• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Fitness Fatale

Fitness Fatale

Conquering Fitness Goals One at a Time

  • About
    • Press
  • Blog
    • Archives
    • Workout Program Options
      • 21 Day Fix Resources
      • P90X Resources
    • PRs & Race Reports
    • Pregnancy
      • Twin Pregnancy
    • Recipes
  • Coach Business Mentorship For Runners
  • Beachbody Accountability Groups For Runners
  • Show Search
Hide Search

Dear Siena – 16 Months


Dear Siena,

This was a crazy month with a lot of travel for both me and your dad as well as our entire household coming down with at least one, but probably two, colds. I went on my first solo-vacation to Costa Rica to visit my friend Asia and I have a blast but missed you and your dad a lot. When I got back your dad immediately flew off to Vegas for work and then after being home two days he was back in Dallas for work again. Luckily your Grandma Christy came to help out so I wasn’t doing it all on my own while he was gone. While I was in Costa Rica, you went to the Safari Park with your Aunt Claire and Uncle Josh and got to spend more time with Nana and Boo.

Making Shakeology with Dad!

This month was all about BOOKS for you. You went from not sitting on my lap for more than one page to begging for us to read book after book (or the same book over and over) to you. Your favorite books are ones with lots of pictures and not a lot of words. You really like books with animals and I’m really impressed with how many of them you know. You are obsessed with learning and will come over to us with a book in your hand, shove it in our arms, climb into our laps, open it up and start pointing to different pictures, asking us to identify them. You know how to say several animal’s names but you also can point to many more when asked. My favorite thing to do is to ask you what sound an elephant makes – you press your lips together and blow and it’s adorable!

You LOVE dogs!

Your vocabulary continues to expand and now I can’t even count the number of words you say (maybe 60!?). We were shocked the other day on a walk during dusk when you looked up at the sky and shouted “moon!” and pointed to the crescent moon (so far you’d only pointed it out in books and it was usually a full moon). Your communication skills are more than just cute – they are also very useful because we’re able to tell what you want a lot more easily (often, it’s berries that you want). Some of the words aren’t exactly how we would say them, but since you’re consistent we know what you’re saying (for example you say “ah nah” for “all done”).

The stroller is your favorite toy.

We’re starting to see some temper tantrums erupt from you when you don’t get what you want. I read the book “Positive Discipline for the First Three Years” and have been trying to use the things I learned from it to redirect your attention, speak calmly and explain the emotions you might be feeling, but it’s not always easy. Most of the time I can calm you simply by getting your attention doing something else which is nice, but on occasion you completely melt down (not in public yet) and are inconsolable. You entered the final developmental “leap” from the Wonder Weeks at the very end of this month and I knew immediately that something was up. You started being more clingy, cranky, refusing to eat at times and we had some sleep issues. I thought it was the 18 month sleep regression (which can happen anytime 15-24 months) but we haven’t had any problems after those couple of days so I’m hoping we’re in the clear (for now). Of course we also wonder if you’re teething since you still only have 8 teeth, but we can’t really see any teeth coming through so it’s hard to say.

BERRIES! Always a win.

Two of the words you learned this month were “pee pee” and “poo poo.” A few times you said “poo poo” right after you’d gone to let us know to change you but since then you’ve started to just say it whenever we change your diaper. You tend to say “pee pee” when one of us goes to the bathroom. Someone had told us that children can be ready for potty training at 18 months but I looked up the signs and I definitely don’t think we’re close in most of the areas! I’m not in a rush anyway. Another thing that you started doing related to this is I will ask you to throw your diaper in the trash and you will do it for me!

You love your Dad!

One really fun thing that you learned this month is to hug and give kisses (although you often do open mouth to mouth kisses!). You now hug me and pull me really close to you which is really sweet. I also get a lot more cuddles and close time with you due to your love of books which makes me very happy. You continue to say “nice” and pet things which indulges real dogs, dogs in books and unfortunately, other children. When you say “nice” to the other children it’s more like you’re hitting them, which usually doesn’t bother them too much but sometimes it does! I am trying to teach you to say “hi” and wave or to hug instead of hitting your friends, but it’s a work in process.

You are back in gym class at JW Tumbles, but now you’re in an older kid class which means you get to try more advanced gymnastics AND you love to watch and learn from the children who are slightly older than you. You were a quick study at learning to walk on the balance beam (it was two pushed together) and were kind of obsessed with trying it over and over again. We didn’t get to the park as much as you like this month due to the rain but we still made it to plenty of meet ups with friends. We also started going to the free Mommy and Me program at the Encinitas Country Day on Tuesday mornings which has been really fun! A lot of moms and toddlers we’ve met over the last 1.5 years attend so it’s fun for me to catch up with them while you explore. Not only is there open play in two toy rooms but there’s also a large playground and music time.

Reading with Allison and Beau

We successfully transitioned to just one nap this month, and it was easier than I thought it would be. You generally go down around noon and sleep on average 2.5 hours. Sometimes I’m lucky and get 3 hours but sometimes it’s just 2 (I found if you eat a good lunch with milk before you go to bed you do tend to sleep longer). This is compared to the 3-4 hours a day I was almost guaranteed when you were doing two naps consistently – needless to say, it’s been harder for me to juggle working along with taking care of you and it’s meant working more nights, weekends and while you are awake and playing independently, but we’re getting it all done. We moved your bedtime back to 7 PM with the shorter naps which has allowed me more time in the evenings to catch up.

As your personality unfolds piece by piece, I can’t help but look at you and wonder what you’ll be like when you grow up. I have a feeling you’re going to be incredibly active, smart, adventurous and loving, but no matter what you become, who you love, and how you live your life, I’ll always love you.
Love,

Mom

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)

Related

February 9, 2017 By fitnessfatale 5 Comments

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: 16 months old, dear siena

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Asia

    February 10, 2017 at 1:05 am

    This post is so sweet. Thanks again for taking time away from Siena to come visit me! ❤ She will be such a little grownup by the time I get back!

    Reply
    • fitnessfatale

      February 10, 2017 at 1:56 am

      I KNOW! She’ll be a totally different person from when you left! Crazy.

      Reply
  2. Emily

    February 10, 2017 at 1:53 am

    So sweet! My daughter “hits” to say hi too, which doesn’t usually bother the other kids, but it does bother me, I’m always worried that other moms will think she’s being rough, when really she’s just trying to be friendly!

    Reply
    • fitnessfatale

      February 10, 2017 at 1:56 am

      Oh good I”m glad to hear that your daughter does it too. Most kids don’t seem bothered – but I feel like the moms are like “WTF!?” haha.

      Reply
  3. Kim Nguyen

    February 12, 2017 at 10:57 pm

    Love all of it, but especially the last sentiment of unconditional love!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Let’s Get Stronger, Healthier & Faster Together!

I am specialize in working with runners to help them incorporate strength training & nutrition into their running routines.

I am passionate about mindset and love to help people find more joy and success in their running by breaking through mental barriers.

While weight loss is a result of our programs, women in my groups often find that they are running faster, are less injury prone, and have more energy and confidence!

I am the founder of Team Run the World, a group of BODi coaches who love running! I provide mentorship, support and training for women who want to start their own coaching business from home and work flexible hours.

I would love to help support you in reaching your goals!

Archives

  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011

Footer

Copyright © 2023 · Fitness Fatale

 

Loading Comments...