Elizabeth’s mid year update

(1st bus ride on the way to her 1st time at the State Fair-Sept. 2013)

I was going to title this “Elizabeth’s 15 month update” but as of today she’s 17 months old. Um, that’s not going to win me mom of the year, but maybe just maybe, acting like a fool day in and day out with her playing with toys just might. At least in her mind;)

Elizabeth is seriously hilarious. This kid has me in stitches day in and day out. Her latest thing is “helping” clean. She pushes around her mini swiffer and loves to pull out wipes and wipe down any surface that is nearby. She did not get this from me. At least I don’t think so. But she does do it so frequently that she must have. She’ll drool all over the floor and then run to find a wipe to clean it up. Fine by me.

(*by the way…if anyone has an old swiffer sweeper you can take out two of the bars that make up the handle and it becomes the perfect size broom for littles*)

When she’s not taking over the cleaning duties, you can find her dancing to music, walking throughout our basement holding her picnic basket (and has the bruises to prove it), or stomping her feet on the tabletop that is soon to be her toddler table. I swear she didn’t learn any of this from me, or by that I mean she’s learned all of this from me, her very quirky mother.

(playing outside-October 2013)

Needless to say, I’m amazed at who she’s become since her 1st birthday. She mimics most any word we say to her even though they all kind of sound the same. But she has the intonation down which is just part of the process. She loves to pray and often reminds us at dinnertimes by folding her hands and not eating. I can imagine her in her head being like “seriously, they teach me this and then they forget. hello, it’s time to pray!” Thankfully she’s not saying that yet.

The past few weeks have been a little interesting over here as we wrap up our remodeling project. All four of her incisors are cutting through as we speak and then hopefully 2 year molars will not come in any time soon. Once these four are in, she’ll have 16 teeth. With that mouthful she can eat just about anything with her favorites being: pickles, celery sticks, pretzels, cheese of any kind, rotisserie chicken, dried apricots, popcorn, scrambled eggs, apples, and peanut butter. She eats peanut butter by the spoon. And that she did learn from both of her parents. We’re all obsessed.

(Halloween 2013 - right before trick or treating)

Books have taken a back burner for her, although she does like to page through them from time to time, but that’s fine by me. She’s always ebbed and flowed so I’m sure they’ll be a favorite again. In their place have come puzzles, which she can actually place some pieces in, balls, and driving her cozy coupe outside. Still a rough and tumble girl she’s always game for climbing, tickling, and running outside. My in-laws just got a new dog and I think she was the perfect thing to get Elizabeth past her dog fears. They’re so much fun to watch with each other. She also by her own volition loves girly things like carrying bags and putting on headbands and wearing necklaces. Accessories are her best friend.

I think we have officially moved to one nap after a few weeks of being flexible and now she sleeps from about 12;30-2. Not long but she seems to make up for it at night and has been sleeping from 6:45/7pm-7:45/8am. Yesterday she didn’t wake up until almost 8:30 and we definitely were pacing outside her door:)

I can hardly believe that almost 1/2 of her 2nd year is almost already over. I mentioned to my girlfriends on our weekend away, but I’ll mention it here too, we really feel blessed to spend each and every day with this kid. Seriously, we don’t take the days for granted. Not to make it sound like it’s all bliss, it’s not. There’s times when pulling my hair seems more fun and exasperation is the air we’re breathing, but that’s part of the job. I’m not sure I’ve ever had a job where I’ve loved every minute of it but for me, this one comes pretty darn close.

We’re in the midst of my favorite age range for kiddos and I’m over the moon to sit and have a front row seat to see who she’s going to become. Fascinating. Watching kids learn and grow and develop and become adults. I wouldn’t miss want to miss that and I’m grateful I don’t have to. To be short and sweet, we’re all doing well and taking each day as it comes!