by Mommy
Riley is now 16-months-old and growing so fast! She is a very happy and playful little girl. It�s just amazing to see how much she has grown and developed. At her 15-month check-up on March 19, 2003, she weighed 21 lbs 6 oz and was 30 inches tall.
On April 17, Riley had her last speech therapy session. Her speech pathologist and home teacher do not believe that Riley needs further assistance. Her expressive communication is at the 15-18 month range and her receptive communication is at the 18-21 month range and her fine motor skills are right on target. I am so very proud of her!
When Riley turned a year old, we started teaching her to sign; just a few words so she could communicate better to us for water, more, eat and all done. Riley started saying the word water so we stopped signing it. Now she says about 22 words, about 8 of them are signs.
On March 21, at 15-months-old, Riley took her last bottle. She only took a bottle when she went to sleep for a nap and at nighttime. Now we give her a drink of milk from a sippy cup to help her fall asleep. The first week was pretty bad, she kept asking for a bottle, but now she just lays down and goes to sleep, getting up a few times asking for a drink of milk. We do not put the stopper in the sippy cup because she�s used to drinking without it before her palate was repaired. So, I guess you could say she�s a step ahead in that area because she�s already drinking without the stopper. She also drinks out of regular children�s cups that have a lid with a spout.
Riley still only has 5 teeth, but another one has just broken through her gums, the one next to her left bottom front tooth. The tooth that is behind her gum line at her cleft site does not seem to be causing her any discomfort and I check it regularly to make sure it�s still there since it is loose.
Way to go Riley!