Addie-girl, you are 21 months old. What ARE you up to these days?
(Photography by Cari Baun)
EVERYTHING! There isn't a thing in this house, much less the world, that you haven't gotten into! I love that you are curious and want to learn and search and do things on your own, but man, is it tiring!
You know the whole alphabet! You can say and recognize all your letters. You can even tell me A is for Addie and so on.
You are talking in sentences! If you include jib-jab, you can talk in paragraphs! You can carry on phone conversations, answer questions that the other person is asking you, and tell them what you are doing!
You have the cutest facial expressions still.
You pretty much hate the stroller. I'm glad we didn't spend a ton of money on the ones Mommy really wanted.
We have slowly begun potty training. You have seemed interested and aware for a while, so I thought while I was home with you this summer, we'd just see how it went. I don't think you completely understand the concept just yet, but every now and then you will go on the potty and get your two M&M's and are just so proud.
You have recently started to color and enjoy it, but you would much rather Mommy or Daddy write a "dub-a-you" or an "eeeeeee!" (Your two favorite letters!)
Your current favorite toys are: baby dolls (and all that goes with them), your Little People dollhouse and people, your Little People pink princess castle, books (currently all Fancy Nancy books, Tea with Ruby, the "Grandma" book as you call it - Penny Love, and Duck Soup), your two rocking horses, and when you are outside, your little red car and your turtle sandbox! So, all the grandparents have done a great job of picking out gifts for you (And Aunt Ellen and Andrea)!
You are great sleeper and have always been, but recently, you have been awful at going to bed. I mean, terrible. Typically, unless you are beyond exhaustion, it takes 3-4 tries from both Mommy and Daddy before you get to sleep. This happens at naptime too, when it's just Mommy!
You know how to count to 10 definitely, and can go as far as 16 if helped/prompted. You can also recognize most of your numbers, but not all of them.
When you get the opportunity to watch TV, your favorite program is Super Why, which was new to me. It is a cute and educational show, so I'm happy. Your other favorite is Sesame Street, mostly Elmo's World.You are still a pretty good eater, meaning, you aren't very picky. However, you will certainly choose pizza over a vegetable and crackers or chips over fruit, and so on! Mommy and Daddy think you'll be a great lawyer, if your career in engineering doesn't work out (yes, you still like to take apart and put things together), because every meal is a negotiation of sorts!
You still love all animals. Makes mommy nervous, I wish you had a little bit more of a "healthy fear" of them.
We still think you are crazy smart. You remember so much, even things that we don't do often, or people/things we don't see often, you can remember and recite them. When we turn onto certain roads you can even tell us where we are!
When we say your prayers at night, you remember to ask God to bless all the people that you love. For the most part, you name them all yourself and you rarely leave anyone out. That is definitely something special, as you are lucky enough to have a lot of people to name!
Some of your favorite expressions are "Oh My Goodness!" and "Oh No!"
You are great with puzzles, which Mommy loves (after taking all that brain research and gifted/talented classes)!
You went in the nursery yesterday for the first time without crying! We were so proud, as we saw two different parents have to get up and go get their children from the nursery! When you saw us you started running in circles like you always do. We love it when we see how happy you are to see us!
You went in the nursery yesterday for the first time without crying! We were so proud, as we saw two different parents have to get up and go get their children from the nursery! When you saw us you started running in circles like you always do. We love it when we see how happy you are to see us!You have been passy (or "pasu" as you call it) free since June - 19 months old. You don't even ask for it anymore. However, if you are around a child with a passy, you always point it out, and if you can reach it, you take it out! It is quite embarassing for Mommy and Daddy!
You say "please" and "thank you" without prompting now. You are starting to say "ma'am" and "sir" without prompting, but those are still needing some practice. However, I am quite proud of that! Even the ladies in nursery complimented your manners! (Right after they agreed with me when I said you were WILD!)
You still love to dance, and I can't WAIT to get you in dance lessons! The "Happy Dance" (which is an Addie Kate original!) is the best, you also love Ring Around the Rosie, and then if there are other people dancing or dancing on television, you'll join in.
