These numbers keep getting bigger and bigger. Seventeen months. Hmm, that means next month is 18 months....and that means you, my little nugget, will be a year and a half old. Not possible. Nope, no way. You have brought 17 months of pure joy, excitement and pride to our lives. I can't believe we just celebrated your second Christmas season.
I was just looking back at pictures from the day we brought you home from the hospital. I marveled at how your big crib swallowed your tiny self the day you took your first nap in it. And don't get me started on folding your tiny baby blankets while I was reorganizing your room the other day. These days you are anything buy tiny. In fact you do a pretty great job of filling up your crib. You find a way to sprawl out at wide as you can. How do I know? Because I sneak in on you every night. And last night I was brave enough to take a picture of your funny position. I just couldn't resist....
Woah, woah, woah....did I just start with the topic of sleep instead of food?????? Totally uncharacteristic for your monthly updates but it might be because you now live by your dad's motto "eat to live, don't live to eat." Lol! You still enjoy food for sure but your excitement for mealtime has dwindled down a bit. In fact there have been a handful of mornings this past month that you ate like a bird during breakfast. Granted most of those days came when you had a cold. Other nights you are so distracted by your cartoons that you just graze on your food. You don't dare miss a second of what Olivia the pig is doing on tv....
"We'll talk later mom, this is a good episode"
This is not to say that you don't let me know when you tummy is grumbling. I learned my lesson about taking you to the grocery store before you'd eaten dinner tonight....
"You put me in a basket with bananas and tell me not to eat them?!?! This is pure torture!"
"Do you know me at all mom??"
You've taken up the art of cooking lately after setting up your cupcake kitchen in the playroom. I found you making cupcakes for Nanny this morning....
"This batch looks burnt"
To even further your cooking endeavors we were graciously gifted these matching mommy/daughter aprons from my sweet friend Ashley. I can't wait to put them to good use with you!
Your appetite may not be quite as big but you make up for it with your thirst. You prefer to have plenty of options when it comes to quinching your thirst. If you see a cup, you want it. And when you want a cup, you take it....
Caffeine is off limits except for when you steal grab it from the counter while I'm doing dishes. In this case it cracks me up and I of course take a picture....
"I need a little pick-me-up after the day I had, mkay?"
Ssssssh. Don't tell dad. :)
You have been using your new suction plate when has made mommy's life a lot easier. Less mess and a happier Hal. You love to use your new big girl fork and spoon.....
You always look like you are about to do surgery or something focusing so intently on poking your food with your fork. And what are you trying to pick up with your fork?? A good variety of foods but you are still very partial to your fruits and veggies. Meats have been hard to sell and your interest in bread is something of the past. The word "cracka" rolls off your tongue at least 26,573 times each day. You wake up in the morning with "crackas" and milk on your mind. For as long as I can remember your dad has eaten a package of peanut butter crackers for breakfast every morning...but instead of six we now leaves the house with four measly crackers. You get two my special girl. ;)
Speaking of special, you are the bright spot in our usually frantic morning. Ok, maybe frantic is a bit much but with a very mobile lil girl running around it's a little difficult to stay on task. Your routine becomes my routine and I never really know what that's going to be. Some mornings you are content sitting on the floor drinking your juice and helping me put on makeup. Other days you have your mind of terrorizing every inch of the house and leaving a path of debris that I am forced to clean up before we leave the house. Ok, let's be honest, most days I just give up and leave the debris where it lies. You need to know what each cabinet and drawer holds. And once you find out what's in them you do not forget. Take for example our new pantry where your favorite snacks sit. It took you one morning to learn where to find these so now you've just about worn out a spot on the tile where you stand and bang on the cabinet. My row of running shoes in my closet intrigues you and I usually don't have to worry about grabbing my own shoes because you pick them out for me each morning. When you aren't helping me pick out my work attire, you are selecting your daycare clothing. Your matching skills are impeccable my dear. ;) It may just be a coincidence but I'm calling it the "monkey phenomenon". Without fail when given the chance to pick out a pair of pajamas you always choose a pair with monkeys on them. It's become a game every evening to see if you will continue showing your love for the monkeys. ;)
Over the last few months you've slowly been morphing into a sweet, cuddly girl. I should be specific here though. Your "cuddle" is a bit different than anybody else's cuddle. You will lay on my chest and snuggle your head in my neck which leaves my heart melting. The only problem is that this lasts for no more than ten seconds. Silence and stillness are not your forte. With the small amount of time you spend cuddling you definitely make up for with kisses and hugs. The best part about them now is that they are voluntary for the most part. I often find yo hugging my leg in the kitchen saying "hi mama" and I love getting surprise kisses layed on me while I'm carrying you to your room. But I have to share the love with your animals and stuffed toys.....
