19 months and counting

Dear Annabella,

You just woke up (an hour and a half after you went to bed).  You were tossing, turning, and crying, so I knew you needed to be held.  As soon as I picked you up, you nestled in to my chest and went right back to sleep.  If I've learned anything over the past 19 months it's that I better snuggle you while I can.  So, I rocked you and cuddled you for a few minutes and smelled your sweet smell.  I love to listen to you breathe and hold you when you're so peaceful.  You're a busy girl when you're awake and always on the go.  If you're not moving then you're talking, and you don't talk just to talk.  You want to be heard and listened to!

There is so much personality in your little body, I can hardly stand it sometimes.  Right after you turned 18 months old you said your first sentence, "I see you".  We were playing peek-a-boo over your walker, and as you popped your head up over the handlebar, you said, "I see you"!  Now you say it anytime you see someone, which is pretty funny.  Daddy and I also started enforcing time-out around the 18 month mark too.  You get a time-out (1 minute and 30 seconds) if you throw food off on the floor or hit.  You get so frustrated when you don't get what you want, but that's how life is a lot of the time, sweets.  Better to learn that lesson sooner rather than later. 

You're doing great verbally and your physical therapist estimates that she's heard you say at least 100 words.  We still see Ms. Kristi (your PT) twice a month.  You've learned that she's going to challenge you at each session, so you've started putting up a fight.  Bless her heart.  She is so sweet with you.

You are crazy about peanut butter, and breads/grains.  You love crackers (crackies, as you say), and you like apples with peanut butter for snack.  You pick the peanut butter off of the apples, eat the pb first, and then finish with the apples.

We decorated for Christmas last week and you love all the new decorations.  The past few years (since Daddy and I bought a home), I've always looked forward to decorating for Christmas.  The decorations made our house feel warmer and fuller, and it was just always so nice.  I assumed it would be the same this year, but our house doesn't feel any different, and then I figured out why.  Our home always feels warm, cozy, and full of joy (and toys) thanks to you.  How wonderful it is to have your in our lives.

I can't get enough of you, and praise God every day for picking me to be your momma. 

Peanut-buttery hugs and kisses,
Momma

P.S. Blogger wouldn't let me add any pictures (something about my picture quota being full?!?).  More picture hopefully coming soon. . . .