Summing Up The Smiths: Smart Little Stinker

I will admit that teaching Special Education makes me a little paranoid about Suzy. I want to make sure that she reaches milestones at the correct times (on average or above average), and that I am doing what I need to be doing to make sure she progresses like she "should" (according to studies). Well, I will also admit that I was trying to rush her a little without knowing it. She was walking before she was ten months old, eating table foods before necessary, and now is talking one word sentences. What has happened to my baby??!! She is growing toooooo fast! Is this my fault? Did I rush her into all this "grown up'ness"? I hope that I am not the one to blame. I have put a stop to the pushy Mama behaviors, and have decided that she can do what she pleases. I hope that it will make her stay a baby forever. I know.... I know.... You are probably thinking to yourself, "Amy, get over it. She is growing up. There is nothing you can do to stop it". Well, you can say what you want, but I think I will start trying to reverse time as soon as I get my hump off this computer.

Suzy in her car seat at 1 month old.....

Suzy in her wagon at 1 year old......

Suzy's Grown Up Behaviors

1. She snatches things from you that she wants. If you have a Cheeto, and she wants it... She WILL get it. As she is snatching it from you she will say, "MINE".

2. The past two nights she has wanted nothing to do with me rocking her. As long as she has her Barb, Blanket, and the Hippo she is good. She just roots around in her crib until she passes out.

3. She thinks she doesn't have to sit in a high chair anymore. She is tooooooo big for that thing, or so she thinks. She fights suppertime (and lunch time according to Memaw) daily. She will eat as long as she is on the move.

Notice the high chair in the background? She ditched her Chef Boyarde , and decided to go for Pops' steak. She is a smart girl.

4. She wants to "read". At the beginning of January I had to do everything in my power to keep her attention on the book, "Elf on the Shelf". Now, she brings books and puzzles to me to read. That is by far one of her favorite things to do. If it has an animal on it, she wants to "read" it.

5. She likes to be pampered. She absolutely loves to have her head rubbed/hair brushed. She will sit in your lap without moving a muscle as long as you will brush her hair. She also loves to "brush her teeth". She carries her toothbrush around like a paci. Laurie got her a purse for her birthday..... She will grab it, sling it on her wrist, and strike out. Girls...... Girls..... Girls..... I think she may be a prissy girl, after all.

She looks like she might be ready for a pedicure, doesn't she?

6. She loves to play with writing utensils. One night at the beginning of the month we went to stay with Mimi and Papaw, because Mimi thought we were going to have an Ice Storm and be trapped at home alone. While we were there she sat down with Papaw, and helped him do his paperwork for the shop. When we take field trips to the shops to see Papaw the first thing she wants to do is get in his markers on the desk.