Sixteen Months Old!

Emily,

First, I'm sorry about the delay in writing your monthly letter.   It may be the first time I've been sluggish in posting this, but it likely won't be the last.  It's been a busy week. We were in Pittsburgh visiting your grandma Ruth and pap pap Barry this past weekend. Also, I was running the Pittsburgh half-marathon.  It was a whirlwind trip, as we also visited your aunt Elsa at Grove City, and got to have a celebratory lunch with the girls in her sorority.  You, little one, were not so well behaved at this lunch, but I'm sure I will have forgiven you by the time you read this.  Speaking of your behavior, you sure are learning the art of the temper tantrum.  You can pout and whine and even wail with the best of them, all over the fact that I won't let you go outside to run around in the rain or give you a THIRD(!) muffin.  Yes, what a bad, mean mother I am.

You continue to learn how to communicate with us, and are saying a few more words.  What's amazing to me, though, is much you understand.  You can retrieve just about any object that I ask you for, will run to your booster seat if I mention eating or being hungry, start removing your socks if I tell you it's bath time, and practically spring to the door if I mention the words outside or walk.  You are also really fond of signing "please" and "more", and alternate those signs repeatedly for something you want.  Your sign for please is not quite right, but it's so precious that I haven't had the heart to change the way you sign it.

You love to swing.  We're working on a good place to put one in our yard - our trees are surprisingly limiting - but at the park you'll stay in one for at least half an hour.  You are getting bolder on slides, and will sit down and try to go by yourself.  You also interact with other kids we meet at the park, following them around, watching them so intently.

You're doing a bit better entertaining yourself while your dad and I do other things, which is great because getting chores done around the house is much more manageable.  You especially like to "help" load and unload the dishwasher, and will even grab the detergent out of the cupboard when it's time.  So smart!  You also know what sounds a sheep and elephant make, and we're working on a dog.  You have become attached to a board book called "Peekaboo Bunny" from the library this past month, so much so that I ended up ordering a copy for us to keep.  If we try to read you another book at bedtime, you will push it away and sign please, reaching towards where you know we keep your beloved book.  Oh, and finally, your hair was finally long enough to fit into pigtails this month.  I normally only pull part of your hair up, because attempting more than that requires the help of clips and you pull them out quite swiftly, but still, you're becoming more of a toddler all the time.  Happy growing, little one!

Love,

Mommy