The Art in Me: 16 Months

Gwendolyn,
You turn 16 months old in a few days! I actually started writing this last week and already you have new tricks. I can't keep up with you, girl! According to the doctor at your 15 month check up on July 10th, you're coming along beautifully developmentally and physically. We give all praise to Him.

I know it's a bit ridiculous how much I love to just look at you and watch and observe you. Your dad and I talk often about how we wonder if you think we're annoying with all our kisses and being so in your face, but then you put your arms out and hug us and then I think that maybe you're ok with it.

When I look at you, I see less and less "baby" and more "little girl". We often exclaim, "you're heavier today!" and you take up more room in my arms and on my lap than before. It still feels perfect though.

We love that your hair is coming in, but we also don't want it to because, you see, we're selfish and we like how it feels when we rub our cheeks up against your bald head. Plus it's nice and short so it doesn't stick up too much, except for the little curl in the back, but sometimes I let that even stand on end so I can admire it before it's gone forever. I've heard too many moms tell stories about curls that once cut, never return. I wonder what our future holds in the hair department. It seems that everyone has their own opinion on what color it is or will be, which is kind of fun to dream about. Today it's sandy blond and shines in the sun.

Your face is still round and your cheeks are squishy and you're long and lean with just one roll on each thigh and your belly is so adorable. Sometimes your eyes look so green while other moments they're hazel. You talk a ton and say by either voice or sign language: up, down, more, milk, eat, turtle, hi, bye-bye, ball, cat, dada, please, tickle, mom, all done, and Becca. We're working on lots of others (someone in the family has made a special request, so hopefully "grandma" is one of your next words.) Your sign language is absolutely adorable. Our favorite is "eat."

You understand so much - it's amazing! You can get your own diaper now and throw dirty ones away all by yourself. You'll get "bear" or "ball" if we ask you to, and most of the time, you respond to our commands to "shut that" or "come here." You're definitely 16 months old though and sometimes "fail" to hear us. We gotta brush up on what we learned about discipline from our parenting class at church! *smile. We're working on body parts - so far you know eyes, nose and belly button.

You love all things animal, even ants! Stuffed animals are your favorite and you love hugging them. You sleep with your blankie and "cat" and love to hold on to cat's tag. You finally wake up happy and standing in the corner. Upon entering your room, you instantly point at your collection of stuffed animals until we find the one you'd like to hold while getting diaper changed and dressed in the morning. You get very excited seeing any sort of animal on TV. You know what a bear, a monkey, and a snake all say.

You really are so easy. You don't get too upset about much unless you're hungry (again...we see "eat" a lot.) You sometimes have to skip naps and it doesn't affect you too much. In fact, I think you get crazier and more funny when you're tired. It's actually very entertaining.

You are a hilarious dancer and love music.

You cut your top two eye teeth! You're up to 13 total with the bottom eye teeth definitely on their way.

You've become a picky eater. This majorly bums me out, but we'll keep working at it. (Who doesn't like pizza and mac-n-cheese?!)

You typically sleep great....7 pm to 7 am, give or take 30 minutes. You've been waking up around 11:00 the last few nights only to cry for a couple minutes and then dead silence. Not sure what is up with that, but I'm just happy that you fall back asleep.

You wear mostly 18 month clothes (some are a tad big, but others fit perfectly) and size 4-5 shoe. You're still in a size 3 diaper, but I think our next diaper purchase will be size 4. You wear a lot of dresses and have a crazy stylish wardrobe.

You love collecting things. We often find you carrying a zip-lock bag around filled with random things you've found. I luckily caught your church sandals hiding in a bag headed out to recycling the other day.

Which reminds me, I so wish you could tell me what you did with our small digital camera.....sigh....

I am not sure how long you'll nurse and I think that's ok. Nursing you for these 16 months has been one of my most favorite parts about being your mom. Right now you still nurse three to four times a day on the days we're home together. Sometimes it's for 20 minutes and other times it's for 2.

You and daddy read books before bed most nights. The last two nights you have sat through the entire "One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish" - must be the rhyming words b/c you are totally enthralled. And it's a long book!

You now pucker to give kisses and make the kissing noise. Melts. My. Heart.

You follow us around all the time and are usually right on my heels. You're very loving and if I'm on the floor with you, you're typically right on my lap.

You can get a little shy sometimes, but thankfully don't cry when dropped off at the church nursery anymore. You'll let pretty much anyone hold you. For two seconds anyway.

You used to be the best little shopping buddy b/c you love to just look around and take things in, but now that you're walking you'd rather be out of the stroller and on the go. Oh well. I guess we save money this way.

Your 15 month stats:

Height: 32 3/4 - 97% (almost "off the charts")

Weight: 22.08 lbs - 25-50% (up from last time)

Head: 18.5 - 75-90%

The spectrum of emotion that come along with being a mommy is huge. My arms ache for you when we're apart. I miss you like crazy when I'm at work or on a shoot. Or when you're napping. I want to cry with you when you fall down or get poked at the doctor's. I want to shield you from future pain and heartache. You fill our home with so much laughter and joy that I wonder what we ever did without you. You stretch us and make us work hard and have forced us to become less selfish and more giving. I plead with time to slow down. I desperately want you to know Jesus and have Him fill your heart. So much joy and yearning and love.

We'll keep praying and relying on God and doing our best girl. You are absolutely treasured. We are so proud of you and feel so blessed to be your parents.

I love you. I love you. I love you.
Mommy