19 Months

Dear Avery,

You are 19 months old today! We got in lots of celebrating because Daddy turned the big 2-9 today!

We have miraculously stayed out of the doctor even with all the sickness going around, but you are definately feeling heavier these days. Some of your 12-18 month pants are getting a little short, but some 18 months pants are still too big. Mama just ordered you some lovely summer things from Kelly's Kids, all 18 months, so let's not get too carried away in the growth department. In diapers, we need to go to a 4 in Pampers, but are still good in 3s for Up&Ups. Shoe size is a 5, which has limited your shoe choice until I can get to the outlets this weekend. I'm very excited to be buying winter dress shoes to use for 2 more months, but your feet just don't squeeze into your old ones.

Sleep habits remain about the same. Bedtime is between 7 and 7:30. You have to wake up at 6:30 on school days but you usually sleep, or stay quiet, longer when we stay home. The last week you've been up before we had to wake you up on some days and even once on the weekend. Let's cut that out. You are happy to stay in your crib for awhile after you wake up and I am happy to keep snoozing. That is why you will stay in your crib for many more moons. Naptime at home is at 12:30 and you nap for about 2 hours. Jen-Jen says she can't get you to sleep at 12:30, and sometimes you don't nap quite 2 hours there. I think you're getting overtired from your busy morning there and aren't settling down well. You usually remain your happy, active self no matter how much sleep you get.

You still enjoy eating and have done some branching out this month. Just last weekend you ate half of a cheeseburger patty. You continue to eat eggs, and even had a few sips of chocolate milk. However, sometimes things are refused before they even touch your lips. You get a variety of yummy snacks at Jen-Jen's, but your choices at home are not quite as fun. You don't turn them down though. Your favorite pantry finds are Gerber cereal bars and the occasional Pop-Tart as a treat.

You continue to be the best hugger and back patter there is. You push my legs down if you want to sit in my lap and let me know quickly when you want to be held. I love that you want to wrap your arms around me even when we rock at night and still lean in for kisses in the dark. You've been outside lately in the afternoons when I go get you, and you run to me with your arms outstretched. Nothing makes the day better.

Avery, we can hardly keep up with you these days. The only speed your little feet know is running. You love to explore and can make a mess in a second. This mainly occurs because you like to pull things out...magazines, papers, Mama's "soss" (socks) from her bottom drawer. Sometimes I see your hands coming from behind my chair to swipe something off the table, and that really reminds me of E.T. You can grab a Pop-Tart from the pantry or a cold adult beverage from the fridge before I can get the door open good. You are not trying to be bad. You are simply curious and active and like to have many treasures to carry around. You do enjoy your farm and still enjoy your house, your train, your books, and anything that makes music. You have become such a good Mama to Bitty Baby this month.

You continue to talk the day away and have added some new words this month like poo (poop), peas (please) bow, and kitty (which sometimes sounds a little inappropriate). The animals are no longer all D. Dixie is almost understandable, Doodie is Deeee, and Sammy is Ssssss.

Everything is exciting to you, and I hope you will stay full of wonder forever. Your morning is made when we see big trucks and school buses on the road. You are thrilled if the choo choo is going by when we drive by, and when it isn't, you call for it. Nothing makes you happier to see the moon at night. Your little face is so cute now when you see something that interests you, like your face on the camera.

Speaking of poop, you've pooped several times on the potty for Jen-Jen. You don't tell her, but she is so good she gets you there just in time. You love your potty and say "peeeee" 100 times a day. We let you sit on it when you show interest, and you really like for someone to sit on the toilet at the same time.

We haven't had any full-blown tantrums, so let's keep that up. You will get a death grip on something if we try to take it from you and resort to flailing the arm that holds the object sometimes. That results in fussing but not too many tears. We still get tears at dinner sometimes, and if I take you out of the highchair after dinner and put you down instead of holding you, you cry every time. When you need Mama, you need Mama. You 've done well staying in the nursery at church, but the last time we went before we were sick I had to stay with you. You are happy to go to Jen-Jen each morning.

I've written and written and written, but surely tomorrow I will think of 10 more precious I always want to remember. No words can express the joy, love, and light you have brought into to the lives of those who know you.