18 months?!?

I can't believe my baby is 18 months old! It is funny this whole time thing... on one hand it seems like just yesterday we were heading to the hospital and holding our sweet baby girl 10 hours later, and on the other hand I can't remember life without Bethany. So many friends have had babies in the last few weeks that I caught myself thinking back to those first few weeks; so little sleep, trying to figure out what each cry meant, but most of all lots of snuggling and staring at this wonderful new creation that was mine!

Bethany had her 18 month appointment this week and is doing great. She showed the Dr how she likes to jump and climb on everything. We asked if she was a monkey and she started saying "ooo-ooo-OO!" like a monkey says. She showed off where her nose, mouth, eyes, belly button and of course her new thing: elbows. We talked about the typical toddler behavior and that "no" and "mine" are favorite words as they try to learn boundaries. Being consistent is the best thing to do and giving choices so she doesn't feel like she doesn't get to make any decisions. We got her a strap that goes over her arms and around her waist so that she can run in public about 3 feet from us, but can't get away too far. It has been a life-saver since she loves to run away giggling but doesn't understand dangerous situation like busy roads yet.

Here are her 18 month stats:
Height 32 3/4 in - 80th %
Weight 24 lbs 1 oz - 25-50%
Head 46.2 cm - 40%

Although she is still a picky eater she's growing really well (most likely from all the milk she drinks!). We are really looking forward to our vacation coming up over Memorial Day weekend as a family to relax and practice our swimming. Bethany loves swimming lessons and practices in the bathtub and jumping off of her potty chair so she's ready on Saturday mornings for class. When I ask her if she wants to get her swimsuit on she yells "YEAH!" and runs to her room. Good thing she still loves water!

I tried braiding her hair but she kept pulling it out seconds after I finished.... this was after her rubbing it but I'm impressed it is almost long enough to stay in if she leaves it alone.

Practicing her back float in the tub. She thinks it is funny to have her ears under the water since it sounds funny when I talk to her like that. I don't want her to get too much water in her ears but everytime I try to get her to sit up she lays right back down!

Here are some other things she's up to at 18 months:

- when we see new babies she uses her finger by her mouth to say "shhh"

-knows what she wants - points for me to lay next to her in our bed in the morning or outside on the chair we sit on when waiting for daddy to come home from work

- some 2 or 3 word sentences: all done, what is it?, I don't know!

- almost jumping with feet off the ground

- knows where we are, sad when we get close to come and points back to the trail to keep going in the stroller

- says "Yay!" or "Whoa!" a lot when excited or sees a bus or truck

- says "no" everytime we ask if you had a good day (little liar)

- still love to lay on mommy's chest for comfort or rub my belly and give your sister kisses

- so interested in Charlie's belly button and nipples - but he is ticklish :)

- says 1, 2, 3 - go! or ready, set go!

- "buh bye" with bag over your arm walking towards door

- twirls around in circles

- help vacuum, use wipes to clean things, use broom to sweep garage

- blow your nose and then throw the kleenex away

- points to most body parts correctly

- practice colors and ask "what is it" when you don't know

- love to take our things and say "mine!"

- very upset when babies cry and you try to hug them, give them your pacifier or snack you have to help