The 18 Month Old

This was E a year ago...

This is what she looks like today.

Wow. What a difference a year makes, eh? A year ago she was six months old - just starting to move, and now, at 18 months, she's on the run - always. I just look at these pictures, amazed at how much she's changed... and yet, she's the same. The same wide, beautiful dark eyes, and the same incredibly curious personality.

1. She loves music... she knows many of the hand motions to "Itsy Bitsy Spider", and will insist that we sing it over and over. She'll also get very frustrated if we turn the radio off or change it to talk radio. Lately I've noticed that she bops her head all the way home from daycare to whatever song is playing.

2. She's becoming all girl. She loves "boos" (hair clips, bow, rubber bands), and wants one in her hair at all times. She become very alarmed if she checks her hair, and there's nothing there.

3. She's combining words more often now. Tonight she pointed to a picture and said, "That a baby". Of course my favorite is when she told me "love you!".

4. She somehow learned to take her finger, put it to her lips and say, "hmmm" in a thoughtful way.

5. She's emotional.

6. She loves taking her phone, putting it to her ears, and saying, "Hi, Dad", then proceeding to talk in toddler-speak. She'll then wave at the phone and say, "bye!"

7. Do Princesses Wear Hiking Boots is her favorite book. Hands down.

8. Her eyes light up when she sees other little (yet slightly older) girls. It's amazing how quickly kids want to be like someone older/bigger than them.

9. She's discovered tantrums. Boy, has she.

10. She's learned to tickle herself (and others). She'll put her fingers on her belly and say, "tickle, tickle tickle".

So, Eden Noelle (one of the few times you'll ever see her name here), we absolutely love who you are becoming! Happy half birthday!!!