Mamazen

17 months

My dear sweet Lucy, 

You are now 17 months old, almost a year and a half! it's truly blowing my mind how FAST you are growing up. Some night seem long, but the days are so short. 

You've only been walking for a month, but you have mastered it, and are attempting to move faster and faster.

You've also started walking backward, which is exquisitely adorable. You'll start walking backward and you look at me with this grin that just screams "look at me, I'm doing something WIIIILD!" You love going on walks in the neighborhood, or on hikes.  You'll spend part of the time on someone's back or in the stroller and then you are OFF. 

 

You LOVE being outside, LOVE it. Either in nature or at the playground

You love swings and climbing but you really love the slide. Over and over and over, with or without your sister. You even mastered doing it all on your own. You're not much of a risk taker but it's pretty great to see you take little chances!

We had Christmas! You loved the lights and the tree and family and all of it. LOVED. 

We drove around and looked at lights, and then one night we went to Peacock Lane and walked up and down and you and your sister had the best time!

Like most toddlers, you weren't that into opening presents, but you really loved the stacking blocks and the bath toys. You play with both of them regularly. You're really getting into toys, somedays you'll carry the same thing around all day.  

This is a Nana doll, that your Nana made you, you love her so much (the doll and your Nana!)

 

 

You've also taken to wanting to cuddle something when you nurse. 

Sherriff Woody

A plastic train

A stuffed Lamb named Larry. Sometimes you sleep with Larry too. 

Oh yeah, you're sleeping in your own bed! It's attached to my bed, but you spend most of the night (unless you're sick, you just got over your first cold!) in your own bed, and then you crawl over to me around 4-5 AM for milk. That reminds me... you're nightweaned! It was shockingly easy, I slept with Ruby for 3 nights and daddy slept with you. The first night, as I was rocking and nursing you to sleep I told you that there would be no milk in bed at night and you unlatched and stared at me as if I had grown another head. You were not impressed.  You woke once cried for a few minutes the first night, but then realized that daddy was pretty great to snuggle and you went back to sleep. After that it was easy peasy, and for that we are all grateful. 

You have had some fun play dates! Your buddy Taelyn from preschool came over one day and the two of you shared snacks, books and a ride on the scooter.

 

You are quite a comedian. Props are your thang. 

Obviously, you like glasses. And you look like a tiny Rachel Maddow.

 

You are in a major language leap. Every day it seems like you learn a new word. Bus, work, french fries. It completely blows my mind. You try out new words every day, and many of them stick. Some days you bust out words I didn't know you knew, like when I opened the fridge (at 5 am) and you shouted "geepes!" (grapes). Your receptive language is also amazing, and it shocks me daily how much you understand of the world around you. You are such an amazing little person, with a big, sensitive heart and so much love to give. You're quick with a smile, and yet sometimes stingy with your attention. You are more of a toddler every day, asserting your needs and independence. You desperately want to be a big kid like Ruby, and yet when she wants to play with you, you don't want her bossing you around (can't blame you there). I can't tell you how much I love you. There aren't words to describe it. I want to drink in your perfection and bottle it for a rainy day. 

All my love, Mama

 

16 months

My dear sweet Lucy, 

You are 16 months old. (as per usual this is 2 weeks late, but it was Christmas!). This month was pretty amazing for you. You took your very first tropical vacation to Maui to a condo that we bought with your Grandma and your Uncle Kurt and Aunt Katy.  Daddy had spent two weeks there painting and putting in new floors  and then we went out to put in all the furniture and make it look pretty. You had the BEST time. 

You ate some sand, but only once.

 

 You generally thought the beach was awesome. 

 

 This was your first walk into the water and it was so amazing to see. You laughed and laughed as the warm water lapped at your body. 

We went on many hikes in the tropical forests. You were either on my back or daddy's and as usual you loved seeing everything.

 We went to the playground several times, you went between the swing and the slides and it was always a joyous adventure.

You enjoyed the gentle waves as much as the big ones, but you didn't like being in arms or in a sling the entiere time you were in the water. You wanted freedom!

 

 You saw many beautiful sunsets. Sometimes with Daddy, 

Sometimes with Grandma

We went to the Maui Ocean Center and you were enthralled by everythign you saw (as was your big sister)

 

 

 

 

 

 You finally, *finally* started crawling more, but only on the beach or soft surfaces.  You are just so darn efficient and fast with your butt scoot, that crawling was slow and annoying (unless a wave was chasing you)

You had some lovely laughs with Grandma.

 

And every day we thought "today will be the day you take your first step!" but no, you would sit down as soon as we would let go of your hands. You just weren't ready. Until we got home, and then on 12/15/13, the day you turned 16 months, got up and walked across the room while your cousin Kelcie was babysitting you. Luckily she got it on video since your daddy and I were gone. I wasn't that surprised, I figured you for the kid who would skip the taking one step at a time and just jump to cruising aross the room. You're wild like that. 

 You had milk, everywhere. 

 And you love love love your sister, even when she shouts at you or pushes you over. You'll be mad for a moment and then you are in love with her again. 

 This month has been a month of pushing, pulling, practicing. Your ability to communicate is amazing, what you understand completely blows my mind. You follow directions, simple commands and simple two step directions. When you don't get your way you are starting to throw mini tantrums, it's pretty sweet to watch you test your boundaries and negotiate your world. You feed yourself with a fork and spoon (and aren't that messy unless it's apple sauce). You are super into books both in my lap or on your own, you won't sit still long enough for me to actually read one to you but you'll get them and sit in my lap and look through it (at your pace, not mine). You like to help get yourself dressed, you'll bring me your shoes or your jacket or your socks and try to put them on, especially when you're ready to get the heck out of the house.  And you've started dancing around to music. You and your big sister LOVE to make music together, you'll drum, or play the piano, or hoot away on harmonicas together. It's pretty awesome. 

You are a delight to behold, my sweet Lucy. Every day you are a joy, a menace, a comediane, a musician, a terror and a wonder. I feel so lucky to watch you grow up, and at the same time it breaks my heart as each day you become more of a toddler and less of a baby. You've taken to holding my hand when you nurse and I love it so much, because some day you'll be too big to hold my hand and I want to get in as much as I can before it's too late. 

Thank you for becoming my daughter. Thank you for making me smile and laugh and cry. Thank you for loving your amazing big sister. I love you, I love you, I love you. 

xoxo Mama