She is just a delight to be around. And I'm not just saying that because she's my kid. She is definitely the life of the party. If she finds something that makes you laugh, she's going to keep doing it. Just the last week, while at Alli and Cami's bday party, all the kids were sitting at the kids' table. She had a big hunk of corndog sticking out of her mouth. The other kids noticed and laughed at her. So then she started flaunting it, which led them to laugh more, which led to her flaunting more. She enjoys being the star of the show. 
However, in the same breath, I can also say she is VERY shy. When it comes to being around big groups of people, new people, or people she's just not comfortable with yet for whatever reason, she will avoid them like the plague. She has some serious looks that could kill. One of them is reserved for her Kindermusik teacher. Not sure why, but she will not give our poor teacher a smile to save her life! She also doesn't like loud noises and scares easily. Wierd that she can be so tough, yet get scared at some of the not-so-scary things. *shrugs*Mickey and Minnie are her definite favorites right now. I never thought I'd see her sit down to watch TV - she really doesn't get into it - but by golly, she will ask for and sit through most of a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. Her new favorite word, as I think I mentioned is "MicMe" for Mickey and "Minnie".
Speaking of talking, B.F. (before flu), she was repeating everything you ask of her. Doesn't always come out right, but she is trying! Even super long words that Brooke tries to get her to say...she goes for it. But, on a regular basis, (non-repeating) she says Mommy (I kinda miss the sweet little MaMa), Daddy, PaPoo (for my dad), Nana (for my mom), Nuna(close to Nana, but diff. For Muna), MicMe, Minnie, Up, Down, Night-Night, Hi,...I don't know what else. Seems like more, but can't think tonight. I will say, she is also extremely LOUD. Not screaming or crying or anything...just a very loud talker. But it also kinda makes you feel good. When you walk into the room and she hollers out so ecstatically..."MOMMMMYYYYY!"
She tries to repeat and do anything and everything that Brooke does. The funniest is to watch her "jump". She doesn't get off the ground yet, but bends her knees and extends them really quick. Its so funny. She thinks she's so big. She also enjoys showing off how strong she is. She just LOVES to pick things up that are presumably too heavy for her, toting them around, and bringing them to us. She is quite strong in this regard, able to pick up heavy pumpkins (tis the season right?), metal workbench chairs, weighted balls, etc. She's tough!
Speaking of tough, the girl is tough. If she falls, bleeds, bumps into something, whatever...rarely do you hear her cry. Not for something like that. So, we know, if she lets out a cry, she must be really hurt. Either that....or hurt feelings. Sometimes she gets knocked over (by Barkley a lot), and she will cry...not cuz she's hurt, but because she has hurt feelings.
And she wants so bad to be big. She goes with me everyday (B.F.) to pick up Brooke from school and I let her play for a bit before we leave to go home. The newest thing is she tries to drink from the water fountain. Ewww! I hate water fountains! But esp for a toddler who just insists that licking it is the right tactic. :-P
She eats like a champ still! We wonder where she all puts it. She weighs in at 24 lbs even. Not sure on the percentile yet...find out tomorrow at her "well" check - haha. It'll actually be a "sick" check, but oh well. I'll come back and edit later with the actual numbers. [Edited 10/27/09 to add...she weighed in at her well check at 23 lbs, losing a whole pound in a week to the flu! She was also 31 inches tall. Still remaining on her growth curve at 25th percentile for height and 50th for weight...or vice versa. Heck, I don't remember which was which now. Sue me.] But she loves any food really. Well, not big on pasta, but anything else. Her favorites? Black-eyed peas (or really any kind of beans), bananas, and crackers. Top three. Easy, hands down. She will pick a cracker over dessert still. Girl loves her crackers!
She's eating well with a spoon, but still uses fingers when she needs to get some eating done. But every morning at breakfast, she eats her cereal (with milk) all by herself.
She sleeps very well. About 12 hrs at night - from 8:00 to 8:00 easy, sometimes later if I can afford to let her (usually have to wake her up to get Brooke to school on time) and a good 2-2 1/2 hr nap in the afternoon, sometimes longer. She loves taking baths and loves Barkley. Man, does she love that dog.
She enjoys going outside, but the mosquitos here are horrible! And they love that fresh little baby skin, so our outdoors time is usually limited. She still loves books...a lot. She asks to read books several times a day, often not allowing enough time between pages for you to actual read all of it, but then we have to start all over again. Books just might be her favorite past time right now.
She can identify all her body parts - well the main ones anyway - and can say most of them when prompted. Eyes, ears, nose, mouth, teeth, tongue, feet, hands, fingers, arms, legs, toes, tummy, head, and hair (yes, she differentiates b/w hair and head).She still signs a ton for words that she chooses not to say yet. And she started doing something intriguing this past few weeks. We've been dealing with some minor tantrums (yes, she does have a temper too!), and afterwards, we make her say 'sorry'. Well, she signs it. But recently she started signing it ON the person she is telling it to. So, for instance, if she swats at me, I make her 'tell Mommy you're sorry' and she walks over to me, balls up her hand in a fist, and rubs it on MY chest in a circular motion. Its kinda cute! And she always gives hugs afterward too. She loves to give hugs and kisses. They are so sweet. She really is so sweet. Even with the occassional flare-up in her temper, she is such a sweet kid. She will just randomly walk up and hug me, or Brooke, or Daddy, or whoever. And same with kisses.
We love this sweet little girl so much and couldn't imagine our lives without her! It seems like just yesterday she joined our family and now, here she is, at a glorious 18 months, walking, talking, spouting off little toddler. A little person she is becoming, leaving baby-hood behind. Bittersweet. But oh, how I love this sweet little girl!
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