18 Months Old

Dear Delaney-

You are now 18 months old! You really enjoyed me singing "Happy HALF Birthday to you" on your half birthday! You squealed excitedly and shouted and signed... "MORE!" You are getting so very big and indepent these days. You want to do everything on your own and you have finally learned the toddler word "NO!" You love to use it too.. even when it really is something you want... you'll answer no when we ask if you want it. Silly girl! You've been testing your boundering and limits lately and so therefore have landed yourself in time out.. which you don't exactly care for. You are becoming more loving every day and you hug and snuggle your dolls, stuffed animals, friends and family (and of course mommy and daddy). My favorite saying you have right now is "LOVE YOU". I laughed out loud in the car this week when the song on your Elmo video was singing "I love you" and you started singing along... "love you... love you"! So cute! You are starting to string two and three words together when you talk, most often because you are repeating what we say.. like "I see fish." However we have also heard "Alex go bye bye" (and lots of other people including "Laney go bye bye") and "Baby go there" or "Baby go up". It's so much fun that you can communicate with us now... and now mommy gets to use the phrase "use your words" when you are whining! You love to make animals sounds and you have this book with all kinds of pictures in it... you like to make the monkey sound on each page and then say "no" and shake your head... you repeat this on every page until you get to the monkey page where you make your monkey noise loudly and laugh at yourself! It's hilarious. There is also a page in that same book where a baby is crying. You also like to find that page and say "baby cryin" "baby cryin". This is one of your favorite books to "read" these days and it is adorable! You still love to play with your shoes, but you now also love to play with everyone else's shoes! You can get your own shoes off and on now and you love trying to put on mommy's and daddy's shoes. You beam with pride after you have accomplished getting some shoes on as you stomp around the house in them! You also really enjoy "dress up" not so much when mommy wants to try clothes on you as when you try on mommy's clothes! I have a feeling princess dresses are in our near future... but for now you're happy with my pajama pants, my shirts, jeans... you don't care.... as long as you can drape it on your shoulders (after giving up on getting it on the right way) you are a happy camper! You went to see your doctor on Friday and she says you are doing great! You have more words than an average kiddo your age and your motor development is ahead too! Not that I need you to be ahead ... just good to know you are learning and doing what you should! (we all know you are advanced... right?) You are 31 1/2 inches tall and 23 lbs 13 oz. According to the percentiles you are a little thing.. but we've all seen that frog belly of yours. Don't worry mommy had one of those too when she was little! You've started to protest some food but the doctor says that is normal and to just try to sneak them into your diet! That's a fun challenge for mommy isn't it! I hope this phase ends soon! You are at a very fun age and we are enjoying every minute! We love you so much Delaney Grace! Keep shining!

Love, Mommy and Daddy