19 months

19 months

This month I realize we have one of the happiest kids I've ever seen.  Yes she does have some meltdowns but all in all she is happy and pleasant to be around most of the time.  She does have such a desire to be more independent and flusters when things don't quite work out.  It's taken me a while to type this post up, but on the day she turned 19 months I sat and wrote out a list of things about her while she was eating.  Here is what we came up with....

• loves to wear this old pair of sunglasses I got in a kids meal at Grandy's when I was little.  She found them at Grandma and Papa's house.  She has worn them everyday since.
• excellent at puzzles
• mastered her shape sorter..probably actually did this a few months back
• picky eater most days, turkey wraps w/ tomatoes, avocadoes, and cheese are her fav

• cutting teeth like crazy after several months of nothing
• finally willing to let me cut her nails...I cut and file mine first while she watches then she lets me do hers
• we can now have all the doors open without having to tell her not to go where she shouldn't be
• follows most commands...if it's against her plan we repeat and/or ask what did ? say
• likes to spend most of her time in the kitchen area
• loves being mommy's helper 
• we began baking/cooking together this month...it takes a lot of patience and planning so far she has helped make quiche crust, cookies, meatloaf, and pumpkin muffins.  She is getting better at not grabbing handfuls of ingredients and shoving them in her mouth.  I try to always have some gadget in her hands at all times.
• will smile and say cheese at the camera...sometimes
• there always seems to be a song in her heart.  she is always humming or bouncing around to a tune
• is my little laundry helper.  She is a master at cleaning the lent trap and helping mommy carry clothes back and forth
• loves being outside.It is really hard to get her back inside after we've been out for a while.  We go on walks most everyday.
• nine times out of ten she will hold a crayon/pen/pencil correctly when drawing. Right now she does this with both hands.
• takes one nap a day usually around 12:30 to 3.  Is fine if is nap is later.  She goes with the flow well.
• loves rough housing with her daddy
• is a girly girl.  She loves to watch me put on makeup and has her own little compact to pretend with
• loves to sit in her rocking chair
• still obsessed with airplanes

Here are the pictures for the month!

She says ...forget the pants..focus on footwear..bear agrees!

Loves her pink ball from Dr. Martin

Playing before bedtime

Bedtime stories w/ Grandma

Good morning music

Playing at the park w/ Papa

Snack time w/ cousins

Loving the wide open spaces

Gardening w/ grandma

All dressed up for Grandmother's party

Yummy biscuit

Little book worm

The sunglasses phase begins

She did it!

Balloon love!

Trying on mama's shoes

She loves the Swiffer duster

Snack time

Making crust

Loving her baby

Loved the balloon until she popped it w/ her teeth

Hugs for Grandma

About to go for a walk

Still sporting the shades

Sweet Dreams

Ready to go!

Hmm...something's not quite right?

Good mornin'

Apple!

Modeling her raincoat

All smiles with Daddy

Cheese!

Watching her muffins bake

Mmmm!

18 months

18 months
(This is the clearest picture we took on her 18 month bday.)

This is a quick and pretty unorganized list with tons of errors so just scroll down and enjoy the pictures ;)

getting pretty good at going up stairs

loves to wrestle with her daddy

animal sounds and/or motions...elephant, monkey, sheep, dog, giraffe, duck, cat, fish, spider

sometimes all the animals say baaa it just depends on how tired she is

super independent

loves to be outside

loves to walk around kitchen, stand in front of frig (door open of course) and pantry

a little more cuddly...has started waving hands up in the air to be picked up and hugged

loves stuffed animals especially teddy bears

getting pretty good at her puzzles

enjoys watching Barney

just transitioned to one nap...I was so sad to see our 11 and 4 nap schedule go, but after about a week of it taking her forever to go down at 11 and at 4 she would just play in her bed I finally gave in. So now usually between 12 and 1 she goes down and sleeps anywhere from 2-3 hours sometimes less, sometimes more. I have to admit it is nice having more time to do things in the morning but it makes for a long afternoon when daddy doesn't get home til 7 or later.

Loves exploring the park/playground...climbing the steps, swinging , and sliding mostly

Size 18 and 24 month clothes

Is a much pickier eater

Finally cutting more teeth

Loves helping...she is very good at laundry and gift wrapping

Starting to enjoy coloring....I am very proud of how she already has a pretty good grip.

Makes sure all doors are closed

Usually will put back whatever she has in hand before leaving room

Still doesn't allow feet on the coffee table

Loves clothes and especially shoes. If she sees a pair of shoes she must put them on

Quickly learns motions to songs we sing

Is a little better about being read to. We've actually been reading some nonboard books lately. She's enjoyed Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon, Olivia, and some Eric Carle books: From Head to Toe (she does all the motions) and The Very Hungry Caterpillar (loves to point him out on each page).

Has been doing very well on trips to see her grandparents and cousins. She is really good at going with the flow. The only meltdown we had was when Mason and Zoe had to go home.

cuddling her bear cub

Kissing Clark

striking a pose
(She just had to have those shoes on.)

tries so hard to get into everything

puzzle time w/ her pals

helping wrap presents

ready for the party

learned to swaddle her bear

reading with mommy

enjoying olives at Pizza Inn

ready to take a bath

"organizing" the tupperwear

waving to Chuckie
(She was one of the few that didn't fear him.)

going through the hand me downs

Happy Birthday Grandma!

thanks friend

Putting Practice

Good Morning

Up please