Lily @ 18 Months

What a glorious age!  I am loving every part of this stage in Lily's life.  Yes, even the discipline part!  She's starting to understand obedience a little bit more and so I can see that she's learning during those teachable moments.  Some other things I am loving - Lily will sit still to read books or be read to.  She is still taking 2 solid naps a day like clockwork.  Her vocabulary has exploded!  She delights in "helping" me do things around the house.  She has formed a strong friendship with her "puppy" (stuffed animal, not Jax) and "baby" (doll) and likes to include them in whatever activity she's doing.  Yesterday when we were at the park, she insisted that "baby" go down the slide too.  She is becoming a little less picky about the foods she will try.

She also likes to practice jumping:

Every day she seems to say a new word.  I love that she is so verbal.  As of today, the words that Lily can say are: mommy, daddy, lily, jax, baby, puppy, gaga (grandma), papa, trav (uncle travis), k (kristen), jon, molly, joel, ty, max, auggie (my uncle's dog), uh oh, please, more, all done, all gone, outside, car, plane, tractor,stinky, duck, bear, pig, kitty, bird, fly, shoe, again, ni-night, hello, hi, bye-bye, milk, cracker, cheese, apple, hot dog, pizza, hot, wet, no, yeah, up, blankie, ball, touchdown, work, tickle, go, jump, peekaboo, bible, jesus, amen, slide, bath, book and love you.

 
We've been working on counting but she will only say "2, 2, 2...".  I happen to think it's pretty darn cute though.  She will repeat the alphabet after me and the letter sounds.

She's developed some signature looks like this one.

She does a good job at playing independently during blanket time:

She has one speed right now: FASTER.  Which is why she frequently ends up with bumps, bruises and scrapes.  She'll come over and hold out the body part that she hurt for us to "kiss it all better".

She loves to take things in and out of boxes/bags, play with puzzles and do just about anything outside.  She also likes the Baby Einstein Old McDonald video.  Gasps every time she hears an airplane or train.  Prays at mealtime and bedtime and finishes with a softspoken, "Amen".    

Every night she sleeps with her puppy, baby and blankie.

LOVES crackers.  Of any kind. Will answer most questions with "No".  So we've been working on responding with "Yes, Mommy." :)  Likes to give and receive butterfly kisses.

Is a ham.  This was Lily's idea of everything she needed before she could start eating lunch the other day.

So this is sort of a way of bottling up this beautiful age of 18 months.  But living in the present, that's the best part of all!  I hope you've enjoyed seeing what it's like to be with Lily each and every day.  Great, huh?
 
We love our Lily Maren.  I can hardly believe she's only been in our family for a year and a half.  You know what they say - time flies when you're havin' fun!