Anika's Many Modes of Movement

A faithful follower of Pure Joy recently texted me and asked, "can I still even call you a blogger?"  My only response was, "I feel shame."  But never fear, Pure Joy is not a one year project followed by inevitable blogger fatigue and flameout.  I won't bore you with the details, but suffice it to say that busyness of all kinds got the best of me.

Anika is now officially 14 months old, and she is moving at ludicrous speed--when she crawls.  When she tries to walk, it's like she's moving in reverse.   Here are Anika's many modes of movement and the style she brings to the task.

The cart is easily Anika's most preferred mode of transportation, because she can go fast, drive without assistance, and carry things with her.  But it has its limitations because she still can't turn it left or right.  Hopefully, I'm not saying these same things about Anika when she gets her license 15 years from now.

Preferred transportation method number 2--walking with fingers.  Anika's favorite part of this is  that she can practice her soccer skills while walking.  No joke.  She loves to walk and kick the ball around.  I could live with soccer as Anika's sport of choice, but am still holding out for golf.  She is named Anika, she's one quarter Korean, and she has a golf fanatic for an Uncle--she was made for golf.

Grandma was the inventor of soccer.  I love it, but am bitter deep down about the thwarting of my college-golf scholarship designs.

This is Anika's walking.  She really can take four or five steps at a time.  You've just got to have a good 15 minutes or so of free time to see it.  At least she's not going to be a runway model.

Her standing and walking is much better when holding something in one hand.

Anika's shape-sorting abilities have improved markedly.  I'm pretty sure Uncle Tom has her visualizing the ball going in the hole.  Be the ball.    

While Anika's walking and crawling and kicking skills continue to trend upward and onward, Anika's eating abilities have regressed to all-time-lows.  Gone are the days of broccoli, squash, carrots, and just about anything that is not fruit or cheese--and only colby jack.  

This is Anika asking for more pears.  "More" is really Anika's sign for anything and everything, which makes it hard to understand what she's saying.  Her oral vocabulary is slowly growing too, and currently includes: mommy, daddy, baby, bear, duck, and night-night.  Either "birdie" or "fore" is going to be next!  Hopefully the former.