Happy 18 months Ella!!

Happy 18 months sweet pea! You are such a funny, energetic, and happy (well almost all the time) little girl! You weigh ____lbs and are ______inches tall (we go to the doctor on Tuesday, so I will update with stats). You wear size 3 diapers, size 18 month clothes, and size 4 shoes (your feet are finally starting to grow!). You have 9 teeth (4 on top in front, 2 on bottom in front, 2 bottom molars-one on each side, and 1 top molar). You are taking a good 2-3 hour nap every day in the afternoon and you still sleep through the night.

What are you up to right now:

• Talking - you say many words! Here are some that you like: No, Mama, Dada (although sometimes you call him dad), Papa, JoJo, Pop (you leave the "s" off) and you are trying Granna but it comes out as NeNe, star, ball, turtle, dog, Belle, nacks (snacks), thank you, bird, fish, uh oh, more, love you and bye bye. Just this week you have learned to say your name. So cute! Ms. Karen has taught you sign language for more, eat, please and thank you and you still use it alot. You will try any word we ask you to say. It is so cute to watch and hear you learn new words everyday.


• Running - you have the cutest run. When you get really excited, you run and shake your head at the same time. It kicks you off balance off, but you get back up and try again. You are like your mommy and move at a fast pace for anything that you are doing!


• Dancing and singing- you LOVE music. You like to bounce up and down while dancing and your love to spin around in circles. You also tap your foot like you are pointing to the beat of the music. You sing along to Old McDonald, Row Row Row Your Boat, Itsy Bitsy Spider, ABCs, Happy and You Know It, and You Are My Sunshine.


• Kissing and Hugging - you now give kisses and hugs. It is so cute. For hugs, we say "can I have a two hand hug?" and you wrap your arms around our neck. You give regular kisses and eskimo kisses. My favorite is when we are playing on the floor and you just come over and give me a kiss on your own. Love it!! You are so sweet to everyone that you meet. You blow them kisses when we leave.


• Playing - you love to play with your toys and your baby dolls. You strap your baby in her stroller and push her around the house like a cute little mommy. You love to point out your body parts (eyes, nose, mouth, ears, teeth, hair) and to find them on me and Daddy too.


• Swimming - you love to be in the water. You have done so well this summer in the pools and in the lake. You have started to jump to us in the pools. We still haven't found the time to put you in swimming lessons, but hopefully we will do that in the fall. We have had such a fun and busy summer!


• NOT eating - you are still a VERY picky eater. You eat chicken, spaghetti, grilled cheese, bananas, beans, rice, and any kind of snack that you can get your hands on. I just got a new cookbook to help me hide fruits and veggies in the foods you like, so hopefully that will help!
• Tantrums - this is a new thing.....you tend to throw little tantrums when you don't get your way. This is mainly when you are super tired, but it is definitely no fun. Mommy just bought a book, The Happiest Toddler on the Block. :) I had to put in a picture of one of your tantrums below........

You are such a bundle of joy for daddy and I. Your grandparents, and aunt and uncles think you are a superstar and you bring them lots of happiness too! Just this morning you woke up early and just laid in bed with me. You are not much of a snuggle bunny but this morning you snuggled up close to me and we just laid there for awhile. You must know that mommy is sad to go back to work soon!!! We love you Sweet Pea....more than words can explain.