20 Months

Starting to jump. Especially loves hopping on the bed, then flopping as fast as she can.

Signs "wind"
Loves boots
Really enjoys drawing with Ella (today she told me she was writing an "E" - that's what Ella always says)

Asks "why?" mostly when distraught, so it's a long, drawn out, tearful "wwwhhhhhhy?!"

Hitting when she doesn't get her way, but learning to give love and make it right

Very defensive of her space around other babies. For some reason all the baby friends her age love the take everything from her. Now if she sees one, she cowers over whatever she has and yells "No!" preemptively. 

Obsessed with her Grampa "Bapa". At the beach she would run to him, even if it'd just been 10 minutes. She'd sit on his lap every morning while he had breakfast. 

She liked Gramma, Didi and Uncle Boing too. :)

She really quite adept at her pretend play now, doesn't even need initiating from Ella 

Generally so happy and strong and fun
Saying "I did it!" (quite annunciated too!)
Draw stripes on her face and said "I a tiyer!"
Also says "I don't know"
Begs for Kombucha and makes some attempt at pronouncing it - "oowa"
Sings "Away In A Manger" as best she can at bedtime. Signs "sleep", "baby" and "stars" where appropriate, and always finishes off with a resounding Great Amen!

18 Months

Loves playing babies

Helps out with the gardening (digging dirt, laying straw)

Loves Ella and wants to do everything she does

Likes the idea of having tea (and food, too, for that matter - has to have it, but doesn't really eat it)

Still loves walking on walls and climbing things

Starting to talk in very small sentences 

17 Months

Loves walking on ledges and curbs 

Loves the challenge of climbing up into her own car seat

Constantly has bruises in various stages of healing on her forehead and knees

Signing cold, rain, and made a wonderful attempt at poop

Telling us when she's gone potty and occasionally when she needs to go by saying "Ooo oooo!" And pointing at her undies/diaper

Loves playing pretend still - lately it's been having babies

Enjoys the tooth brushing routine every night

Jumping, running, dancing

Still hollers at every animal

Sensitive, sweet, affectionate, and bold. 

Ella Sleeping

Transitions

Transitions...I kind of love them. The process of going through, cleaning out, passing on, closing doors, saying goodbye. I feel light. I never knew a decision to move could be so relieving. I've realized how much I am capable of doing when I strive for it, I've found the courage to "just do it!", and I've also found the courage to say goodbye to things that are really just burdens - even if they are good in and of themselves.

I'm realizing just how much I'd bought into our consumerist culture that says "more is better". I'm realizing that I'm a highly sensitive person and that the clutter of my space affects not only my ability to think, function, and mother well, but it also affects the quality of my spiritual life. As the book, Simplify, so aptly put it - if you're closets are stuffed full and disorganized, what do you think you're like on the inside? This is so true for *me*.  I'm realizing how the environment of my home (and the location as well) has kept me from welcoming people into it without inhibition; that having everything I *think* I need has actually prevented neighborly connections (like, "hey, can I borrow....). I'm realizing the opportunities I've missed out on relationships with my neighbors here because of my fears. For the past three summers I've wanted to seek gardening advice from a woman down the street. I never did. And I regret it. I won't make that mistake again. In our new place, I'm just going to do it!

For the last year I've felt a major butting-heads of my mother-side and my artist-side. While I know I'm both and can do both, because of my "highly sensitive" personality, I can't do both well. For months I've pondered giving up my artist side, and I finally feel the freedom and permission to do that. My creative side consumes me when it gets going and it negatively affects my relationships and frustrates me. And I'm excited to have the courage to say goodbye. Perhaps God will have a place for my artist side down the road, but it's just not now.

I'm excited for this new transition. Even though my living room is completely cluttered with purge-items for a garage sale, and the craziness of packing and moving are imminent, I feel lighter, freer, and more in control of myself than I have in a long time. While I'm purging my crap, I find I'm purging my heart. While I simplify my home, may God simplify my heart.

From our first ever garage sale. Meeting people was so fun!

Tree Watching

Watching the tree in our front yard be felled. Trucks, ropes, tools...so many interesting things to watch!

I loved that tree and I'm sad it's gone. 

16 Months

You wave at everyone as we walk by, like a Miss America.

You are trying to jump and skip. 

You are taking your naps by yourself, though they don't last very long. It's a nice change. 

When you wake up you walk out to come find me (often crying). It's quite adorable. Though you always go to the bathroom first to find me - do you think that's my hang out place?

You take your clothes off and work hard to get them back on. You are a very savvy little bum wiper. 

You've started saying "mammy" and "babby" instead of "mama" and "baba".

You love dirt and flowers and sticks. 

You still love babies and will often snuggle one as you go to sleep. 

This month you've been cutting all the molars. 

You like to help to help: mow, put things away, get Ella or me to stand up or put our clothes on.

You help us sing The Great Amen at bedtime: "Aaaaaaaaaaaa!"
You go around and give us all hugs and kisses before snuggling down to sleep.

You are a very clear communicator, though you don't use words or signs too much. You cry in sentences that you've usurped from Ella "I'm ready!" "I'm hungry!" "Mama where are you?" "I don't want to!" And while you love people, you also like your "just being" time. I wonder you're more of an introvert or creative highly sensitive person. What will you've like, Little?

Mowing

This is the way we now the grass, mow the grass, now the grass...

Daddy Moments

Ella snuck a "drink" into Daddy's bag when he went on his trip.

When Daddy's Gone

We pick strawberries...and play with carts and go to weddings.

The girls and I attended Nathan and Jennifer's wedding. Clayton was a huge help and quickly became the girls' best friend. Upon getting into the car to leave for the reception, Ella said "I think we should sit next to him. I think Avila would like that." It was a beautiful wedding and fun reception. All that was missing was Josh. And then we spent the night at the Caldwell's, which the girls loved. 

15 Months

Saying "water bottle",

Lots of hitting, smacking and scratching. 

You MUST have your own plate and utensil at meal. 

You love seeing animals, especially dogs and birds. "Dahdy dahdy!" "Buh! Buh!"

Quite good at wiping up your own spills or accidents (with help of course!)

Your favorite book is Hop On Pop. You love the "All tall, we all are tall" pages, and excitedly sign "ball". "Pat sat on hat" is your other favorite part.
You love to see animals, but do not like them near you. However, your self defense against them is pretty awesome: First yell at it, then push it away, then run to Mama.
You love trying to put your shoes on and take them off again (same with clothes....you're often only half in your clothes).
You are still our little snuggler and you love giving hugs and kisses.

California and Ella's Birthday

Riding on a train!

On the train to go to Palo Alto and see Victoria (but I lost the rest of my pictures from that trip)

Sorbet on the Pier

In the woods with Shanti, Kirk, Astrid and Clover

Ella's Birthday Party put on by Nonna. She went all out and made tutus for all the cousins, and crowns, and capes, and dolls. It was SO fun.

At Callie and Brian's wedding