15 months

Lauren,

You are 15 months old today! You have changed so much since you were first born. You are far from that helpless little baby that we were so careful with, for fear that we might "break" you! :)

You are growing so fast! We won't know your weight or height for sure until your check-up tomorrow with Dr. Saji, but we KNOW that you are taller, because you can now reach up onto the night tables and bathroom counters and grab things! (mostly things that you aren't supposed to have, that we used to be able to put out of your reach!) You are still pretty "long and lean", but your cheeks are chubby!

You really like to eat, when you're in the mood. You DON'T like when we make you stop playing in order to eat, though! Some days (like today) you will clean your plate at every meal and guzzle down your milk or juice. Other days, you pick at foods that you've always loved, and don't even finish one cup of milk!! And your milk must be flavored with chocolate syrup (against mommy's better judgement) or you won't drink it. It was your doctor's suggestion, so at least you are drinking whole milk!! You also have 8 teeth and we think some more are on the way!

Your favorite foods are fruits and vegetables and "snacks" like vanilla wafers and gold fish. You REALLY LOVE Sunkist fruit snacks...I think you would eat the whole box if we let you! You are still wearing 18 months clothes and size 4 diapers. You are wearing some 18-24 months outfits from Gymboree. Your size 4 shoes are getting tight, so you are starting to wear some size 5's!

Your hair is getting longer in the back and starting to curl a little (especially when it's wet or you get hot!) It's still pretty short in the front, but you have a few "bangs!" I try to keep a bow in your hair, but you love to pull it out!

Your most favorite thing right now is playing outside...especially in the water table. You dump cup after cup of water all over the deck, and sometimes, all over your clothes! You love to be chased around on the driveway as well! You love to "hide" or try to "run" away from mommy and daddy and have us "find" you or "catch" you. It makes you laugh and laugh!

You are trying to drop your morning nap, and it's driving mommy crazy, because you are still tired in the mornings if you don't have one! But if you do, you don't take an afternoon nap...and that is NO fun!! You always go right to sleep at night after your bath and stories (you love to be read to!) You sleep about 12 hours at night.

You are "talking" more and make lots of sounds!! You are also signing more words: flower, eat, hot, duck, more, please, worm, hat, and beautiful. You say "mama, dada, bye-bye, uh-oh, baby, diaper, Pop-Pop, and I think you said monkey today. You saw a stuffed one at Walmart and pointed at it and said something like "inky" :)

You still like to do "so big" and wave bye-bye and blow kisses to everyone. You also "blink" your eyes at us..it's so funny- and you raise your arms up in the air when daddy says "Roll Tide." You are starting to help pick up your toys and food a little bit.

If you don't get your way, you are starting to be more vocal about it. Whenever you are upset or hurt, you say "maaamaa" and sometimes you arch your back and throw your head back if we are holding you and your don't want to be carried or go wherever we are taking you (like to change your diaper!) You shake your head "yes" and "no" but not always for the right things!

You love ice cream and sweet treats, but we try not to give them to you too much, since we don't want you to stop eating the healthy foods that you like. You got to spend the weekend with Granna and Pop-Pop and were away from mommy and daddy for 3 nights!! We really missed you!

You go to the toddler nursery at church and you also stayed in Moppets while mommy went to a MOPS meeting. We think it's good for you to stay with other people and play with lots of different kids.

You are usually a happy baby and love to laugh! You bring so much joy into our lives! We love watching you grow up, but it's sad for us too! You are loved, sweet girl!