18 Months

My baby girl is 18 months today!  The last year and a half have been so much fun. I don't know what we ever did without her.  We went to the park to get some 18 mo pics this afternoon and froze!  The wind was so chilly.  Needless to say, she wasn't in a picture mood.  Hopefully we'll get a happy picture or two though sometime during the month!   

Here's what she's up to these days... 
*She's still my little morning baby, and I can count on her little voice yelling "Befast peez!!!  or "a milk!!  by 5:30 every day.  We usually get in breakfast, lots of books and a show together before Luke gets up.  When she hears him coming down the stairs in the morning, she lights up.  Always so excited to see Luke.  She will run up and give him a hug with a big smile on her face... one of my favorite parts of the day.  He isn't always so happy to see everyone in the morning, so it's pretty entertaining to see their first interaction of the day.

*She usually takes two naps now.   One at around 9:30/10:00 and the other around 2:00.  She will fall asleep anywhere but her crib (just like her brother did), and will sleep while we run afternoon errands.

*She talks a lot and has a great little vocabulary. Some of my favorite things she'll say lately are "A picess" (princess) pointing to herself, "eeww.. si" (sick) whenever she sees or smells anything gross, and "Peez??" How can I say no to that cute little face when she is asking so nicely and saying please?  Her animal noises are pretty amusing too. She gets super into it and will yell her roar when she sees pictures of animals that roar, and makes the cutiest little meow sound ever. Her favorite song is The Wheels on The Bus and I often hear a random "roun a roun," "beep beep beep," or "sh sh sh" from her while she is playing. When she is upset I can almost always get her to calm down if we listen to music or sing.

*I often find her trying to put on shoes.  Whatever shoes she can find will do.  Lately she likes socks a lot too.
*She likes to rumage through her "pees" (pretties) and when she gets the chance, will dig into my hair things and jewelry too.  She isn't a fan of me doing her hair, but if she is the one putting pretties on, she loves it. 

*She likes brushing her teeth eating toothpaste.  Loves water and bathtime too!  She often gets mad when we go to Luke's swimming lessons because she can't get in the water with him.

*My girl likes her hands clean!  When they are messy from eating or doing whatever she will yell at me "a wash hans!!"  She insists on using a spoon or a fork now, so that's helping with the messiness.

*She's a great little eater, and will rarely turn her nose up at food.  Green salad?  Bocci (broccoli)?? Bring it on. She especially loves fruit. Blueberries (Bee bees), oranges (anges), and strawberries (also called bee bees) are her favorites. When I take her grocery shopping with me she makes a big "MMMMMMmmmm!!"sound as we pass things she likes.

*Likes to color and finger paint.

*She will sit on your lap and read books for as long as you will read to her.  Probably her most favorite thing to do.  Lately her favorites are Great Day for Up!  by Dr. Seuss and The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle.  She doesn't always want to finish the book you start, and when she gets tired of it, she'll grab it from you and chuck it.  Then clap and say "yay!  A done" and then grabs another.  She has clocked me in the forehead a couple of times while throwing books.  

*Loves her babies.  Loves pointing out other little kids her age and calls them babies.  She likes reminding me that she's my baby too.  When Luke is sitting on my lap, she will usually squirm her way onto my lap too, or tries to shove him off.  Definitely THE baby around here!          

*As of this morning, she's 26 lbs and 32 1/4 in tall.  (around 75th and 60th percentiles according to some website I just looked it up on?)

*Still waiting on a few teeth to show up

*Ella can't get enough of dogs and puppies.  Our neighbor has three dogs, and when they are at the park when we are, she spends the whole time chasing them around and petting them.  When they go back home she cries.

*I've said it before, but Ella is a crazy climber and a dare devil.  I find her in the weirdest places. On the bathroom counter top, the table, the ledge behind the couch.   She is always on the go, and usually trying to get someplace higher.  Aaaaa!  Like at the park when I'm talking to someone or doing something and look over to see her at the top of some big climby thing for big kids.  She climbs up that red bar thing all by herself.  Scary when I'm not right there by her!

*She likes to DANCE!  She twirls and bops to music so cute.  Can't wait until she is big enough for lessons!

*Enjoys being outside.  If the door is open, she's outta here! 

*She gets super excited when Jake gets home at the end of the day.  Runs out to the living room and screams "Dada!!"  pretty much every time. 





So, at 18 mo. there are 18 things about Ella! 
Little Elle, you make me happy and keep me entertained.  I love you.