Yep, Susie Q is no longer just “a one year old;” she’s 13 months old! She’s actually been super clingy with me since I got back from Switzerland…maybe some abandonment issues after our week apart? She is so different from her siblings. As we’ve been going to the zoo and Greenfield Village and church this week, the big kids would always prefer to be carried or pushed in the stroller or at least hold someone’s hand. Susie would prefer toddling on her own to riding in the stroller or Ergo. And she does not want to hold anyone’s hand, thank you very much. She wants freedom to roam. I don’t know if this is a 13 month old development, or if I just haven’t given her the chance to roam until now. She also has perfected her “I am displeased” scream, especially when riding in the car. Fortunately, we only have about 2500 miles left to drive on this roadtrip… We’re just so accustomed to constant cheerfulness and giggles from her that we don’t know what to do when she is cranky.
I wonder how much birth order is affecting her. She is such a social girl, always wanting to be in the middle of the action. Is it because she always has two built-in playmates to follow around? Tommy has always been happy to sit by himself for hours, playing or reading by himself. Susie can’t handle being alone for more than 30 seconds. I’m considering moving her into the big kids’ room sooner rather than later for that very reason! Also, Elizabeth is more social than Tommy but will still play with her own toys, particularly stuffed animals Lucy and Bunny. Susie doesn’t play with toys; she plays with people. Seriously. Mom Muller was asking this week what Susie plays with at home, and I was at a loss. She is very attached to her blankie at sleep times, but she doesn’t really care about stuffed animals, baby toys, or anything “age appropriate.” She plays with cars if Tommy is playing with cars, she plays with measuring spoons with me in the kitchen if I’m cooking, and she plays with the tea set if her sister is having a tea party. Other than that, I think she just wanders around the house, following us around all day. I have to remind myself that at this age, the big kids weren’t walking yet, so they were forced to stay still and play with things more. Perhaps this explains why they had more chub at this age?
In any case, it’s so fun to have a kiddo with a totally new personality to figure out. Even when she’s screaming for independence, I love my Susannie so much that I couldn’t imagine life without her!
I loved this! She sounds a lot like Edith–especially with the wandering around to find someONE to play with, not someTHING. Very rarely will Edith play by herself (and then it’s usually when she’s supposed to be napping that I find her playing in her room), whereas Margaret will play all day by herself. William seems to be in the middle from what I can gauge so far, but we’ll see!
So interesting. Ailey will play more by herself than Sam will… So maybe just a personality thing? Who knows! I am finding that my kids are CONSTANTLY keeping me on my toes as I try to figure them out. Sam, who has been SUPER shy, is all of a sudden coming out of his shell and is rather gregarious at times. So weird. I love it, but am not sure what to make of it.
These kids… I am so grateful for them!
And Susie’s hair!!! Love it!
Kristen, Susie’s curls are starting to remind me of Sam’s!
Look at her dimples!!! Ah so cute!!