Madelyn, Madelyn, Madelyn!? Where has the time gone? You are 21 months old already!
You will be 2 years old in just three short months!!!
These have been the best (and fast) 2 years of our lives. Mommy and Daddy adore you and we'd like to highlight some things that you've been doing since your last Milestone post, from 18 months old.
Well, isn't it quite obvious that your have grown, a lot. Not exactly sure in lbs and inches...but its a lot. I think you've just about caught up to your peers. You are no longer the shorty of the group. You fit in just fine! Its getting harder and harder to carry you around, so we've recently started letting you walk around more than ride in your stroller places, while always holding Mommy or Daddy's hand. I love it. Every time I ask "hold hands?" you always reach up and grab mine. Its so special to walk with you by my side.
You also have a few more "teethers" in your mouth (you've gotten 3 in the past month or so). One eye (or canine) tooth on the bottom and two canine's on the top. That makes a total of 15 teeth!
Your are still a wonderful eater. Trying new things everyday. Especially from other people's plates. You love to
mooch share. Some new favorites are grapes, sandwiches, marshmallows, peas and even salad (with vinaigrette dressing)! You love sharing pretzels with Daddy. Often when we are at the grocery store you will spot the pretzels and say "Dadda pretzels!".
We've greatly enjoyed sweet treats this summer too. Lots of trips to Graeter's for ice cream and even a milk shake or two with Mimi and Pops. Popsicles with your cousins and friends at the park; anything sweet is probably your favorite. We are still working on eating with utensils and less tray action, more plates and bowls.
You still take about 8 oz. of milk twice a day. Maybe more. We are transitioning away from your bedtime bottle and now to sippy cups only. It makes my heart hurt. Mommy has purposefully continued in our night time routine of bottle, rocking, singing and praying....just to have you in my arms for a few minutes longer for your bottle! Now we are just singing, rocking and praying. Night time songs include "How Deep the Father's Love for Us" and the doxology, but recently we've added "How Great is our God" and "Jesus Loves Me". You also ask for "ABC's" and "1,2,3,4" to be sung.
Over the past few months you have begun to form more and more sentences that make sense. You can string about 5 words in a sentence, at the most, but usually its about 3-4 words with gibberish for the words you don't know. You then sting those sentences together and make paragraphs, LOUDLY. You are a chatter box. People are constantly asking us how old you are because its hard to believe all that chatter comes from such a petite little package.
My favorite words you use lately are: "Please", "Thank you", "Your Welcome", "Yes, Ma'am", "Sorry" and "Love you Momma". Your manners have gotten much better and you are learning the appropriate times to use them. One that makes us laugh is when Daddy clears his throat, loudly, you usually say "Bless-you Dadda", because you think he's sneezed! So sweet.
You have learned to say all of your ABC's and you can count all the way up to 20! You are starting to recognize some letters and learning your colors. I don't know why, but colors have stumpted you....but you're slowly getting them.
You still love to play with baby dolls. Feeding them, pushing them in strollers and giving them "aahhaas". You are kind and gentle, going to make a great big sister one day. Every time I ask you if you are the Mommy or the Big Sister, you always say "Big Sister". You still love playing with all animals and seeing them at the zoo. We take many trips with all your friends and once you understand that you cannot hold the animals you enjoy seeing them.
Your newest favorite thing is Princess'. You LOVE the "Princess and the Frog" disney movie, which has been an instant watch for the past few months. We've taken advantage. Watching this has sparked the fire in your little heart for all things Disney Princess. You adore them all and even know their names. We've only let you see two actual Princess movies, but read many books about Ariel, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty (whose name is Aurora, which I didn't know) Belle, Jasmine, Snow White and your favorite, Tiana (from "Princess and the Frog").
I love seeing your femininity coming out. You love jewelry, make up and playing with your purse. I'm hoping your love for Princess' will help you as we begin to venture down the road of potty training again with new Princess underwear. I have decided to try the 3 day boot camp with you. Cover furniture and roll up rugs. Plan to be in for a while, but we're going to get it, eventually.
You are sweet and kind, generously lavishing Mommy with kisses and hugs. Playing hard to get with Daddy, but always giving in and showing him lots of love (regardless of what he says, he just wants more!!). You are our delightful daughter who continues to blossom and change before our eyes. You are growing in discipline and understanding the "law". Hopefully so one day you will see its impossibility to keep, repent and believe in Christ as your Lord. For now, you are learning obedience to Daddy and Mommy, so that you will easily obey your heavenly Father when He calls you.
This picture is a good example of how little I am able to get a good picture of you smiling. You are too quick and always wanting to see yourself in the camera, after I've taken the shot. Too funny.
Here is a little look back on what you were doing this time last year, when you were only 9 months old! Wow, how you have grown and so has our hearts for you!
Talk about a shorty! You can touch the handle with ease now. You were so petite and adorable!!!
Love you Mady girl.
You are a joy to our lives and a blessing to our days.
And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Deuteronomy 6:6-9
