Sixteen Months

Dear Bugs,

This picture makes my heart sing. It is so you. Glowing eyes, shiny smile, messy hairdo and the sweetest little sunshine all around you.


And yes, this picture is also so you. Mischievous, unafraid and full of life. Watch out!

You continue to grow and explore each and every day and it is fascinating to watch. We bought you a kitchen set over Christmas break and you love it. You are a mixing, pouring, frying ball of kitchen happiness. It is great to see you entertain yourself. Lately you have also been fond of 'reading' to yourself while at daycare and we get many reports about you reading books out loud in the corner to yourself. It makes us so happy that you enjoy your books so much.

We had a fun mini vacation between Christmas and New Year's and I came to realize that you are a bit of an observer when in new situations (swim class, library sing along, etc). You don't cling (except your first swim class) but you do tend to very intently observe all of the comings and goings of those around us, quietly holding your folded little hands while you decide what to make of it all. It is so funny because you are quite the little talker and busy lady at home and daycare where you are so comfortable. The best part though is when you decide you have completed your observations and you start to really join in the fun. All of sudden you are bouncing, singing and smiling along with the other kids and having a great time. And yes, you even enjoy swim class now. Last week, you swam on your belly, stood on the platform by yourself (which you loved) and Mommy even put you under water twice, once by accident (oops) and once on purpose.

You are beginning to slowly increase your vocabulary and will attempt to say most words that Mommy and Daddy try to teach you. One of the cutest words you say lately is baby (BAY..pause..BEE! is how you say it). Another one that always gets me is when we are reading Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You and we get to the end and you 'whisper, whisper' just like Mr. Brown. You drop your little voice and make a hard to describe 'pisper, pisper' type sound and it is so darn sweet. You continue to master even more animal sounds (meow and quack being two) and are still a quick study at identifying objects when we ask you to point something out.

You love being outside even when it is cold and snowy. It must be that Vermont blood running through your veins! You will walk up and down our road (the sidewalk is covered in snow) as long as Mommy will let you even with cold hands and rosy checks. We have to strategically plan your outdoor trips and the language we use because it can be quite tricky to get you back inside once out. And we've learned to never tell you we are going outside when we are technically going in the car. Oh, the disappointment you experienced (and the shrieking we experienced) that day!

You are still relatively unaware of the pending arrival of your new baby sister but you have been delighted to finally be allowed to lift up Mommy's shirt to see her belly. Mommy and Daddy try to explain there is a baby in Mommy's belly but it seems somewhat futile. You just enjoy tentatively putting your little index finger in Mommy's belly button while you wait for her to laugh. The best part of your facination with Mommy's belly is when you spontaneously bend down to plant sweet little kisses on Mommy's tummy. If only you knew what was waiting inside for you!

So, the long and short story remains that you are the light of our days and we love you beyond measure.

xoxo, Mommy