Month Eighteen

Dear Aeralyn,

You’ve been eighteen months old for almost two weeks now, and I’m still not having any easier time with it.  Eighteen months sounds so toddlerish and so much less babyish to me, and that is very hard to handle.  You are growing entirely too fast for my liking.

 Today was your well baby checkup.  You have finally exceeded the 20lb mark.  You are actually  21lbs even, and 30 inches long.  You are staying in the slightly below average range for weight and height.  Thankfully your pediatrician is sweet and reassures me that you are a healthy girl, just a little on the petite side.  You are just now getting into 12-18 months clothing, much to my despair because mommy thought she was smart by buying all your summer clothes last year on clearance in 18-24 months size.  Maybe you will grow into them before summer is over. 

Your pediarician was so impressed with how social and sweet you are.  You never once protested when he was listening to your heart or looking in your ears and nose.  He even held you for a little bit while you smiled and laughed at him.  I couldn’t be happier with your outgoing personality. 

We turned your carseat around in the car this month, and you were ecstatic.  You love to look out the window and play with your toys without having your legs squished into the back seat.  I like that I can see you better now and hand you things easier.  Like your cup for instance, that you drop no less than 37 times in a 5 minute car ride.  But atleast you are happier and more comfortable now.   

Each month, you have learned so much that it has been hard for me to keep up.  This month is definitely no exception.  You are almost constantly talking now.  You still have alot of baby jibber jabber, but you also say plenty of phrases and words that we can understand.  A few nights ago after your bath, you were examing the picture hanging above your changing table.  It is a picture of you sleeping when you were a week old.  You looked at the picture and said “It’s a bay-bee” followed by “It’s a cute bay-bee!”.  After laughter and praise from me and your daddy, you kept going.  You said “Bay-bee night night” and “sleepy”.  Then you kissed the picture and said “awwww”.  It’s amazing to me just how much you understand about the world around you. 

Your sweet and compassionate side has really started to show this month.  One of your favorite things to do is wrap your baby doll in a blanket and rock her in your rocking chair.  You softly pat her back and whisper “It’s awwww-wite baby.  Shhh.”  It makes me melt every time to see you act like that.  You have a routine at night where you run to give daddy hugs and kisses, and then you tell him  “Wuv you bay-bee, night night”, and he repeats the same to you.  Then you come to me and repeat the process all over again while you nestle down for me to rock you to sleep.  It is by far my favorite part of the day. 

Happy eighteen months punkin’!  I love you more than words could ever express.

Love,
Mama