18 months

Oh, my sweet girl, you are 18 months old. No one told me that somewhere between 12 and 18 months you would lose your "baby-ness". It makes me sad and happy at the same time. I feel sad because you are such a big girl, but it makes me happy to see you growing into the person you will become.

Weight: 22 lbs, 10 oz

Height: 29.37 in

Sizes: You still wear a size 4 diaper. You wear a mix of your 12 month (or 12-18 month) clothes and your 18 month clothes. Your 12 month dressy clothes have become too snug in the last few weeks, so I know it won't be long until you're in 18 month clothes only.

What you're up to:

- We think that you are allergic to penicillin - at least for now. You had your first ear infection at 1 year (and have had at least 2 more since then). We gave you penicillin and you broke out from head to toe in a rash AND your ear infection came back since we had to stop your meds. I feel blessed that you went so long without an ear infection, but I wish you didn't have them at all. They make you so miserable. In fact, at your 18 month appointment, we confirmed that you have yet another one.

- You got to go on your first vacation this summer! We went to Yosemite National Park and San Francisco. I'll do separate post about that later, but I think you had a great time!

Easter 2012

- Your Aunt Sarah got married to Charlie in April. They both love you so very much. They especially love babysitting and spending time with you. You really like Uncle Charlie and always smile and laugh at him.

- You and I had a fantastic summer together. We played together and read so many books. We even went on some adventures. We went to the new Crystal Bridges museum with Reed and Mrs. Brittany. Your first art museum! (You enjoyed the lunch part better than the art part.)

At Battlefield Park with Mommy

Picnic with church friends

Giant snail sculptures on the Bentonville square

Eating lunch at Crystal Bridges

- You still love to read. You can now "read" several of your books that we've been through 15 million times. Your favorite books are Where's Spot (you like to do all of the animal sounds); Moo, Baa, La La La (again, you make all the animal sounds and say "No no no" on the page that says "No"; Barnyard Dance is a favorite because you like to keep time while we read the book to the beat; and you also like your bath time book about the pig. I could list many MANY more - you love books. That makes this mommy's heart very happy!

- Your greatest love is still Elmo. He can bring you out of every bad mood, and make every sadness go away. We have 5 or 6 Elmo dvds and we watch them on a rotation. We usually watch only 1 day, but I think you would watch them over and over and over if we let you.

-You are still very engaged with technology. You love playing on the iPad. You have your favorite apps and games, and you know just how to work it. Your Ree Ree and Marmee are amazed at your iPad skills.

(Daddy put these headphones on you just for show.)

- We painted the living room and hallways this summer. I was ready for a change. (This was one of those times that I did let you watch Elmo over and over again....I was almost ready to go crazy!)

- You are walking and running so fast now, but at first you were a little unsteady. At the end of the school year, you had a slight crash at Mrs. Amanda's house. This picture shows the result....but you were perfectly fine. Minutes later you were laughing and giving me kisses.

- Your Papa gave you a sweet play house for Father's Day. We have not put it outside since it has been hot all summer. You have just played inside and loved every minute. I guess we're going to have to get a bigger house soon so that we can fit all of your growing collection of things. Currently, your favorite thing to play with is whatever dirty or clean laundry you can find - usually your Daddy's or mine.

- You are such a ham (as your Marmee would say). You love to entertain anyone and everyone - whether it's a stranger in the grocery store or just members of the family. You will do your tricks to show off to anyone. And you're usually very giving with your kisses and huge. Last weekend, your Uncle Dan and Aunt Janna were here and when they left you gave them big hugs and kisses. I was so proud of you.

You were showing me that Uncle Dan had been on his phone

- Our biggest accomplishment recently has been giving up your bottle. This made me VERY sad because it confirmed my worst fears - you are no longer a baby. It was not easy for you to give up your favorite comfort item. You cried and fought and asked for Daddy to come give you your bottle over and over, but we worked it out and now you're doing a wonderful job going to sleep without it at night.  Now the only problem is getting you to drink milk in your cup.

- Your relationship with the dogs is still growing and changing. You love them and would spend all the time in the world with them if you could. A few weeks ago, we gave them a bath and let them come inside as flea-free animals. They lay down on a sheet to chew on their rawhides, and you plopped yourself down right in the middle of them to play. You love to give them hugs and pet them, but you don't love it when they kiss you back. Ha!

Playing with your first purse - You knew EXACTLY what to do with it.

- You are your father's child....you love to get dirty. You love to play in the dirt outside even when it's really hot!

Your favorite shady dirt hole

Playing with mud

Finger painting with Mommy

Dr. Denton made me feel so good when we went to your well visit a week ago. She said, "This is such a passionate age, isn't it?" I immediately agreed. Your happy times are extremely happy. Your sad times are heartbreakingly sad. And your angry times are....well....let's just say we're having to work a lot on not throwing fits to get our way. We are also working on saying "Please". I want you to be a polite and kind little girl.

A "passionate" moment

I wish I could list all of the things you do each and every day. I don't want to forget anything. You are the most precious thing to me. I cherish all of your actions and all of the love you give me. My favorite thing about you growing up is to see you express your love to me and to your Daddy. I wish that our summer could have lasted so much longer because I have loved seeing you play and learn. You are the light of my life, Elysen Ashleigh. I love you so very much.