Fifteen months of Fabulous

Dear Annabella,
If I don't get this letter written soon, you'll be 16 months before I know it.  You're growing up so fast, and while I miss my cuddly little infant, it's so much fun to have a babbling toddler.  Each day is a little bit more fun, and your sweet, feisty, little personality shines through in everything you do.  As I've written in almost every letter to you, I love you more with each passing day.  You make spending each day with you a joy and something I wouldn't give up for anything.

Things I don't ever want to forget about you as a 15 month old:

• You love to eat.  You're not too crazy about grapes anymore, but anything else you'll gobble up (unless you're teething).  Your favorite, by far, is anything in spaghetti sauce, corn off the cob, and peas.  If you're teething or have a fever, you hardly eat anything at all.
• We have a train that goes by our house, and every time you hear it, you make a "choo choo choo" sound.  So, we stop what we're doing, point outside, and listen to the train.  Then we talk about trains and how they go "choo choo".  It makes me smile just thinking about it.
• You say "woof, woof, woof" when you see dogs in real life, books, or magazines.
• You're still awesome at saying "hey" and "bye bye".  You associate waving with both, and when I say the word "wave", you know what to do.
• You learn at least one new word a week.  Maybe a few days ago you started saying "shoes".  You point to our shoes by the front door and say "shoes, shoes, shoes".  I love that when you learn a new word, you repeat it at least 100 times that day.  Practice makes perfect!
• You still have a wonderful love of books.  You sit and read for a while each day.  You love to turn the pages, point at things, and jabber.

• I left you to go to Auntie Jess' bachelorette party for two nights and I missed you like CRAZY.  I must have shown a video of you to everyone I came into contact with.  Then I probably showed them a dozen pictures of you and your dad.  I have officially become that annoying mom who won't stop talking about her baby.  And I don't even care.
• You have crazy, beautiful, curly hair.  Your dad loves to play with it and when he runs his fingers through it, your hair becomes a fro.
• You have an alligator push toy that you adore.  You constantly want to be on the move, and since you're not much of a crawler, the alligators have become your good friends.
• You're still going to physical therapy a couple of times a month, and you're making good progress.  Progress is slow, but steady.  I am so proud of how far you have come, and how hard you have worked.  God has given you so much determination.  Watch out, world!
• You still wear your helmet at nap time and night time.  The orthodist adjusted it, so you should be able to wear it to 18 months.  You head shape is good, but he said as long as it still fits, why not wear it. . .so, you're wearing it.
• You have 5 teeth on the bottom (4 in front and one molar), and 4 teeth on top (fronts and one molar).  Teething is a bummer, but we're thankful for teeth.

• You've started eating big chunks of cantaloupe and graham crackers.  You like to hold the big pieces and bite off chunks with your teeth.  What a big girl!
• You can say "eye", and "nose".  You can also point to eye, nose, and mouth.
• You are still our cautious baby.  You're very timid when touching or trying new things.  The only time you're not timid is when meeting new people.

Another resident wife recently had a baby, and they had a short stay in the NICU too.  We talked about leaving the hospital without our babies, and it made me tear up just remembering how it felt.  Even 15 months later, everything is still fresh on my mind, and I am SO thankful for you.  You are a MIRACLE, Annabella.  I cannot stop thanking God for you, how you've changed my heart, changed my perspective on life, and my relationship with Jesus.  I'm looking forward to the day when I can tell you all about it (and you'll understand me).  The experience of being a mommy and having a extraordinary daughter is something I do not take for granted. 

 I love you more than you love spaghetti sauce,

Momma