Eighteen Months

(Yes, I realize it's been forever since my last post...forgive me. Once I get behind I have a hard time finding the motivation to catch back up. I've got a running list of over twenty posts - including Mexico, Christmas, Breckenridge, Dave's 30th birthday, the cruise, etc. - to go back and do. Eventually. I just hated to get too far away from this milestone and not record it accurately. Thanks for not giving up on me!)

Somehow, our baby girl has become a full blown toddler. She's closer to two years old than one...so unreal! She's into everything. And while she's still sweet as can be most of the time, she's also working on establishing that independence. She's rapidly learning how to communicate and how (or how NOT) to express herself, and there's definitely some testing of boundaries when it doesn't work out her way.

She's always been chatty, just had her own little language going on for a while. Well, the English has clicked...she's now a parrot, repeating everything we say. She's also obsessed with a book she picked out at Borders one day. She brings it to us all the time and could sit there going through it for way longer than we have patience for! It's interesting to see what she understands, though, even if not vocalized. I'd highly recommend it:
Anyway, I'll not try and pinpoint every word she's ever said, so these are the ones we hear on a regular basis:

mommy
daddy
puppy
baby
hi - particularly "hi mommy/daddy/puppy" in the sweetest little voice :)
bye
hot
cold
wet
water
please
help
sit - to the dogs...while shaking her finger
eyes
nose
toes
socks
shoes
cup
ball
yeah
oh no - and just "no" by itself...often :/
uh oh
all gone
i'm sorry
thank you
night night
what's that - she's relentless with this one

This week was our 18 month well visit. As suspected, Grace is a perfectly healthy and happy kid. She weighed 26 lbs 7 oz (80th), measured 33.25 inches (90th), and her head is finally back on the charts at 19.25 inches (95th). Dr. Smith had zero concerns - even regarding our recent battles with meats and veggies - until Grace found her paci in the diaper bag and happily shoved it in her mouth. It was kindly suggested we start thinking about letting that go, but I think we'll get her content in the big girl bed first!

Some other things to note:

- Grace is boycotting shopping carts and restaurant highchairs big time. She can get out of their restraints like you've never seen and is not afraid to lunge out at you if you don't take her willingly. Once she's out of the highchair, she wants to roam around the restaurant and wave at other patrons...especially babies. Once she's out of the shopping cart, she wants to help push it as I carry her awkwardly in one arm and try to push with the other. This is getting increasingly difficult.

- Although Grace can make a mess like you've never seen, she's picked up some of my quirks in regards to putting things back exactly where/how they go. She also loves helping with moving over laundry and loading dishes. She has to be the one to close up the dryer and dishwasher when we're finished. She also closes the pantry door (which David always leaves cracked) every time she passes it, just like I do. I love her for this!

- I also love her for being my soulmate when it comes to sleeping. Grace generally sleeps 13 hours at night (8:30 - 9:30) and takes one 2-3 hour nap in the afternoon. I get more sleep now than I did before I had her, which is much appreciated given my current condition! I just hope it lasts once we take her cozy little crib away. Either way, my days are numbered.

- We are constantly amazed by this child's personality, intelligence, and love for life...and us. It's hard to believe that in a short time she won't be our one and only anymore. We'll have had 21 months with her that we'll never have again or even be able to remember what they were like, I'm sure. Thank you, Lord, for this sweet time with this sweet little girl!