Watching Olivia grow up

It's been a while since I posted any news about our grand-daughter Olivia. We get to see her 3 times a week, so we've gotten to see her develop over the last 6 of the first 16 months of her life.

Because I had no infant children of my own, I have no idea if the things we've witnessed are normal or advanced for her age, but Darlene seems convinced that this girl is gifted. For starters, she seems fearless. I remember the first time she was in the jolly jumper, she wasn't satisfied to just sit there and bounce, but tilted herself way back until she was looking straight up, curious about what was holding her up. She also has no qualms about climbing and tumbling over stuff. That was months ago.

Lately, she has been exhibiting a desire to master the tasks she's been learning. Once she figures out how to do something, she gets into a routine of doing it over and over again until she gets it right. Her mimicry is unreal. She saw us taking sips of our drinks and uttering the satisfied 'aaah' afterward and now she does that too. She's talking a blue streak now and singing, although it is still 95% baby talk, but now the vocal inflections and hand motions have entered into the vocabulary as well. I get the feeling that once she's speaking English, we're never going to get a moment of silence. She's very friendly and says 'Hi' to everyone. She doesn't quite understand why they all don't say 'Hi' back.

She is walking now and is obsessed with climbing stairs over and over (which of course we supervise like a hawk). Olivia has picked up very fast on how things work, at least in principle. She knowingly reaches for door knobs on a closed door, aware that it is the key to getting through the door. She is wildly amused playing with our kitchen timer, only interested in the buttons that make beep sounds. She really likes my watch with the big numbers on it. Olivia knows what her baby doll is, holding it over her shoulder while patting its back. She'll throw stuff on the floor and watch for a reaction as she laughs vigorously. She seems to enjoy getting her shoes and socks off. In her most relaxed state, she always plays with her feet.

That's all I can think of right now, but needless to say, I'm really enjoying watching her brain make new connections and I can't wait to start talking with her. I'm saying that now of course, but who knows how I'll feel after the millionth 'Why?' or 'What's that?"