18 Months

At (a few weeks passed) 18 months old, this precious girl:

* Is closer to 2 than 1
* Can say around 60 words clearly
* Has tee teed and pooped in her potty
* Has no more pacifier (!!!!)
* Has an incredible memory for a toddler
* Can wear bows in her hair because she finally has enough hair
* Loves books more than anything (Favorite: Pat the Bunny)
* Favorite Toys: Pull Toys, Purses, Baby Doll/Stroller, Laptop
* Says "Hey Baby" when she sees me because that's what I have always said to her.
* Loves to make silly faces and really loves it when we imitate said faces
* Sings/does motions to Old MacDonald, Itsy Bitsy Spider, and Patty Cake.
* Listens intently to any song mommy sings
* Fears nothing
* Loves to "swim" in the pool. We must hold her on her belly so she can  "kick, kick, kick." She will laugh hysterically in the pool because she has so much fun!
*  Has certain shoes she loves and certain ones she hates.
* Tries to do everything herself. VERY independent.
* Is a good sleeper and greater eater
* Has 14 teeth (6 more to go. Yes, I am counting because I loathe teething.)
* Loves to drink out of a straw
* Doesn't sit still for one single second unless she is sleeping.
* Loves when daddy throws her in the air and tickles her.
* Can name these body parts: Head, nose, eyes, ears, cheeks, lips, teeth, mouth, tongue, chin, fingers, toes, belly button
* Says "bess you" when someone sneezes.

Vices:

* With Leighton, it's a battle of wills several times a day. I win 99% of the time.
* Her answer to most everything is "no" even when it's something she really does want.
* She hits occasionally and we always correct her.
* She needs to be constantly entertained.
* She gets frustrated when she doesn't figure something out the right way the first time (she gets that one honestly, from her momma)

Most treasuring detail of our 18 month old:

She is so sweet to other children, especially babies. She will share everything she has. At Sunday School the other day she was giving all of the other children her snack. She hates for little babies to cry and will rub on them, bring them their Paci, bottle, etc.

18 Month Check Up:

Weight: 25 lbs 4 ounces (70th %)
Height: 33 & 3/4 inches (90th%)
Head Size: 19 inches (85th %)
Hit All Milestones

Dr. M was VERY pleased that we are Paci- free, and so are we! I received so much support from other mom friends (and my wonderful husband) during that horrific process (thank you all SO much) but I also, surprisingly, received some judgment for "taking away my child's comfort" because "she wouldn't suffer any long term affects from having it longer" and "it's not like she will go to college with it." I spoke with our Dr. about it (have I mentioned how much I LOVE him lately?) and he said I totally did the right thing. That the longer you wait, the harder it is to get rid of it and its much more of a struggle when the child is emotionally attached to the Paci. He said that those things that were said to me were the exact same things doctors will say to parents who want to wait to get rid of the paci to make them feel better about it. He said children can definitely suffer damage to their teeth the longer they have a pacifier, ask any pediatric dentist.

Leighton got her last shot until age 4. HALLELUJAH! She does really well with shots, actually, I just hate watching her in pain.

This appointment was the first time she was afraid of the doctor's office. Dr. M said that will go away by age 3.

Leighton, you are so smart, it amazes us every day. You take in everything and study things very intently. You are so sweet, always giving us sugar and loving on us and sharing so well. You are sweet and yet you are determined. You aren't a quiet, go with the flow kind of toddler but I never wanted that for you. I want you to keep being strong and determined. You will never get lost in a crowd, that's for sure. You are beautiful, inside and out. It's almost impossible for any stranger to pass by you without commenting on how "precious" you are as you smile and tell them "hey" in that sweet voice. You are mommy and daddy's greatest joy and greatest source of worry and frustration. You light up our lives in ways we never could have imagined. We are thankful for you every second of every day. You make life so much fun! We love you with all of our hearts sweet girl!

It's Been A....

 Jazz Fest Jamming....

 Mother's Day Lunching... 

Memorial Day Celebrating ...

