the "official" 18 month stats...

 

18 month stats:
Weight - 22lbs 5oz
Height - 32 inches

Since her one year appointment, Taylor has gained just 2 pounds, but grew over 3 inches. :o)

"Where's your belly, Taylor?" :)

 Ears were clear (always a praise!), everything else got a two thumbs up, and we lucked out because they had just started giving the flu shot on the day of the appointment, so we were able to get that checked off our list.  Always thankful for a healthy, happy child!!

Face of Summer

Sprinklers

Snack time outside

(Apparently one hand wasn't enough) :o)

Cheap entertainment

Making a mess

Humidity = curls

This has been a wonderful summer. We are so blessed!!

Fun with friends and family

An impromptu visit to grandma mem and grandpa Randy's house on Sunday included lots of running around barefoot outside. My parents may have lost a lot of trees to the ash borer, but I still love their backyard (and of course their porch - someday I wish for a screened in porch!!). :o)

Chasing Grandpa Randy :o)

On Monday, we had another fun visit with a beautiful family that I have known for a number of years! Lucy and Molly were two little girls that I started babysitting during my college years, and I would go hang out with them at least once a week during the summer so their mama could go out and get some things done - kids free! :o) I started babysitting for Lucy when she was Taylor's age, and now she is going into 4th grade! Time FLIES!

LOVE this sweet family!! :o)

Halfway to 2!!

It is even hard to write the number two... 2?!! Really? At the same time she does SEEM so BIG! She follows directions, recognizes so many things, can go down slides by herself, and is getting a mouth full of teeth....

"Baby" Taylor is really no more.

We now affectionately call her our "little lady".  And what a little lady she is...


At 18 months I feel like there is so much I want to remember. So many little things that make me smile, gaze in amazement, shake my head, or just fall even harder in love with her.

I can't possibly write down all I want to, but here are some of the highlights of our little "lady" at a year and a half old...

** Size 4 diapers, 18 month - 2T clothing

** 10 teeth - love those little molars, so helpful to be able to CHEW things better! And we never really realize when a tooth is coming in - she just takes it in stride and doesn't cause extra fuss...

** Taylor has learned how to say "no" rather defiantly...sometimes for things she doesn't really want to say no to, but I think she likes to exert her authority when she can :)

** When I get out of the shower, Taylor knows which bottle is my face lotion and will hand it to me, cracks me up

** If I tell her we are going to go somewhere or get ready to eat, she will sometimes start putting whatever she is playing with away...(fyi, this momma likes things organized, so that makes my heart pitter-patter :))

** She knows when I ask her if she is hungry for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or a snack - she will smack her lips together and head to the kitchen

** Flags, balls, dogs, squirrels, birds, butterflies, trucks, fountains, and any sort of water are all Taylor's favorite things to point out during runs or bike rides

** She is getting pretty good at using a fork and spoon, we are practicing every meal!  Greek yogurt has to be one of the best foods right now for a spoon because it is thicker than regular yogurt and she is pretty successful with getting more to her mouth than on her bib

** Taylor makes a good attempt at repeating words we say to her, and is pretty good with knowing her body parts, too!

** She now understands the concept of being chased...and doesn't run towards us anymore, but now runs away giggling like crazy when we tease her and say "I'm gonna get you!" :)

** Favorite books include ones with pictures of babies, and photo albums with pictures of herself

** We are mostly down to 1 nap a day - in the afternoon, which is good because the school year is fast approaching, and she doesn't have the option of a morning nap at daycare

** She seems to remember things so much longer now - she remembers buddies from play dates, teachers from daycare she hasn't seen in a while, how to get to my classroom when she comes with me to work at school

** Climbing is a favorite activity for sure, and she is getting more confident at going down slides on her own

** If I am on the phone, Taylor will often think it is "dada", and we will subsequently call Ryan on the phone so she can say "HI dada!" (we have left many voicemails for Ryan with only this phrase :))

** First trip to the ER can be checked off the list - and her chin has healed so well we can just barely see where the cut was

Pictures of the "little lady" :o)


Little miss blue eyes

 Getting ready to go down!

