18 Months and Growing!

While I know she is the same baby I gave birth to just a short 18 months ago, she hardly seems like the same little person! It's amazing to witness both the small and big changes that occur in a child, as she passes through this wondrous period of time. She learns to sit, she learns to stand, she learns to scoot, she learns to walk, she learns to run... she learns to smile, she learns to coo, she learns to babble, she learns to talk... Along the way, you learn a great deal too, but she has always known how to melt your heart...

Gianna at 18 Months:

-Is in the 92nd percentile for her height and head circumference and the 25th percentile for her weight. She's long and lean; I wonder who she gets that from;)

- Loves to try on mom's shoes and any shoes that go "tappy, tappy."

- Tries to repeat almost anything we say.

- Has learned MANY new words and uses them quite frequently.

- Some words I can think of at the moment are NO, cookie, people, pubby (pacifier), more (with hand sign), "oh golly," bye,bye, open, off (especially with coats, hats, mittens, and shoes), bow, ride (especially if there's an empty laundry basket), door, dog, and Gaga go? (for Dada go?).

-Knows her family! Says gaga (for Dad), mama (for Mom and sometimes Grandma), papa (for Grandpa), mawee (for Aunt Molly), Bef (for Aunt Beth), Rea (for Aunt Maria), and My (for Uncle Mike)

-She definitely knows Weston, but I can't put into words her pronunciation of his name- I don't think she's quite sure how to pronounce it yet. She just squeals with excitement when she sees him instead:)

- Typically sleeps from about 7:30pm to 8am with one 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hour nap during the day. And praise the Lord, there are now many nights mom and dad don't have to get out of bed!

- Doesn't like to sit in the cart at a store (who wants to be in there when you can walk?!)

- Loves to hear and make animal sounds and scream when she sees a picture of a mouse (mom taught her that one:).

- Likes to help around the house. Likes to sweep, help with the laundry, take dishes out of the dishwasher, and put things in the garbage.

- Loves to run out of the pew at church and see how far she can get (usually lets out a loud scream of excitement when you come after her and follows that by a loud cry when you pick her up)

-Love to be a "Naked Baby!"

-Dances with a leg and butt bounce (although Weston is teaching her new moves:)

-Likes to eat fruits, carrots, lima beans, CHEESE, crackers, cereal, yogurt, peanut butter, and "cookies" (aka anything sweet), and drinks her milk well. She is not a fan of chicken.

-Likes you to be right by her side playing with her, and she likes to see everything your doing. It also seems to be more fun to have mama and dada put the bucket on their head, go through the tunnel, and ride her riding toys.

-Still loves to play peek-a-boo

-Likes to tilt her head to the side and smile when she acts shy or thinks some thing's silly

- Plops on the floor, throws her head down, and cries when she's frustrated or angry (at 18 months, we don't have a lot of those moments;)

-Likes to look at her word books and point to the actual objects in the house if she knows where they're at.

- Gives the best kisses and hugs, has an infectious laugh, and the sweetest little voice.

-Is at a tiring, but very fun age:)

First few times playing in the snow!

A Sunday Afternoon Out with Mom

An occurrence of hives after our outing. The pediatrician told us she could have cold induced hives. If this is the case, it should be short lived, just lasting through this winter. He says it usually occurs if a child is older than one but probably by next winter, it won't affect her. Dads in Motion

Snow Babies!