Elyse Love ~ 18 Months

So I'm basically a month late in this update, but at this point I consider it a success to get your 18 month post up at all.  And I also wanted to include the stats from your most recent doctor's appt, which we just had this morning, so here it goes! 

Height: 32 1/2" 75%   Weight: 22.2 lbs 10-25%--yup, still our little Skinny Minny!

Toot, you are absolutely the joy of our lives.  I have always said that I'm not a really an itty, bitty, baby person...and this stage is just confirming that.  I'm loving the stage you're in right now, just learning about new things and exploring everything you possibly can. 

You LOVE to be outside whenever you can, which is difficult when it's 95+ degrees outside--but we try to go out as much as possible.  You love all the neighbor kids and they love you too!  Some of the little boys have adopted you like a baby sister and it's absolutely adorable to watch you with them.  Sidewalk chalk has become a MUST when we go outside, as has taking BOGEY for a walk.  You also really enjoy going for family walks in the wagon or stroller, especially when we let you hold part of Bogey's leash so you can help walk him.

You are talking up a storm and I know that you understand so much more than we sometimes give you credit for.  The frustrating part of this age is that you know exactly what you want but sometimes can't communicate it enough for us to GET it!  Of course, there's also a bit of a power struggle going on at times because you want what you want when you want it--and you don't understand that sometimes that's just not possible. 

As I mentioned before, you absolutely LOVE all the dogs in our family...Bogey who lives at home and is the namesake for your absolute FAVORITE word right now.  Even the neighbor kids love to get you to say Bogey because you say it so perfectly and with such conviction as if everytime you say his name you are looking for him and hoping for him to appear.  And of course at Mamaw & Pappy's house there is Lucy and then at Gigi & Papa's house you have Josie, Bailey, Jack, & Dallas...you've got all their names down for sure and it's absolutely precious to hear you call for them! 

You have finally developed a nickname for your pacifier and you ask for your "ba or baba" whenever you can't find it.  It's nice to actually have a name for it,  but I'd love to be able to wean you away from it soon; however, I'm thinking that will be a project for after we get back from our long trip to Florida in September--no reason to rock the boat quite yet. 

Right now anytime you ask for something we are trying to work on your manners...so when you point or ask for something, we respond with...."What do you say?"  For awhile you would yell out PEAS!!! aka Please.  However, recently it has become Peas Daddy or just Daddy--so for some reason you have started to associate Daddy with Please; we're just going with it and happy that we're getting a consistent response. 

You are still taking two naps a day which is seriously a blessing to your momma & your Gigi who keep you on a regular basis.  I keep waiting for you to decide to give one of them up, but if we're at home you always manage to take about 1 1/2 hrs in the morning and then 2-2 1/2 hours in the afternoon.  You're also still going to bed about 8:15 and waking up between 6:30-7:00.  We recently thought you might be having a sleep regression but the next night you slept like a log so maybe it was just a fluke deal...we sure hope so! 

You love to dance and if the "HotDog Dance" song comes on from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse you're almost certain to break out some moves--but a lot of times you will also dance to other music if you can hear it. 

You have become so much more aware of what's going on in the world.  When Bogey or the neighborhood dogs bark outside you stop and say "Shhhh..."; or when you hear a train passing thr ough town you'll pause and say "Choo Choo."  Your daddy has also taught you to say Awww... after you take a big drink and you also say Amen after we pray before dinner. 

You have developed a fascination for your baby dolls and many times you will bring them to us along with one of your own swaddle blankets and have Daddy or I swaddle them up for you so you can carry them around the house.  It's so precious to watch you pat their backs like we so often pat yours.

I honestly can't even believe that we're now closer to the 2 year mark, than 1 year...oh time, please slow down!