Wheeee!!

Being parents may be tough sometimes, but it is also the most amazing, rewarding, and FUN role we could ever have!! Love you lots, Taylor Leigh!!!

Thankful Thursday

Thankful for sun, blue skies, perfect temperatures, and friends....(and a phone camera for impromptu pics!)

First ER Trip

This was bound to happen sometime.  Taylor lost her balance, and hit the spot between her lip and chin on the edge of one of her toys...poor thing!!! Ryan came and found me, and I was not brave enough to see if the laceration went all the way through her lip, so we both agreed it would be good to get it checked out.

The great thing is that we live a quarter of a mile from the hospital.

And this was the fastest ER visit ever!!  We were in and out in less than a half hour!

Taylor was not a fan of any of the nurses or doctors touching her, it didn't matter if it was getting her weight, her temp, or poking around her injury. So sad. When her doctor walked in the room, he was the tallest man I think I have ever seen, Dr. Nicely (perfect name for such a nice doctor), he was almost 7 feet tall! He quickly evaluated Taylor and found that it hadn't gone all the way through, and after a little bit of glue on the outside, we were sent on our way. We were both so thankful that it was quick, easy, and that there were no stitches involved. :o)

A couple of pics to remember this little event...

Wearing her little gown (holding her little "good patient" sticker that the nurse gave her)

Waiting for the doctor

Poor little thing!

Hugs from momma...

After our visit, Taylor was playing like normal! She is a tough little cookie. :o) And we so, so love her...

Video: 1-2-3!!!!

We may need to teach her about jumping the gun (or not going soon enough!) before she starts running real races! :o)

Being a girly-girl

As I get ready in the morning, sometimes Taylor likes to get ready, too. She knows the drawer with all of mommy's fun things, and likes to put on my mommy necklaces, and various things as "bracelets".

This is what she pulled out of the drawer and put on the other morning...little sweetie pie (don't mind the wavy, random hair-do - bows last 2 minutes and she will NOT sit still for pig tails :) ha! We tend to just go for the au naturale look :))

A few parting shots...

Last night I downloaded the rest of the photos off the camera from our week at the lake, and this morning it takes me back those memories of up north (as I procrastinate doing everything that has to be done after being gone for 9 days). :o)

Highlights, thoughts, and memories that I don't want to forget...

** Taylor seems to really like the boat - slightly uncomfortable life jacket and all - and I think part of the draw is that she doesn't have to be strapped into a seat like she does in the car

** Iced nonfat lattes are really really good (I have found a new treat (addiction?!)...thanks, mem! :o))

** The sound of lake waves do equal great naps - for children and adults alike

** My attempts at solving the crossword puzzles in the D. Free Press were not very successful, but were a good way to learn new words and boost one's vocabulary! (and also made me realize just how much Ryan really knows...seriously!...he was like my walking talking dictionary/thesaurus/encyclopedia)

** Sandy beach + lake + natural stream = a great outdoor playground

** It doesn't seem to matter where you go - kids menu items seem to contain pretty limited (greasy) fare

** Going to lunch and dinner by boat is one of the best ways to travel

** Sand can get stuck anywhere and everywhere...sometimes a naked bath for a toddler in the lake is necessary

** Euchre is a great way to end the night...even if you sometimes GET euchred :o)

** Pulling away a 17 month month old from fun things inside stores can cause quite the tantrum

** Being woken up early every morning on your vacation by a little person crawling on the bed, giving hugs, and exclaiming "hi dada!" is not a bad way to start the day (right, Ry?? :o))

** Riding a bike is one of the most enjoyable forms of exercise there is, especially when you get to do it with family

** To piggy back off the last one - riding up the streets of a ski resort can be tough, but the downhill afterward makes it all worth it

** Books can sometimes be read 4, 5, or 6 times in a row...favorites this week were "Tails" and "Peek-a-Zoo"

** I can't wait for next year so we can do it all over again...


Little miss blue eyes

 Silly girl...with grandma and grandpa

Playing with dad in the stream (water from a natural underground spring) - it was REALLY cold water, but Taylor didn't seem to mind at all!