In the last few months we've seen a huge change in vocabulary. She went from being able to say 10-15 words to basically repeating everything we say.
Some frequent words include: airpane (air plane), puh-ole (puzzle), oatmeal, milk, car, ca-or (color), sit, milk, peas (please), dank you (thank you), poop, da-ee (daddy), mum (mom), cuddle, boo boo, Elmo
And the list goes on.
She also likes to say things are stinky, that bugs are yucky and scream HELP for us when she wants us to play with her. If she gets a bite of something to eat that she really likes, she will say "mmm good." She likes to say that her dolls or stuffed animals pooped and then tell me to "check."
Latest obsessions: puzzles, coloring (she wants to color alllll the time), stars (literally says "shtar" a hundred times a day and wants me to draw them), buses (mainly the wheels on the bus song and book, but also real buses when we are out and about), the driver on the bus (from the song, in which she yells "moo back!"aka "Move on Back"), Elmo, washing our hands, eating oatmeal, kissing boo boos, helping daddy (whenever Ryan is working on a house project, Evie becomes so involved, bringing him every single tool/screw/paper that is on the floor and saying "here go")
Dislikes: Nursery at church (screams the minute we pull in the parking lot), diaper changes, getting dressed, going to bed, really any time that she doesn't get what she wants
Other things: Evie hasn't fallen out yet, but we are pretty sure she would climb right out of her crib if we didn't see it on the monitor and run in to stop her. We went ahead and bought a toddler bed and put it in her room to get her familiar with the idea. We turned her car seat forward facing right around 19 months, and she seems to enjoy the ride a little more. She went through a two week period of inconsolable crying at night right around the time she figured out how to get out of crib. Needless to say we were all pretty tired. She continues to be a picky eater, with some days being great and others a battle to get anything but pretzels and granola bars down.
Right at 18 months Evie stopped nursing. We had been nursing only at bed time for a few months, but it got to a point where I felt like she could take it or leave it. It was also becoming somewhat uncomfortable with me being pregnant. I am so very grateful for such a wonderful breastfeeding experience and many sweet, sweet memories with my girl. Breastfeeding was so much more than I ever expected it to be and something I have become quite passionate about. And although it was somewhat emotional to finally call it quits, I know Evie and I were both ready.
Evie continues to have a mighty personality. She doesn't take no very well and puts up a fight when things aren't going her way. It's been a struggle figuring out how to set boundaries with her and help her understand why we said no. I think it's starting to sink in because after she realizes that I am disappointed with her, she says "hug and kiss" so we do...it's so sweet. She also tries to weasel her way out of things. Like at bed time when she knows we are heading upstairs, she all of sudden needs milk and wants to do a puzzle. Nice try, kid.
We're in another difficult sleep stage with Evie. She won't go to sleep without Ryan or I in the room and she takes forever to fall asleep. She's also waking up in the middle of the night, and because she can climb out of crib we have to go into her room, lay down next to her crib and then wait for her to go back to sleep which can sometimes take an hour. This is about ZERO fun at 2 in the morning.
This age is a blast, but it definitely has had some challenges, mainly figuring out how to best correct and redirect Evie when she disobeys, hits, throws, or whatever else she gets into. Overall she's a super smart, affectionate and adventurous little girl with a big personality. Big sister is going to suit her well. We love her to pieces.
And finally....some pics to sum up our last few months.....
Trip to Chicago & Bethany Beach over the 4th of July Weekend
A lot of playing outside and at the park
