21 months old

21 months old

This month:

• Abby's speech has become even more clear. She's starting to link words together and communicate exactly what she wants. Her level of understanding (and defiance when she understands and doesn't feel like listening) has reached a new level. There is no longer any confusion of whether or not she really understood what we asked her to do.
  

• We've realized that we can't tell stories about her in front of her anymore because she understands. Especially those stories when she thinks she is funny (and she is), but we have to keep a straight face with her because it shouldn't be funny. AND we have to watch what we say to each other. The other day, I told Joe he was acting like a pig (in reference to something he was eating...oohh marital love!). Abby overheard and started oinking at him. Whoops. Lesson learned.

• Abby has been sick for the last week, which has made sleeping through the night difficult since she could hardly breathe without coughing. One night, we comforted her and she was ready to go back to bed, but didn't want to be put in. Then, we had the simple joy of watching our opinionated baby on her video monitor. Not crying, but repeatedly shouting, "Mommy! Daddy! No! No! No! (insert finger wag and head shaking here.)"

• Prayer. We've started praying with Abby when she was just a little baby, especially before meals and bedtime. Recently, we've started helping her pray herself. At first, she would repeat some basic prayers to "Dee-sus", but one of the most fun things is to see her start to understand more and start to pray for different family members. If we skip over the part when we thank God for people, she interrupts and won't continue until we add it in. Every night, it seems to be someone different that she prays for, but the first person she always thanks Jesus for is Abby! :) Can't forget herself.
  

• Hungarian kisses. Abby represents her Magyar heritage with lots of European kisses on both cheeks. She can't wait to give her Nagymama Hungarian kisses in just one week!

• She also prefers showers to taking a bath. She could stand under that stream of water for what seems like forever. We can't complain. It makes hair washing a much better expereince. No more screaming fits while we dump cups of water on her head and rinse her hair. Now, she willingly rinses her hair out herself under the water.

Only 3 more months until our little girl is 2! Can you believe it?