Ava: 18 Months

Pictures are almost impossible these days. She's always doing some crazy cute thing and by the time I get my camera or phone out she's on to the next thing. And she won't look at or smile for the camera but as soon as I put it down she yells "cheese!" and gives a big smile.

We're already having a lot of boundary testing (climbing on things, throwing food on the floor) and a few tantrums (particularly when she has to come in from outside), but other than that Ava is doing great. 

Eating: Still a good eater for the most part. Drinks from an open cup at daycare and a sippy cup at home. Doing really well with using her spoon and fork. 

Sleeping: 7:30 or 8pm until 7 or 7:30am. Down to one nap a day after lunch, usually an hour and a half or two hours if we're lucky. She still sleeps with a paci (except for naps at daycare) and I'm trying to get my nerve up to take them away!

Talking: Her vocabulary is rapidly expanding. She's not the type that usually babbles all day long, but is more selective about what she says. She has a huge repertoire of animal sounds, knows most of her body parts, and will even contribute a few numbers when you're counting (her favorites are two, six and nine). My favorite? Saying "peas" when she wants something and rubbing her belly (the sign for please). She's not quite stringing words together yet, other than things like "no no Sugar" and repeating phrases (yesterday I said "want me to open that play-doh?" and she said "open dat play-doh!"). She calls Lee Daddy now instead of Dada and says Sugar instead of dog dog (which sounds more like Shu-jer).

Activity: She loves loves loves being outside. From the time she wakes up in the morning until the time she goes to bed at night, she's bringing you her shoes or your shoes and asking "ah-side?" Her favorites are her tricycle, her slide/sandbox toy, helping daddy dig in the garden and of course bubbles. When we're inside, she's playing with her babies, her toy microwave or organizing something. She's really good at following simple directions, like "pick this up and go put it in the trash" or "go find your shoes and socks and bring them to me."

I started this post weeks ago and now am terribly late with it (she'll be 20 months in just 5 days!), so I'll stop there for now and just show you some cute pictures from 15 months to 18 months (Dec-Mar).

Trip to Chuck E. Cheese:



Playing piano with Pa:



Ava and her buddy Allyn:



Swinging:



I think she might have been scared of Levi's driving?:



Snow:









Craft time during a snow day:



Blocks all in a row:







Visiting Aunt Erin at school:



We now have a Bass Pro Shops and the fish tank is a favorite:



Fun at the park:



Some book time:



Porch fishing:



A visit from Allyn:







And trip to Marbles Kids' Museum:



Getting to be a big girl!



Chatting with Pa:



Ready to cheer on the Heels:



A daffodil from Granny's yard:



And ride in the golf cart:



Trying hard!



First pigtails:



Reading with Daddy:



Park and gardening with neighbor friends:





Bass Pro again, where she learned to say "deer!":





Putting on makeup with Aunt Erin: