little person in my life and the fact that I'm her mommy is, well, icing on the cake.

I contemplated writing a long letter to Libby on her birthday but the emotions were so overwhelming, I couldn't find any direction.  I am still reflecting in awe what has occurred in the last year.  The transition from a helpless, tiny, curled up little neonate to a boisterous, curious, sweet, loving, adventuresome toddler is amazing.  In 365 days, it all happened in a blur.

So how to celebrate this passage of time and incredible transformation? With a sugary, gooey, delicious cake! Libby had the extreme pleasure of having not one, but two birthday cakes... one at her tailgate party on her birthday and one at her Atlanta party.  Needless to say, she has inherited her mommy's sweet tooth.  She tackled both cakes with gusto and chocolate was the clear winner!  That's my girl!!

Hello Ladybug Cake - I am going to demolish you now

Loving her cake but not done yet....

Yep, that'll about do it - smash cake, you've been SMASHED

Chocolate... this is different.....

I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Completely eaten in under 5 minutes... that's MY daughter!

Happy Birthday little one

What happens when your birthday falls on Labor Day weekend AND college football's opening day? You get a Red and White Ladybug Tailgate birthday party!!!!!!!!

Loving her birthday present from Gram and Gpa

The children enjoyed our play area

Three generations of lady Wolfpackers!

Libby and Mrs. Wuf did not bond

Better with Mommy and Daddy... Mrs. Wuf even had a ladybug pin!

Happy Birthday Libby!

First NC State game - complete with NCSU sippy cup

I'm gonna get you.....

Chasing Libby has become Craig's new favorite game. 

The Swing Obsession

In the spring we discovered that Libby loves loves loves swings.  Shannon or I would take her to the park almost every day to swing.  Our family trips to the park became highlights of the weekend and I just lived for those delighted squeals of joy.

Loving the park swing on Easter weekend

But then the summer hit.... 90+ every day and the park became too difficult to deal with.  The equipment was too hot and Libby really hated being out in the heat.  Not to mention mommy!

So what to do..... we have no trees at our house that we can put a swing on and erecting a big time swing set was not in the summer budget. I puzzled and puzzled about this one for several weeks and then.... EUREKA! I had the solution!

I built Libby a swing to hang from our garage door frame! Yes, its a little redneck but its totally engineering sound. Occasionally I actually use those two engineering degrees!  Craig watched Libby while I went to Lowe's, navigated the lumber aisle all by myself, bought my supplies, came home and built it.  He even let me run the drill. 

In the end, I finished making and painting the swing after Libby was asleep so my big reveal didn't happen until the next morning.  I had her in the swing before she even got her oatmeal!  SHE LOVED IT!!

Mommy the engineer

We use the swing almost every day and Libby just loves it.  Her friends have used it when they come over to play and her grandparents have even gotten in on the action.  I am thrilled and pretty darn proud of my little solution!

Babcia and Opa approve

Now don't freak and think that we are backing around this swing every time we leave the house.  The swing hooks into two I-bolts screwed into the wood frame of the garage.  The swing has open hooks on the top that allow it to be taken down and hung by a bike hook on our shelves.  The blue wooden pieces at the top of the yellow rope enable me to stand, hold Libby and reach up and hook the swing into the I-bolts.  She can face out to the drive way or into the garage, depending on how sunny it is.   It works so perfectly for us!

Splish splash I was taking a bath