I know you all probably think I'm beating a dead horse ...

Those of you with older infants/toddlers, did you ever experience a time when skills seemed to diminish? I know children can stall in certain areas while they acquire new skills in other areas (i.e., verbal skills stall while learning to walk), but Catherine has no new skills and the ones she has, she seems to pursue with less vigor. We still have no words, no attempts at words. When she began cruising efficiently maybe two months ago, I thought she would have been walking shortly thereafter. Instead, she seems to be cruising less and crawling more.

Every time I hug her to me and she stiffens herself and acts like she's just tolerating me, it breaks my heart.

OK ... pity party over. Back to work. Her 12mo check-up is next Friday so I'll address all this with her ped, but it's always good to know exactly what questions to ask to better ensure nothing of consequence is missed.

Well, I don't really have any good ideas about this, but I think its great that you know Catherine IS capable of doing it. She has the motor skills needed, just no motivation, maybe? Could something be bothering her? I know her scope came back fine, but could it be something else? She's so sweet, if that's any consolation...

I can understand why you worry, but let me tell you about my guy:

Besides "ma" Daniel didn't say anything til he was about 18 months old. Now he's kind of a quiet guy, but he has plenty of words. And he began cruising in September 04 (11 months old) and didn't walk til March 05. He actually cruised before he crawled, so I think he just decided that cruising was more efficient.

Well, the boys are heading for 13 months and Matthew has only just started cruising the furniture.... Stephen pulls himself up (no cruising though) and still crawls (and that crawling is more like dragging himself along the gorund- not up on his hands and knees). Matthew doesn't say much outside of Mumumum and dada and bububub...whilst Stephen is trying things out..like "ta" and "cat". They are all developing at differnt levels and at varying speeds.
As for the not wanting to be hugged... Matthew is very cuddly and clings to you like a limpet when being held, but Stephen isn't like this.. he pushes away with his hands when you try to hug him and leans all over the place when you carry him. They are like chalk and cheese those 2 little lads.......
Try not to worry.... it will be interesting to see what the Ped says...

I do not have anything to add about the "skills". Just wanted to add that as Ben got older he wanted to be more independant and was not into snuggles with Mom. He is almost 3 now and does not even want to be touching me on the couch--sits on the opposite end. I only get snuggles in the morning and when he is getting sleepy. He does tell me he loves me all the time--so at least I get that!

Parker will come and give me a hug if I ask and then leave, the only time he gives proper hugs is when he is sick or sore- I think it is a reflux thing, My eldest child loves/d hugs and would cuddle all day if I wanted.
Parker has only just started words- now 16months and I now have no worries about his development because it is coming along in leaps and bounds- now. For a while I had a lot of worry about what the meds may do to his learning and he was slower than his brother but I think he picks it up quicker. Parker walked on his 1st birthday, again though at a stage I didn't think he would ever walk.
With my first son, when he was starting to get ready to walk I would stand him between my husband and me and we would get him to walk between us- first holding his hand and then half a step and you get further and further- this worked well with Cooper- thats if you want to go there, she is doing very normal for her age.
Also I have found with both boys when they were littler that once they learn something and wear it out they soon forget it and don't want to do it again