21 Months and Growing

We have had more moments lately where we find ourselves saying, "where did our baby go?"  I am getting choked up just typing this.  I broke down at the dinner table the other day just because she said something so cute and grown up and I looked at Davey and made some comment about her growing up so fast and...it was over.  Thank you, pregnancy hormones.  I haven't done a post for awhile just about my Lailey Bug, so it's time.  Especially since what used to be "her blog" will be expanded to make space for the newest Akin and all the pictures and videos that will come henceforth.  

Lailey is delightful.  There's no other way to put it really.  She's hilarious, goofy, sweet, and affectionate.  Of course, don't let me fool you, she is a toddler, and we definitely have our "toddler moments," as I affectionately call them.  Just so no one gets the wrong impression, she throws a good tantrum (occasionally), her word of the day is commonly "No!", she wants what she wants when she wants it, and when she is unable to adequately express her feelings she hits, bites, screams, etc.  Okay.  I feel like I just ratted out my kid.  But this is a blog about life, so there it is.  I will take every "terrible" toddler moment because the terrific ones outweigh the terrible ones by a landslide.

Cuddling with Daddy and Miney (her blanket)

Some of Lailey's Favorite Things (or things that fascinate her) are...

- Miney, or Mineyboo, as it has been called occasionally.  As long as the blanket is crocheted, it's a miney.  Thank goodness, because we have so many beautiful handmade blankets, and she'll take any of them.  One in the bed, one sometimes two to drag around the house, one in my car, one in Davey's car, one at Grammy's house.  I still have several blankets for the next baby that are still new, which is nice.

- the moon, still a top fave

- Books: Llama Llama Red Pajama (Llama Llama Read 'Jama)

Because a Little Bug Went Kachoo ("Achoo")

Barnyard Dance

Narnia Pop-up Book ("Lion book")

- Spiders

- Airplanes.  She can hear them from inside the house and will proclaim "I hear airpane!" well before I would have ever noticed.

- Songs: "ABC's" 

"Itsy Bitsy Spider" ("Bitsy Bider")

"Oh Mister Sun" ("Sun Song")

"Jesus Loves Me" 

"Jesus Loves the Little Children" ("Chewdren")

"Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" ("Twintle Dars")

"Frosty the Snowman" ("Fwosty Newman")

"Hot Potato" by The Wiggles, as of yesterday when she requested it many times in the car and then remembered it this morning on the way to church.

"The Lonely Goatherd" from The Sound of Music, but she calls the movie "Mia" for Maria. Yes, she can yodel already.  It's adorable.

- Milk and water, she loves both and drinks a ton every day.  There are always two sippy cups floating around wherever she is.

- Mommy.  Yep, I'm still her favorite most of the time.  Although her aversion to Daddy that went on several months ago is over and sometimes she would rather go to him than me.  In fact, last week when I went to pick her up from church nursery, I walked over to where she was playing, crouched down, and held out my arms to greet her.  She grinned, began running...and went right past me toward the door squealing "I see Daddy!"  He wasn't even standing there yet!  She just meant she wanted to see Daddy.  I just laughed.  I told him his day would come.

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Enjoying "colors" [aka crayons] at her new table and chair set she got from Grandpa for Christmas

When did you get so big?

Funny or unique things about Lailey:
- She gives us "tisses" (kisses) by puckering up her lips and sticking them between the slats of her crib at bedtime.  She has to alternate between Mommy and Daddy.
- She still loves naps and willingly goes to bed most of the time.  We've already had a talk with the new baby about continuing this tradition.  I'm sure there are those of you who don't have good sleepers who are about to stop reading this blog right now.  Sorry!  All I can say is:  BabyWise.  Oh, and Lailey has definitely had phases of resisting naps and bedtime.  It happened about a month and a half ago and lasted 5 days.  We're back on track now.
- Her memory is incredible.  I can tell her something one time, and she'll amaze me days later by repeating it.  I know toddlers are little sponges for information but mine came with extra absorbency built in.
- She sees and notices things in obscure places.  A ball, an apple, Jesus, a moon, a boo-boo.  She might see it on a billboard, or in the case of the boo-boo, a random dude's elbow at the grocery store.  Thank goodness he didn't notice!
- She thinks every person, real or fake, with a white beard is Santa.
- She calls the new baby "Baby Tummy."  Sometimes it's when I ask her "what's this?" while pointing to my stomach, but often spontaneously as well.  She lifts my shirt to see my stomach and touches and occasionally kisses it.  And I'm not even showing yet.

I have some great videos to post but still having problems with my camera and uploading videos.  Have to wait for my tech support husband to fix it.

I will think of more things I'm sure, but I am totally wiped out.  My eyes are barely open.  I exercised today and skipped a nap, so double whammy to the energy supply.

I am so in awe everyday of the gift I've been given in my daughter.  Every hug, every kiss, every song, every giggle, is such a treasure.  Love you, Lailey Bug!