Carrying Cookie through the house with you
I often find myself studying your sweet little face. Your perfect little nose and your mouth full of teeth. The way your blue eyes have this sparkle and newness. Everything about you is perfect to me. Slap a cute outfit on you and then I really can't contain myself from smothering you with kisses.
You are always and forever our spunky little girl with enough spark to light a fire and keep it burning, with enough energy to fuel an entire football team for a big game and enough spirit for ten cheerleaders. You are a little ball of fun who is always on the hunt for a good adventure. Here are just a few pictures I've taken over the past month that put a smile on my face.....
"How long do you think this will take to repair?"
A new way of tackling the laundry
"You said it snowed, right?"
Hallie Grace, this is the last time (hopefully) that I will have to tell you about another big move to a different house. Well lover girl, this time it's not another house but instead it's our home!!! Again I was worried once more how you would respond to new surroundings and a new routine. Just like always you were a resiliant little creature and had planted your baby roots before the second night in the house was through.....
"No worries here mom"
On one hand you are the most high maintenance child I've ever laid eyes on.....but on the other I'm happy to say that it doesn't take much to please you at times. Take for example your playdate at Nanny's house the other day. The waste basket seemed to be enough to keep you happy.....
You have been spending some bonding time your cousin Carmen this past month which I think has left you with a new found respect for what she has to offer you. She's someone you can mentor. Here's proof....
"And this is how you sit up like a big girl"
"You have to take small bites and don't mix foods because it tastes nasty that way"
So why did I call you Miss Sassy Pants? Well, it's simple. You are super duper sassy. I have proof of course. Your brand new thing is mocking. Let's just talk about this. First of all, I don't think I've seen or heard anything more funny than this. Second of all, I have to refrain from laughing everytime you do this. Third of all, I am a horrible parent. No seriously though, you only respond to my discipline with mocking these days. I say "no, no, no" and you look at me with a big grin and repeat what I just said in your raspy little voice. I say "go" and you repeat me. I say "now" and you respond with your best effort to say the word while you point in the direction I'm pointing. Physical and verbal mockery from a one-year-old is a bit humiliating. You don't just tell me how it is though....the dogs also hear what you think. They best not try to snatch a snack from your hand because you will set your cup on the floor and shake your finger at them while saying "no, no, no". My plea is: please someone tell me how to be stern with this sweet little face.....
"Just stop trying mom. These eyes were made for manipulation."
Most of your discipline needs have to do with how mobile you are. Standing up in your high chair has become an issue which you now think is a game. Oh boy! You have decided that our new couch is the place to be. Let me tell you girl, it is only the place to be if you plan to fall off and break your arm. You are crazy up there bouncing from seat to seat and nearly throwing yourself off the end. Your waddling has turned into a full on trot/run which means messes get made that much quicker because you can cover more ground in a shorter period of time. I'm scared to say that you have an obsession with ladders. Any kind of ladder, anywhere. Sherwin Williams, our house, the park....any ladder seems climbable to you which makes me wonder how we will ever keep you safe.
I feel like we are able to communicate a little better everyday. Not only is your vocabulary expanding at a crazy rate but you are also becoming very keyed in on our routines and are able to follow them to a T. I usually find myself talking to you constantly about whatever I'm thinking at the time or about what we are getting ready to do. You always surprise me with your responses to my dialogue sometimes. Like just yesterday I mentioned that we were about to go take your medicine. A couple minutes later I found you in your room by your medicine. Same thing goes for your bath, changing your diaper or changing your clothes. You are repeating new words on a daily basis. Mind you these may be one time occurences but it still puts a huge smile on my face to hear a new word come out of your mouth. Here are words that you have heard me say and repeated.....backpack which sounds like "pack pack", go, now, no, cupcake which sounded like "cucake", car which sounded like "ca", ball, food, uh oh, uh huh....well that's all I can recall right now. It's getting kinda late and momma's brain is shutting down. It's tough work keeping up with a crazy girl like you!!
I continue to get so much pleasure and contentment out of writing about your little life and making sure I reflect each month of how much you've changed and all of the new things you've learned. Someday when you read all of my ramblings I hope to bring a smile to your face...and maybe a tear to your eyes. Everyone loves a good love story. And this, my baby girl, is our love story.
Love,
Mama
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