Top 5 milestones no one talks about

Our babies go through the most growth of their lives in the first 2 years. Do you ever take notice how much they are actually taking in and showing us what they are learning everyday? It’s incredibly gratifying to see. I’ve sat back and watched Isabella put objects into a little paper bag, and thought to myself, “is she actually tidying up?” And I kid you not, she has actually put things in the garbage can. Not actual garbage, mind you, but she sees what we do, processes it, and does it. It’s amazing! Babies take in so much and we don’t even realize it until one day they just decide to do it.

Babies are smart and they never fail to show us what they know. There are important milestones we emphasize as our babies grow; sitting up, playing with toys, getting teeth, eating on their own, crawling… the list goes on. They do a lot in just 12 months. But what about those other amazing milestones no one talks about? Let me share with you the Top 5that have really impacted our lives:

Switching from formula to whole milk-how much easier and less work it is to make bottles. No boiling water or sterilizing bottles and nipples. Just straight up whole milk in the bottle. No mixing, no shaking, no over thinking.
Dropping the second nap– when that second nap starts to interfere with bedtime, so she is less likely to take that second nap in the day. Awake times are what set your nap times, and after the 3.5 hour wake window, it’s just too close to bedtime for that second nap to have a good duration to bridge the gap to bedtime. Bedtime gets bumped to an earlier time which works for her more and works for us too.
Eating the same food as us– meals have been easier because I make one meal for all of us. She eats what we eat, just a more cut up version and maybe a bit of fruit or yogurt on the side. Whatever I know she will eat in case she doesn’t want the other parts of dinner. No worries with purées, but trying new foods is still a thing and can be stressful at times, but if something isn’t being enjoyed, I always dip it in yogurt or apple sauce and she finishes every bite.
Better understanding of key words– more understanding of some things we say to her and she in turn, reacts in her own way however she wants. She understands bath time, bedtime, nap time, cookie, bottle, water, bum-bum change, hugs for mama, kiss for mama, and even No. She will react either excited or try to run away, or get angry at me. If she’s not in the mood for bum-bum change, she will let me know before I grab her. If I tell her it’s time for “bottle”, she gets giggly and comes toward me. Telling her “No” can lead to whining, but she usually lets me give kisses if she feels extra snuggly.
Sense of “cause and effect”– she likes to drop things on purpose. Her soothers in the dark bedroom that make it impossible to find them, food from her tray that she doesn’t want, toys that she seems to know that they will make a loud noise when they fall. How we react to this action is what she’s waiting for, and sometimes it’s a game so she can get easily confused. Dropping food is never a game but she knows I’ll react some way.

BONUS MILESTONE

Bath time is less stressful and more fun- instead of focusing on keeping her warm and comfy in the water, she splashes and plays with bath toys and bubbles. She can sit there somewhat sturdily, move around on all fours to grab toys, gets water in her nose, gets angry when the water goes down the drain and mommy grabs her with the towel. She is still learning that we don’t “stand in the tub” so I make sure she is safe. She loves to explore the water and splash so hard that I have to use a towel as a shield. But she has fun and it’s only going to get better.