19 months old

19 months old

Favorite foods: cherry tomatoes, grapes (a.k.a. balls), broccoli, peas and noodles (a.k.a. noo-noos). Of course, she has also been introduced by various people to things like chocolate and chips, so if we're honest Abby would tell you that when she sees someone with a cheesy doodle or M&M of any kind she wants at it! We don't even keep them in the house. She eats so many deliciously healthy things that it's fun to see her enjoy these treats every once in a while too!

Favorite books: The Belly Button Book, Pajama Time, Snuggle Puppy, Where's Spot? and anything with flaps on the page she can open.

Fave activities: swimming, going to the library, play-doh, mothering every baby and stuffed animal she sees, coloring, brushing her hair, playing with blocks, SINGING and tap dancing.

New words/phrases: "I love you", "Thank you Jesus", family members name, elephant, "Bar-bar" (Barney). Those are just a few. She is learning and saying new things everyday. Often at amazing and unexpected moments.

Songs: That would be songs on REPEAT in the car. Abby's current faves are Twinkle Twinkle and The Wheels on the Bus. She sings them all the time (precious!) and literally tells me as soon as the song gets close to the last verse to start it over. I never knew why there was a repeat button on the CD player because really who wants to listen to a song that many times. I totally get it now. The person who invented that totally had a toddler. If I put the song on repeat, she sings and dances along happily all the way to the store without yelling at me! Repeat button or not, I would willingly play them over and over again just to hear that sweet noise from the backseat and see her dancing away! She also sings the Barney "I love you" song.

In the DVD player: There is just one thing. We currently have four versions, but only one thing in the DVD player. BAR-BAR! Abby wakes up asking for him. We started to see hints of her fascination with Barney in Colorado. If he came on the TV in the morning, she would stop everything she was doing, climb up on the couch to sit and watch him intently until it was over. Amazing! I bought a Barney DVD when we got back to NY and the rest is a love story. I think you have to see it to fully believe it. We totally have to limit her intake because I think she would watch Barney all day if we let her. So, now she looks forward to her special one time with her purple friend each day. If you are familiar with Barney, you know that he is a stuffed purple dinosaur, but when the kids come to play with him it's their imagination that makes him come to life. That means at the end of every episode, Barney shrinks back to a little stuffed animal. Would you believe me if I told you my tender hearted little girl starts crying (at times hysterically) and calling for Barney when he turns back into an inanimate object? From Elmo to Barney...singing lots of new songs and learning lots of new things.

Other things to remember:

• Abby has a flair for all things dramatic. When she doesn't get her way, she tends to drop to the ground, put her hand over her mouth and fake cry (so hard not to laugh when she does this). Not sure where she learned this, but she definitely has lots of emotions and wants everyone to know about them. Not like her parents are emotional or anything...
  
• She is fascinated with "boobies" and bras. When she stopped nursing months ago, Abby paid no attention to this part of the body anymore. It was all about the belly button. Now she identifies (and touches) them every chance she gets especially in the most amusing/awkward situations. Like when we were in Target passing the bra section and Abby started yelling "Mama, Bra-bra" while trying to lift up my shirt OR when we were standing in our new front yard meeting the neighbor and Abby starts grabbing and sticking her hand down my shirt! Ohhh the age of exploration! :)

My little joy and the best 19 months of our lives!

P.S. I had the sad realization when Abby turned 19 months that it was just about time to stop telling people how old she is in months. Don't you think? After 18 months, it starts to sound kind of funny. Anyway, I might start saying she's a year and a half, but I'm definitely going to keep monthly updating on here until she's 24 months! :)