21 months....

Libbi Jane, you were born 21 months ago today!  Throughout the past 21 months, you've been busy learning how to be you!  It's amazing (and a little scary!) how opinionated you are already....I'm a little nervous thinking about what you'll be like as a teenager ;)

We love to watch you grow and learn every day.  I know people say it all the time, but you really do learn something new every day. It is such an amazing experience (and again, a little scary!) to watch you soak up the world around you like the little sponge you are. This month I've seen you try to pluck your eyebrows, put on makeup, wear Daddy's belts, pretend to swallow a pill, and cook supper in your own little kitchen; just to name a few. You are our little shadow and at the same time a perfect mirror into our lives and a constant reminder that "little eyes are always watching."

I'm afraid you might have seen me standing like THIS a time or two...

There are so many little gestures that you make, words that you say, and quirks that you have that are just so.....you!  I wish I could video you and replay them over and over, because I know that all too soon you will grow out of these stages and move onto the next.

I love that you request "yo-yo" (yogurt) every morning for breakfast.  I love when you tell your food, "hiiiiiiiiiii!" like you have come across a sweet friend.

I can't help but laugh when you yell for Daisy like you're calling an old stray dog.  We go up and down the aisles at the store with you yelling, "DAY-ZEEEEE!" (with the emphasis on the "zee").  I'm sure everyone is just staring because they think you're as cute as I think you are. ;)

thank you Daddy for this "special snack".....
what a great surprise!

One of your favorite things this month has been going outside.  What a difference a year makes!  Last year you wanted NOTHING to do with the outdoors and would cry if a blade of grass touched you.  This year, you act like we're torturing you if we make you come inside for some water and lunch.  You could stay outside and run around for hours (and you do!)  

You still LOVE going to "school."  As soon as we pull into the parking lot, you start yelling for "DO-DEEEEEE!" and you practically jump out of the car as soon as someone opens the door to get you out.  I think it always surprises them a little that you lunge out of the car like a cat on the prowl....

this is you in the front seat watching and waiting for
 someone to come get you from carpool

You are obsessed with Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.  Of course you love Daisy, but Minnie Mouse and Pete are a close second.  You know your favorite episodes and request them often.  You enjoy doing the "roll-call" with Mickey Mouse and often have your own version of it as well.  I am trying to get it on video, because it is hilarious!

You are still our little attention seeker and love to fall down and yell, "Uh-Oh!" you love pretending to hit your head on things, and you've just recently started growling if someone is having a conversation that you're not involved in.  I can honestly say that you march to the beat of your own drum.  You are without a doubt your own person.  You have a mind of your own, that's for sure. :)

this picture cracks me up every time i see it.....
we had gone to a "toddler time" event and they had this
basketball thing set up.  you were 100% convinced that it was a
slide and kept trying to slide down it.
all the other little kids that were trying to play basketball
kept getting mad at you, because
you were all over it trying to slide - ha! ;)

You have used the potty once, but practically beg to go all the time.  Unfortunately, you don't really have any interest in actually "potty-ing" you just want to run around without your diaper on.  That's okay though, we still have plenty of time :)

Your memory astounds me.  You remember everything!  Every day when we round the corner to turn into our neighborhood, you immediately start saying, "blue moooooo" because we will soon pass a blue cow at the entrance to the playground.  As soon as you see it and tell it "hi" and "bye-bye" you then start saying "uh-oh!" and "crash!" because at the next stop sign we will see a tree that has fallen over.  After you tell the tree "hi" and "bye-bye" you start chanting, "no mail!" because we will check the mail as soon as we get home, but there is usually "no mail" (because it comes while you're napping) ;0) You know the sequence of events and go through them every time we approach our neighborhood.

These days you seem more and more like my little companion - accompanying me everywhere and actually partaking in conversations with me.  There are days that I wish I could just record our days and replay them over and over, because I know that they would warm my heart and make me smile every time.  Of course we have our days full of fits and tantrums, but they are far outweighed by the days of hugs, laughs, and pure joy.  I love you Libbi Jane and I am more than thankful for the past 21 months and the blessing of being your momma!  
Happy 21 months! ;0)