Kitty Love

17 Months

Baby Girl ~

Here we are again, the beginning of another month of your life with me struggling to recount all the amazing things that you've been doing. Although we may not remember the dates and times of every single milestone you reach, we will never be able to forget the absolute joy that you bring to our lives. You are so lovely and happy.

This month you blew us all away when we realized that you are beginning to recognize letters. It all began a few months ago, when you pointed to the letters on the cover of your Corduroy book, wanting to know what they were. We played that game for a while...saying the names of each letter and then reading the title. This became something that you wanted to do every time we got out the Corduroy book. One day, when your daddy asked you, "Which one is the R?" I just laughed at him...until you pointed to the R. Now, you recognize all of the letters in Corduroy and can point them out wherever you see them. You can even tell me the names of a few letters. What a smart, smart baby!

You also shocked us with your knowledge of a few shapes. You've been loving your shape sorter for a while, but we're starting to push you to find out exactly what you know. Last night, I told you to give me the circle, without any other cue as to which shape I was talking about, and you handed me the circle. You also knew the names of the ellipse, square and star. I suspect that you might know a few of the others as well, but you got bored of that game, so we moved on.

It's fun to watch you learn new things and realize just how bright you are. Beyond being a smart girl, though, we are so pleased that you are curious, persistent and a problem-solver. This talents and interests will serve you well throughout your life. I thrill in the idea that you will enjoy learning for a lifetime.

As always, you've been talking up a storm this month. I was thrilled to find out the other day that you now know one of your friends' names. Every day when we get to Amanda's house, you fun for the door saying "MaaMy MaaMy", excited to see your friend Madeleine. I know that you will have many good friends in your life, but this is your first friend, and it's just so special.

One of my other favorite things that you've started doing is picking up. We can now tell you to put your books away and you can do it. You're so cute doing it, too.

Here lately, you are pure poetry in motion. Whether it's running, climbing or dancing, you just don't seem to stop. I love seeing the absolute joy on your face when you get where you want to be or accomplish something new.

I hope you always know that you are, truly, the joy of your daddy's and my life. We are so lucky to be able to share all these experiences with you. We love you so very much.

Your Momma

An Honest to Goodness Sentence

"Bye bye Dada." I'm so proud of my girl!!!

Sweet Baby

Kaylee loves playing with her baby...a doll that my mom got her for her birthday. Last night, while she was hugging her baby and patting her back, I suggested that we sing to her baby. I started singing the ABC Song (a go-to for calming Kaylee down when she gets upset) and, as usual, Kaylee began singing along. The next part, though, I didn't expect. Kaylee continued to pat her baby's back and started rocking back and forth just a little bit. What a sweet little girl!!!

16 Months

My Little Lovey ~

Where do the days go? Though I continue to feel so blessed to be a part of your life, I sometimes wish I could slow time down a bit and take more time to enjoy being with you. You are just so anxious to go and do that's it's all we can do to keep up with you.

You continue to show your independent streak, and this month I think I may have seen the precursor to a temper tantrum. While walking and holding my hand, you decided that you'd rather go in a different direction than the one I was heading. When you couldn't get loose of my hand, you stopped walking and squatted down low. Once I stopped and let go of your hand, you popped up and took off in your preferred direction. There was no whining or crying, but you definitely showed me how willful you are. I have a feeling that we're in for it.

Since the snow finally melted this month (at least it did for a day or two), we've been letting you walk to and from the car more often. It's just so incredibly adorable to see you trot down the sidewalk on your own. On one of the nicer days, we even went for a ride/walk with your very first tricycle. You had the biggest, million dollar grin on your face!

You continue to talk a lot, and are always coming up with new words. Unfortunately, we don't know all of your words, so there are times that you're definitely trying to tell us something, but we just can't figure it out. Some of my favorites of your new words are Bella (Beh Ba), thank you (day doo), and when you try to make a rooster noise. Just as I predicted, you've recently abandoned your own word for kitty, and now say cat (dat). I'm sad that I was never able to catch that one on video. You're also beginning to give names to other people in our family, so we talk about all your Mamaws and Papas.

This is just such a fun age, and your daddy and I are enjoying you so much...even though we can see the tantrums coming.

All my love always...

Your Momma

15 Months

My Darling Silly Face ~

Yet another month has passed while I watch you grow and learn. You are so amazing and entertaining as you continue to develop your personality.

This month, I've been astounded by the connections that you make. Once you learned the word and sign for "day", you began to use it every time you see a picture of the sun. When you see polka-dots (in pictures, on your clothes, etc.), you happily point and say "Ball!" Sometimes, especially when you're looking at your books, I can tell that your brain is hard at work...I can't help but wonder what you're thinking. I look forward to the day that you have enough words to tell me everything you know and want and think about every day.

You've made some little leaps and bounds with motor development this month, too. You learned to go down the stairs and are working with a spoon more and more. I'm trying to care less about the mess and more about letting you explore, but sometimes that's hard. In some respects, we are learning together.

One of your favorite toys lately has been the shape sorter you got for Christmas. You are so good at putting the shapes in each hole, as long as I help you find the right one to try. I'm amazed at how you will turn the pieces or wiggle them just a bit to make them fit. Every single piece that goes into the ball elicits such a proud grin that your whole face lights up. Such joy.

You are still talking up a storm. In addition to all of your words, you've added a few animals sounds. In your little world, cows now say MOO and sheep say BAA. What fun. You've also made up a few words of your own. You have a very specific word for "cat/kitty", but I can't do it justice in writing. I hope to catch it on camera. I know that my window of opportunity is probably small. Before we know it, you will figure out how to say "cat" and abandon your own little word.

As hard as I try, I just can't seem to capture everything I notice as I watch you day by day. I hope you know that I am watching and I am so amazed with what I see. You are such a joy to me.

I love you so very much.

Your Momma

Laughing Girl

The book we're looking at, Woof, has a hole in the middle for this little button you can push. Kaylee likes sticking her fingers back through the hole and I "munch" them with my hand.