Wow. Just wow. I cannot believe that you are a whole 17 months old already! It seems like just the other week that we were celebrating your first birthday, and now you are almost 1 and a half! You are growing and changing so fast and the time just seems to be flying by. I've already had to put away some of your size 18 month clothes because you have already grown out of them! Sometimes when I'm holding you and get a glimpse of us either in a mirror or in a picture, I think, "Wow! She is half my size already!" I don't know where you got your big girl genes from, but it certainly wasn't me! Perhaps you will be tall like Daddy's Mom's side of the family. Or, perhaps you're just getting your growth early like Daddy. Either way, we are loving watching you grow up into a sweet, curious, friendly toddler!
You are a brave and adventurous little girl! You love going on walks where you can push your trike to the park. You love playing on the playground - swinging, climbing, and sliding! So much so, that Mommy has to follow you around and keep you away from the biggest obstacles and slides! You'd love to go down one of those tall, twisty, tube slides, but I won't let you go by yourself - at least not yet - and I'm sure I just won't fit inside to go down with you.
You have learned so much in the past couple of months, especially in regards to language. It's so fun to see and hear all your new words! So far you can sign: thank you, please, dog, bird, potty, all done, more, eat/food, drink, milk, hat, shoes, and go. You can say: hi, bye bye, cheese, more, no, yeah, ball, bath, baby, and hat. You have also learned how to open doors, take the caps off your markers and put them back on, get your clothes out of the dresser, take your diaper off when you want, and you are trying really hard to put on your own socks! You know where your ears, eyes, nose, mouth, toes, and belly button are. You also give the best kisses! Bbbwwwwaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh!!!! (That's the sound you make with your kisses)!
You are still the pickiest eater I've ever met, which drives me nuts much of the time, but hey, at least you're still a hefty little girl. You're healthy, too, which makes me happy. I have to say, I will be the most thrilled Mommy when you finally decide that you would like to eat "people food". Sigh....maybe when you're two...
You are still a HUGE baby doll lover! You are such a sweet little mama when you carry your babies around, pat them on the back, push them in the stroller, and make sure they get their pacis back in their mouths when they fall out. :) I have no doubt that you will be an excellent big sister someday!
Ari, I want you to know that your Daddy and I love you so, so much! We are so proud of the little girl you're becoming and the person God has made you to be. You are such a sweet, sweet blessing to us!
