The First Third

16 months my little love bug. Oh how time flies. The first third of your second year has been filled with many new behaviors and habits---most of them good, a few of them bad, all of them part of your journey from infancy to toddlerhood. Here's some of the highlights that have made me smile, laugh, beam with pride, and let's face it, get frustrated too.

You are still only saying a couple words--hi, mommamommamomma, and dadda-- but you seem to understand a lot more. You can point out body parts (tongue is one of your favorites) and you really like to tug on other noses. You can point out animals in books or on your high chair or fish on your bathtub and can spot anything Elmo from 300 feet away. However, these skills do not translate so easily to face recognition as you consistently point out President Obama as your father.

Your understanding also transcends to decisions as well as you make clear choices daily with the shake of your head (no) or a pointing finger or wave of your hand (yes). Everything from what food you eat to who's phone you steal is determined with those gestures and motions and oddly your father and I seem to have figured them out right with you so it's our new form of communication I suppose. Your favorite things to summon your way are: phones, remotes, sunglasses, car keys (you hit the panic button every morning around 715am, our neighbors love you I'm sure), your video monitor and pretty much anything you shouldn't have.

You're also getting to be much more advanced at all kinds of physical activity. You love brushing your own teeth--however that involved a lot of chewing and only a little horizontal brushing action. Youre also very into climbing onto and into anything from chairs and benches to laundry baskets and your radio flyer wagon (thank you mcclains) and of course your daddy. Whatever you can possibly get on top of or throw yourself into headfirst, you're there with a fierce determination and a fearless adventurous attitude.

Which brings me to the final element of your first third....the attitude. Most recently you have begun exhibiting your displeasure by very quickly shuffling your feet much like an Irish jig. It's frankly quite hilarious and I can't take your complaint seriously because you look like a little leprechaun. Still, it's a side effect of the much less cute stage we find ourselves in where you dont know how to give us the finger just yet, so instead, when you don't get what you want or you are met with any level of resistance, you let us know about your annoyance with full body whines, stiffening, grunting and growling, and occasionally an Irish jig.

Love to you my toddler girl,

MommaMommaMomma