Well, it has actually been MONTHS since I've written anything on the blog, so I thought it was time!
It really seems that each new stage is more fun than the last. We are LOVING watching her little personality blossom. It is incredible what she is learning & how much she is changing right before our eyes. We can't believe our baby is 19 months!
Lily officially starting walking at 15 months, after a couple of months of cautiously walking around furniture & taking no more than 2 steps before sitting down. One night, she suddenly took 15 steps across the living room! Scotty & I were so happy we were both there to witness her walking for the first time. Now we watch in amazement as she runs through the house.
She can identify all but maybe 3 or 4 letters & will run her finger back & forth on a page in her book, asking "say?"... she wants us to read what is on the page. At Christmas she counted 1-10 & now counts in fast forward from 11-20, skipping anywhere from 2 numbers to 9 numbers, but always ending in "20!!!" All colors were "blue"... then all of a sudden, she could pick out red, blue, green, yellow, orange, purple, black, white & sometimes brown & pink!
She loves rituals & has separate ones with her Daddy & with me. When she & I leave the house, Lily looks for the plastic Santa in the neighbor's yard (we are hoping he doesn't go back to the North Pole at all, in 2010). When we tell Daddy about our day, Santa is always included in the story. She loves to hear stories about what she did throughout the day, as Scotty & I fill each other in.
While Lily had fun playing with Daddy in the snow, we are so happy that Spring is coming. On "warm" days (45-50 degrees), we go to the park, which she loves. Last week, she was there 3 days in a row! Sadly, we cannot stay at the park all day & it is a tragedy when we have to leave. Daddy is talking about putting in a swing soon, so we can have a mini park right in our yard!
Lily will repeat or attempt to repeat anything we say (dangerous). Her vocabulary seems to multiply daily. At one time, I was able to keep track of all of her words, but not anymore! This is really fun & also makes things a little challenging at times. Scotty & I are constantly redirecting... we can no longer shrug & wonder what she is requesting. In fact, we have heard from friends more than once "Lily is a lady that definitely knows what she wants!"
Some of our favorite words/phrases:
"Too Bad." This one started when Lily was in the bathtub & tried putting a stacking ring on her wrist. It was too small & Daddy said "Too Bad." She loves to use this one... both in play & also when suggesting that something simply isn't going to work out. For example, putting on her coat...
"Soooo Silly!" This one can work with anything, really... "Daddy soooo silly".... "Barney soooo silly".... "Dora so silly." At the end of one of her favorite songs, it says "And that's that!" Lily grins & says "That's that sooo silly!"
"TINKA!" (Stinker). She fully understands the meaning & loves to use it! One morning I went in to get her out of the crib. She squealed & ran back & forth (as if it's not challenging enough to get her out with my huge belly). I said, "you are Momma's stinker." I ask for a hug... she runs in my direction... then at the last second, takes & detour, giggles & yells "TINKA!!"
"Not gon-nerrre." This is a phrase Lily uses while playing, which translates to "that doesn't go in there." For example, she likes to pretend to stack something too big on something too small. This one cracks Scotty up... he thinks she sounds "so country."
"I'm hungry, says the goldfish." She said this a few days ago when sitting in her high chair eating goldfish crackers. She not only loves to eat them, but also enjoys acting out scenes between the goldfish. The goldfish often turn toward each other & kiss as Lily says "kiss" & then hug when she says "hug." Actually, all throughout the day you will find her favorites kissing & hugging... they don't even need to be a likely couple (ex. Barney & Dora). Lily herself is a lover (of inanimate objects more so than other humans)-- just tonight she was down on the floor hugging a bottle of all-purpose cleaner, "so tight"... no worries or need to call DCF, it was "Nature's Source" brand & she was 100% supervised.
"Daddy go in castle... OKAY!" This is both a request & the answer she is looking for, all in one package. Another example of how this can be used: "More pears... OKAY!"
"Peeking!" Lily LOVES the concept of peeking & we hear the word all day long. When we come in to get her in the morning or after a nap, she says "peeking," as she looks through the bars of her crib. It is also a game to find small details on pages in her books that Momma & Daddy wouldn't notice... for example, small hidden animals that Lily says are "peeking."
"Apple-muffin-grapes, pear-eggs." When discussing what her lamb, Barney or monkey may be having for breakfast, this meal is always on the menu.
"Daddy One, Momma One, Little One." This started with the sweet little dolls that Di Di knits for Lily. She has 3 different sizes, made from the same yarn, which to her represent Daddy, Momma & Lily. She likes to apply the same concept to other things in her environment too.
A few more items to mention, then I will wrap this up...
Scotty & Lily took a trip to Alabama at the end of January. They flew to Huntsville to visit Great-Aunt Jeanine & Great-Uncle Carl, Great-Grandma Anne & Scotty's cousins Loren & Ryan, Ryan's wife Jen... Di Di & Gramps also met them there. It was a surprise to everyone except Di Di & Gramps! They had so much fun & we all hope to go again soon...
Scotty is taking guitar lessons from "Uncle Mike," a friend/co-worker at camp. A great way for Daddy to have a night out, and to learn something new from a pro. :) He is also excited about the coming of Spring... the camp lake is no longer frozen, which means great fishing in the near future!
I joined the MOMS Club in our town in December & am so happy I did! I have met some wonderful friends & Lily also gets the opportunity to interact with other kids her age. We try to get out as often as we can to join the other moms & kids for story time, play dates, etc... and there is even a monthly "Mom's night out."
Could this lengthy blog entry be a part of "nesting?"