  Birthday Dinner-ing...

House Selling (well, trying too sell, anyway)...

New Car Getting...

 Zoo Going... 

  Grandparents Visiting... 

 Shower Throwing...

 Hundreds of Books Reading...

 Pink Cow Meeting...

Giraffe Pool Playing...

More Pool Play-Dating...

  Nephew's First Birthday Attending (Uncle Tim needs to work on his pic taking skills)...

Beach Tripping...

Best Friend (and her son) Seeing (FINALLY!)...

...kind of Summer! This is why we have been noticeably absent in the blogosphere. We have just been having SO much fun. We have been simply enjoying every sweet moment as a family of three and that has kept me too busy to blog about it all. You see, we probably won't be a family of three forever. And I don't know God's plans. It could be our last summer as the Three Musketeers, or we could have 5 more (summers, not babies, don't get crazy!) You just never know. So, I have been spending more time just living my beautiful life with these two loves than blogging about it. 

Quick Update on Leighton: We are soon to go to her 18 month appointment. But, at 15 months she was 23 lbs 5 ounces (60th percentile) and 32 inches long (90th percentile). Our doctor made the comment that I can stop worrying about her weight/height from being a preemie because she had not only caught up but had now surpassed many other babies her age. Sigh of relief. At 17 months our smart girl is saying almost 40 words, can follow all of my commands (i.e. "Go get mommy a book." or "Take that to daddy." etc.) She talks in "Leighton Language" 24/7. She loves to walk backwards, in circles, sideways, she's so silly. She loves to help me close doors, rub lotion on my legs, empty the washing machine/dishwasher (sans the knives, of course) throw away trash, and many other things around the house. She loves babies. More specifically, she loves to soothe them when they are crying and give them their paci. She is still a good eater. She still loves animals more than anything and calls all animals "doggy." And when you ask her what the doggy says she interrupts you and loudly says "woof." It is hilarious and keeps us in stitches. She finally has enough hair to wear a bow and is relatively good about keeping them in. Truthfully, I think it makes her look too big, so I only put them in occasionally. It makes me sad. She loves to be in the water. She laughs all the time, such a happy baby. She loves to dance, she does this shoulder dance all of the time with this sassy look on her face...I have no idea where she got that personality ;) Her favorite songs are "Old Macdonald" (she sings the eieio part), Patty Cake (which she doesn't sing but knows all of the motions too), and Itsy Bitsy Spider (she does the moves just not in the right order and tries to sing the "Itsy Bitsy Spider" part. She loves giving sugar and kisses. She LOVES books, which makes my heart sing!! If I am doing something around the house and she leaves the room, I always know where to find her. Sitting down in her room "reading" her books. (Which is what she was doing in that picture up top.) She is getting more interested in her toys now. Her favorite? Her laptop. She is always "talking on the phone." Everything is a phone, a banana, her hand, her sippy cup. She just goes on and on in her own little language and says "Hey" every few words. She loves to help us put away her bath tub toys when it's time to get out. She has NO fear. At the beach she bolted right in to the ocean and let a wave crash in to her and loved it. At he zoo, they had a petting and feeding area and she walked right up to a ram and fed him and pet him and even tried to pull on his horns! We have our hands full, that's for sure! 

Well, it's time for me to go enjoy the rest of my summer with my two favorite people. And throw another shower. And stand by one of my dearest friends as her Matron of Honor. And go to another baby's birthday party. It's been a busy but amazing Summer, friends. Since I didn't have a chance to write anything insightful, I leave you with some FANTASTIC reads below to fill up the time you thought you'd spend reading one of my really long winded posts. Seriously, read them. Good stuff. Happy Summer! 

This one made me weep. Uncontrollably. On my bathroom floor. True story. If you know me at all you know how close adoption is to my heart.

Ouch. This one hurt a little. But so much truth. For me specifically, the part about wanting to give up on friendships that are all give and no get. And, ahem, losing my patience with a very strong willed toddler.

Welcome. Every church needs this. Seriously.