1 and a half!

My baby Lilly is 18 months old.  1 and a half years.  6 months until 2 years.  Wow.  When people tell you time flies when you have children they don't lie.  And it doesn't fly its speeds like a bullet.  I have to say as challenging as these toddler tantrums and mood swings and the whole getting into everything can be, they have been just as rewarding and fun! 

I am going to start off with the fast facts:
At her 18 month check up Lilliy weighed 25lbs 11oz (75th percentile as usual) and was 33 inches tall (again the 75th percentile).  Other than crying when she got her shots she was the perfect angel.  I guess going there are few times in one week she got the routine down because she went right to the scale and even bent her head forward to have her temp taken.  She really showed off her skills to the nurse when she pointed out the owl on the wall to her saying:  "Owl-hooo hoo!".  When Dr. Minton checked her ears I didn't even need to hold her head down.  She was an angel and perfectly healthy!  Lilly is in a size 5 shoe (wide!) and is mostly in 18 month clothes-she can wear some 24 month things (mainly PJ's). 

Lilly is talking up a storm!  She speaks in gibberish sentences and is very expressive when she talks using her whole body (she couldn't possibly have gotten that from me).  She says a lot of words now I am loosing count but it's way more than 20.  She can name a lot of the animals now in addition to their sound and even tries to say big words when we ask.  Chipmunk comes out being icmunch.  She's also starting to speak in sentences like Hi Mommy/Daddy, Night night mommy, love you (la u), my baby (her doll).  We think we may have a future pediatric surgeon on our hands too!

This past month was pretty low key although we did go to Sesame Street live with Grammy Lainey and the Maryland Renaissance Fair.  We also just spent some time together as a family!  Enjoying the cooler days!

Lilly really enjoyed Sesame Street live.  I was worried she wouldn't want to sit still but she did great!  It wasn't too long which was great and it was mostly singing which Lilly loves! 

Lilly enjoyed the Renn fest for the most part.  We were only going on 40 minutes of an early nap so that was rough at times and she hates being in the stroller so that posed a challenge.  She loved riding the pony and when we just stopped and let her explore a bit-the last picture was of her singing the Itsy Bitsy spider with the 'spider lady'.  She also enjoyed her Fare food-a peanut butter covered banana with sprinkles! 

Spending time with family was definitely a must.  Lilly enjoyed spending the night at Grammy's and hanging out at the Zaruba family reunion!

Lilly has been getting into more and more these days.  Her new thing is climbing on the table.  When I asked her if she was supposed to be up there she looked at me and said "yesh!"

I also didn't realize she could reach our m&m bowl!  I spied on her to see what she would do and when she realized I caught her she held out her hands and said "Two!"-as in-mom I only took two-for now!

Some things Lilly is loving:

She loves to color-especially with Mommy and Daddy!

She's a dancer-her teacher even commented that she is the best dancer in school!

She's developed a new obsession with owls-she is going to be one for Halloween!

She loves the sky.  When we are outside we have started laying in the grass and looking up-she thinks it's the best thing ever!  Airplanes, birds, the moon!  She picks all of them out!  Oh and she cannot lay alone-Mommy and Daddy have to be on either side of her.  It's the sweetest!

Sprinkles!!! But what kid doesn't love sprinkles?!

It's not all ponies and rainbows though-we are now in the full toddler tantrum mode.  She can be so sweet one second and the next be throwing an all out hissy fit-it's tiring and so hard not to get frustrated.  I keep trying to ask her what she wants-I know it's just because 1. we are making her do something she doesn't want to or 2.  She cannot communicate what she wants.  I have found as hard as it is that ignoring her is the best option.  She usually comes around quicker.  The times I try to please her it generally just makes it worse.  Once she's done she usually comes into where I am with a smile and ends up happily doing what we have asked or asks for a snack or a drink.  Some days I just have to laugh.   

We love you so so much Lilly Grace!  I had tears running down my face the other night watching Glee-the part when Kurt's dad said goodbye to him as he left for NY had me running for the tissues and saying to myself-Lilly is staying right here with me!  In all fairness to you sweet girl I know that one day I will need to let you go-it won't be easy but you will be hard to hold back-you are destined for something greater than I could ever imagine-I just know it!  One day I will be writing a post about you going away so until then, I am going to enjoy every fleeting moment with you-even those tantrums-because one day I will be holding you in my arms in tears not over a skinned knee or the fact we made you put on your shoes, but because you are leaving for college, or broke up with a boyfriend (who you know Dad would hurt if needed).  You are a JOY-and I couldn't have asked for a better blessing in our lives.  Happy half birthday baby girl!