You finally got in your fourth bottom tooth at 20 months old. I cannot believe that thing took so long to come in. Bless your sweet little heart - I know it hurt, but you did so well.
You say "please" and "thank you" without prompting now. You are starting to say "ma'am" and "sir" without prompting, but those are still needing some practice. However, I am quite proud of that! Even the ladies in nursery complimented your manners! (Right after they agreed with me when I said you were WILD!)
You still love to dance, and I can't WAIT to get you in dance lessons! The "Happy Dance" (which is an Addie Kate original!) is the best, you also love Ring Around the Rosie, and then if there are other people dancing or dancing on television, you'll join in.
You finally got in your fourth bottom tooth at 20 months old. I cannot believe that thing took so long to come in. Bless your sweet little heart - I know it hurt, but you did so well.You love to sing. When we get in the car you ask to listen to your "Mogart" which is "music" to you! Your favorite songs to sing are Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star; Church in the Wildwood; Ring Around the Rosie; Row, Row, Row Your Boat; The Wheels on the Bus; and a few others that are hit or miss! You even like and can ask for "Shimmy Shimmy Coco Pop" or "Skinny Pok" as you call it. We can thank your Mimi for this, as we do not own anything that plays this song! Listening to you sing is absolutely precious and brings tears to my eyes every time!
You have recently started really wanting your daddy and me to play with you. You love for us to come in the playroom with you. And we have to "do-down" which is Addie-language for sit down. Why you cannot or do not say "sit down" we don't know! As soon as your daddy comes home from work, you go running as fast as you can to meet him at the door, and then immediately start begging for him to come "do-down" and play with you. You have also begun grabbing our hands and pulling us in the direction you want to go, and you will grab our legs and try to push us. That is quite funny!
If someone is on the phone (namely Mommy), then you think that you have to talk to that person as well. And since you broke Mommy's phone and she has to talk on speaker phone all the time, it is miserable to Mommy and whoever she is talking to until you do get to speak to that person!
You have recently started really wanting your daddy and me to play with you. You love for us to come in the playroom with you. And we have to "do-down" which is Addie-language for sit down. Why you cannot or do not say "sit down" we don't know! As soon as your daddy comes home from work, you go running as fast as you can to meet him at the door, and then immediately start begging for him to come "do-down" and play with you. You have also begun grabbing our hands and pulling us in the direction you want to go, and you will grab our legs and try to push us. That is quite funny!
If someone is on the phone (namely Mommy), then you think that you have to talk to that person as well. And since you broke Mommy's phone and she has to talk on speaker phone all the time, it is miserable to Mommy and whoever she is talking to until you do get to speak to that person!
We are getting better with your colors. It still amazes me that you knew your entire alphabet and how to count to ten before your colors. You aren't going to be one to do it by the book! That's my girl! You can identify pink, orange (so your mommy and daddy both are happy!), yellow, and sometimes blue. But that's it.
You are the most caring, compassionate, mothering child I have ever been in contact with at this age. I don't know of many things that could make parents prouder than to have a child that genuinely cares for others. All the brains, looks, nothing else matters when you have a child that is so caring. And I am so proud! You always want to make sure everyone has what they need, you get upset and try to comfort if someone else is upset, and you try to make sure everyone is included.
Your little tummy is starting to slowly disappear. Your little legs are getting longer and there are fewer rolls. Makes mommy sad to see the baby disappearing.
You are the most caring, compassionate, mothering child I have ever been in contact with at this age. I don't know of many things that could make parents prouder than to have a child that genuinely cares for others. All the brains, looks, nothing else matters when you have a child that is so caring. And I am so proud! You always want to make sure everyone has what they need, you get upset and try to comfort if someone else is upset, and you try to make sure everyone is included.Your little tummy is starting to slowly disappear. Your little legs are getting longer and there are fewer rolls. Makes mommy sad to see the baby disappearing.
We cannot believe you are almost 2 years old! Toddlerhood with you is certainly an adventure. I love even the difficult times with you and praise God daily for giving me this opportunity to be your mother. You are such a sweet little angel my Addie-girl and you are so very, very loved!
