21 Months Later…

over the weekend our little lady turned 21 months old.  i know i say this over and over and over again, but time is flying.  in the last 30 days it really feels like she has gone from baby to teenager.  she has thoughts, feelings and opinions.  she wants to be included in everything and miss nothing.  she keeps us laughing constantly and running after her often.  and so much more:

she’s super affectionate.  with her mama and daddy and with her friends.  she doles out hugs, specifically around the neck and gives lots of kisses on the lips.  she also loves her baby dolls, whether they be human or yo gabba gabba in origin.  she is often found with a baby on her chest, patting it’s back and whispering “ahh ahh baby,” over and over again.

she talks constantly – although still mostly at home.  she knows the names of most of her friends and asks about them from the time she wakes up, until she goes to sleep at night.  she asks for things that she wants – water, grapes, bar, watch micky, more elmo, puzzle, blocks – you name it, she can identify it.  she’s got her letters down pat and can count to 10 – although insists on replacing 7 with an extra 5…or siete.  oh yes, BUDDY is teaching EBN spanish.  she’s working on her colors although still relies heavily on blue .

the kid continues to like to eat.  her very, very, very favorite is caesar salad which she discovered by reaching over to eat off of my plate.  if we’re out and about in pacifica she’ll announce – high tide – a request for her favorite restaurant, home of the aforementioned salad (you might think all caesars are created a like, you would be mistaken).  the most recent development is that we have finally given up the night-time bottle in favor a of a sippy cup and a bedtime snack.  it seems that as long as i refer to the sippy cup of milk as a “ka” (her word for bottle), she’ll accept it.

we continue to be a hiking family, and regularly explore the trails in our neighborhood.  for the most part, she’s out of the backpack, she likes to hike her “self”.  she also likes to read “self”, eat “self”, wash “self”.  she acts as if she’s fiercely independent – until she isn’t.  then she wants to cuddle or hold hands or “up please.”  she says “thank you” to everything, especially when she gives you something.

sleep continues to be our challenge but i think we may be seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.  i was so worried about putting her down later at night but she seems to be enjoying the new schedule and slowly but surely sleeping a bit later in the morning (her nap has also moved to 1pm which is so much more convenient).  my ultimate goals is for her to sleep until 7 so that i can get up at 6 and have a little me time.  is that really asking too much?

what else?  her curls are (clearly) out of control.  i’m obsessed with them and also terrified of the knots and dreads that tend to form.  she’s in love with accessories and is most often wearing sunglasses, a hat, a headband or a wrist band.  she really likes to hangout in my closet and goes around the house closing doors.  she’s wearing basically all 3T clothing, except for a few left over 2T shirts that don’t quite cover that tummy.

about half way through month 21 i was looking around the house for ABN.  ”Where’s Ari?”, i said over and over again.  before i knew it, EBN was searching high and low “awi, awi, awi?” she repeated.  now whenever her daddy walks into the room she announces his arrival, “AWWWI!”  i love it.  ABN is a bit on the fence.