Friday, July 3, 2009

Eighteen Months Old!

Dear Emily,

Another month has passed us by, and you're hitting another milestone - a year and a half!  You're now as close to being two years old as you were to being a year old.  That's pretty unbelievable!  Your language skills continue to develop at a quick pace.  You've started occasionally asking for things because you think of them, and not just because you see them or I prompt you to say them.  Most frequently the objects of your affection are "yooce" ( juice) and "bay-BE" (your blanket).  The other night, you were so exhausted that you, unprompted, looked at me and said "nigh nigh"?  This hasn't been repeated since, but it's good to know that if you're really, really, REALLY tired you do actually want to sleep.  You just don't get really tired all that often.



Your favorite activities these days are playing in water, and you love the water playground near our home.  It takes you awhile to warm up to the idea, but eventually you are running through the cool mist shrieking with glee and watching the other kids.  You love sand, and the beach, and playing with your bucket and shovel on the beach.  In general, I think summer must be your favorite season.  You also love hearing the door bell ring, and run anxiously to see who is there.  You like giving and receiving kisses and hugs, being tickled and chased, doing puzzles, reading, "petting" the kitty, building towers of blocks, putting on sun tan lotion, throwing balls, and cuddling with your mommy before and after naps.



You also love ice cream, but there was never really any doubt about that.  You would eat pizza and macaroni and cheese for every meal if I would let you.  You also love strawberries, and we had fun going to a farm and picking them this month.  We picked two quarts together, and although you ate more than you put in our baskets, you definitely did some of both.  It was a hot, sticky, wonderful summer day.



Emily, you are a beautiful, vibrant, happy, and strong-willed little girl.  You are learning so much everyday, and it's fun to be on this journey with you.  I am realizing that even though I don't think your baby years will be my favorite of the ones we'll spend together, there is something undeniably precious and valuable about this time.  I'm doing my best to savor it all!



Love,

Mommy