Monkey See, Monkey Do

Casey is at such a fun age right now, and every day we are amazed at all the new things she is picking up on. We are constantly asking each other, "Did you teach her that?" One of her recent accomplishments is recognizing a ball when she sees one, and she will also call it by name, although it really sounds more like "baa." She tries really hard to say “bubbles,” and she has amused us several times by imitating me when I laugh. She loves music and will sometimes break into a little wiggle dance, but despite many attempts, I have yet to capture this cuteness on video. My favorite Casey funny is this new facial expression she makes by scrunching up her face and sniffling.

 

 I catch her doing it all the time, and she loves when we mimic her and do it back.  Just yesterday, I asked my mom if Casey does it at her house as well.  Not only did my mom confirm that she knew the face I was referring to, but she had seen it before:

Yep, that would be me doing the same “monkey face” when I was about Casey’s age.

 

Here is the live version of the Monkey face!

 

Casey is now quite the crawling pro, and she can pull up to standing on most everything. I am pretty sure it is her new mission to seek out whatever it is she shouldn't get into in record time after her knees touch the ground. Seriously, how do they know to go straight for trouble? Now that she has gained mobility, she has also been making it known that she does not appreciate when this freedom is taken away. The poor child has also decided that being set down in her pack n' play is some kind of excruciating torture, and is not shy in letting her feelings be known about it.

Unfortunately, just as she is starting to explore all these new and exciting things in her world, we got the word a couple of weeks ago that our pediatrician recommends that we go back into full isolation again now that RSV season has officially started. It's not the news we wanted, and I'm sure I'll post more on this at a later date, but for now the hand sanitizer is restocked and lock down has officially begun.

I have actually made an effort to take some pictures lately, although as you will see our on-the -go Doodlebug makes an effort to sabotage almost all photo taking opportunities these days:

 Still can't resist trying to pull off those bows!

 

 Trying to make a getaway

 

 A rare moment where she was holding still...

 

 but it didn't last long.

 

 Lounging

 

 About to make her move.

 

 This face should have been my clue that things were going South.

 

 A full on photo meltdown was about to ensue!

 

 Pack n' play torture

 

 Party in my crib!

 Cutie

 

 Her one and only time to sit in a high chair at a restaurant before isolation began.

 

Two peas in a pod...trying to escape baby jail.

This past Sunday marked 10 months since we brought Casey home from the hospital.  It was also the 10 year anniversary of my brother's death.  When I think about all that Casey has accomplished in her short life, I wish more than anything that Chase could have had the chance to meet our sweet miracle girl. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about him, and I know he is smiling down on us from Heaven!

Miss this boy so much!