Opal at 13 Months

Two days after Opal's First Birthday, she came down with a six day stomach bug.  It was heartbreaking, and scary too.  She had no fever, and so we didn't know if it was something she ate at first, or what, but a few days later when Emma came down with it, we had our answer.  There was lots of crying, holding, carrying, showering and cleaning for Opal and I and I was so very glad when she was feeling better.

Will continues to be Opal's favorite person, although she did prefer only me when she was puking.  Hence all of the showers for her and I.  When Will walks in from work she will start freaking out if he doesn't immediately take her.  After she is safe in Will's arms, she pushes me away and says, "Bye Mom!"

 This little cutie is such a ham, and loves making us laugh with peek-a-boo.  She loves books and says "book" and takes us by the hand to the bookcase so that she can pick out the book for us to read to her.  She has several favorites, and goes to them again and again and even knows what to look for in each book.  One of my favorites is when she meows at cats and barks at dogs in books while pointing at them.  She also remembers that once I put her bare baby foot next to a picture of a bare baby foot in one of her books and now she does that each time we turn to that page.  She also will say "Draw" which means she wants paper and something to write with, just like her big sisters do.

 She is always saying "Bite" which means food and this little gal is such a snacker!  She is always saying "bite" and we will use snacks to get her peacefully through a car trip and a shopping trip too.  I had forgotten that when each of my kids were this age that they needed to eat way more often, and by the time they told you they were hungry, there was no patience for you to prepare food of any kind.  So, I end up feeding her bites as I prepare food in the kitchen and she sits at my heels.

The kids still love playing with Opal, but Opal has developed a mind of her own.  Her high pitched screaming is the result of big sisters not listening to her demands.  The phrase in our house whenever we hear Opal screaming is, "Leave her alone!"

This little lady thinks it is her public service to the world to ensure not only her socks are off at all times, but everyone else's are too.  You could be sitting on the couch and she will crawl up to you and start yanking your socks saying "off".  And then she gets really frustrated if you don't help make that happen.  She also believes strongly in all doors being closed and will crawl to any open door and say "bye" while shutting the door.  No matter if it leaves her stranded on the other side.

Opal will be the one financing my hearing aids in a few years, with all of her screams of frustration. Will's goal is to get Opal in voice lessons as soon as she is old enough, as clearly she has some power in her lungs that needs to be harnessed for good.  Opal, we love you, our sweet and sassy girl!