21 months almost

Hi Maggie,

You are turning into such a pretty little girl... less like a baby every day. And, today 2 people told me that you looked just like me. Those kind of comments are pretty new, and even though I don't really see it, it makes me happy that other people do.

You have become quite the little talker. You try to repeat back almost everything that your daddy and I say to you. Just a couple of days ago, you learned to say the word "happy." You spent the day walking around saying "happy, happy, happy, happy." I asked, "Maggie, are you a happy girl?" "um-hmm, yah" you responded, as this has become your standard affirmative response. You still like to tell me when you are happy.

At your 18 month check-up you weighed approx 25 lbs and you were in the 50% for height and weight. You also easily said about 30 words at that time. Now, I have no idea how many words you can say because you come up with new ones ever single day. You also will occasionally combine a couple of words (e.g. more dink [drink])

Here is a very non-comprehensive list of some of the words that you use frequently: daddy, pease (please), hot, hi, dog, happy, ball, outside, nananana (banana), dink (drink), fooo (food), juice (you are always hopeful with this one after learning about juice at Grandma and Grandpa's house), teeeat (treat--even more hopeful with this one... in fact you still say "tick teeat" if you see candy, and let's be honest, I am more likely to give it to you when you ask so cutely), more, doggy, no, shoe, sock, tent (you learned this one over Christmas because your grandma and grandpa bought an awesome princess tent for you and all your little cousins to run around in), zoom, car, nice, sad, bath, hat, paayy (play), song, dance, show (again, hopefully), George, and cat (for your two favorite shows, Curious George and Cat in the Hat), nose, eyes, teeth, paste (for toothpaste), bite, some (as in I want some), jummey (jump), up, pick, (as in I want to make my own decision about which book, toothbrush, etc), and side (as in outside--your favorite place to be!)

A few more two syllable words have started making their way into your vocabulary too-- jacket, oranne (orange), colors (you say this when asking for your crayons), monkey

I have also heard "oh boy" and "oh shoot;" I guess it is a good thing I don't swear.

You frequently grunt when you pick up something large or heavy or if you are working really hard to tear something apart (most often something that can't be torn apart, like a block). . . I don't know if it's your daddy or myself that does the grunting, but I like to blame your daddy for that one.

You also make a bunch of animal sounds, but your favorite, of course, is still the monkey. The other day one of your little friends came over to play. He happened to have a monkey on his shirt. You ran over to him, pointing, and loudly said "ah, ah, ah, ah, ah" until he was startled and I realized and acknowledged that yes, he did have a monkey on his shirt. You were very proud of yourself.

We recently bought you a pair of nice, fuzzy, cheetah jammies. Your daddy taught you a cheetah growl and swipe of the paw, and now each time we put you in your cheetah jammies (or your zebra jammies) you give an enthusiastic cheetah growl and swipe of your little paw.

You have become a total mama's girl. Perhaps this is because, even though you have a pretty great vocabulary, you just recently learned how to say "ma" and "mom" over our Christmas holiday trip, and now you often call out for me. You pretty much have me wrapped around your little finger. You love to cuddle with me, and I love to cuddle you back! In fact, recently when you started having a hard time sleeping through the night (due in part to teething, traveling, and a nasty cold), your daddy and I started letting you sleep with us when you would wake up in the middle of the night. Maybe it was a mistake because now our bed is where you always want to sleep, but we both are such suckers for your sweet little cuddles. The other day I woke up and found that you had decided to use my belly as your pillow. Yes, I have said it before, but you are really cute.

There are some moments that being a mom is so wonderful; I feel like my heart is turning to mush. The other day I leaned down, gave you a hug, and said, "I love you." You hugged me right back and said "I-ove-uuuuu."

I love asking you for hugs and kisses. You usually comply with my requests. You give tight lipped, slobbery kisses and you wrap your arms around me and lay your head on my shoulder. I love it.

You have become very attached to your binky. Whenever you are upset you immediately throw your hands up and out (as if to say where is?) and then you cry out "BBBBBBBBBB." As soon as your binky is back in your possession, your hands go back up and you cry "BBBBBB." Now you are looking for your blankey. Sometimes, you walk around saying "BBBBBBBB where uuuuuuu?" You look in various rooms, under the couches, under your crib . . .

You love counting, or at least the idea of counting. When there are multiples of something, you love to count them. Usually, you point your finger over and over and say something like, "two, one, sempey, eight, nine."

You also love fisheys (as in gold, the kind that you can eat). Before you were able to say "fishey" (which you have now added to your vocabulary), when you wanted a fish cracker, you would make the best squishy little fish face. In nursery one day, the teacher was quizzing all of you little ones on what noises various animals make. Thinking he was being clever, he asked "what sound does a fish make?" Most of the children were stumped, but not you. You immediately demonstrated exactly the kind of noise, and face, that a fish makes.

One final last cute thing that I am going to write about for today . . . You love to pop your little pointer finger into the air and say "one?!" What you are really asking for is more (as in, "oh, do you want one more?" But you are very persistant with your one. When I am nearing the end of a bedtime song or your daddy is nearing the end of a bedtime story, you pop your little finger into the air and say "one?! one?!" Sometimes you end up with more than one because you are just so dang cute when you ask for "one?!"

Okay girl--even though I could keep writing all day about the funny things that you do, I think I had better stop for now. I just want you to know that your daddy and I love you very much.

Love,

Mommy

Happy Halloween

About three weeks before Halloween, and with the help of a mini package of M&M's, Maggie learned to be very proficient in saying trick-or-treat (it actually sounds like "tick teeee"). I gave her just enough candy corn for the following three weeks for her to learn that tick teeeee is indeed a very good thing to say. With all the excitement, when it came time for actual trick-or-treating on Halloween, she forgot the magic words (or maybe she has just become convinced that tick teeeeeee is something you say when you want your mom to give you candy... she continues to try it). Anyway, it was still fun to plan and make our costumes, and Maggie was still very happy with the loot that she collected. Because I am such a mean mom, Maggie has only eaten a couple pieces of her special candy (and a couple more she has managed to take care of straight through the wrappers), and while she certainly enjoys that, I think she has enjoyed scattering her candy throughout our apartment even more, and I have learned how many places a toddler can find to stash candy as well as what happens when a sucker is placed with your silverware in the dishwasher.

For those of you who are not Simpsons fans, well, we are Homer and Marge Simpson (I hope you were able to figure that out), and Maggie is Maggie Simpson. I know it is totally ridiculous, but I couldn't resist.

A true L.A. girl and a farm

In the spirit of autumn, I took Maggie to a farm harvest festival where she got to explore a pumpkin patch, climb on a haystack, go on a wagon ride, see lots of animals, and her very favorite activity (naturally) . . . watching the animatronic chickens sing and clap their robotic beaks. She was pretty much in love with the chickens and kind of melted down when I dragged her away for the 3rd time.

On our way to the farm Maggie proved that she is a true L.A. girl. When we suddenly came upon a traffic jam, with a very concerned face, she pointed to the traffic and said, "Uh-oh."

"You can say that again," I thought.

Then, later in our drive, she did.

We came upon another traffic jam (we do live in L.A.), and again with a very serious face, she pointed to the traffic.

"Uh-oh," she said. You know you live in L.A. when your 18 month old knows a traffic jam when she sees one.

Also, the farm was nice :)

(And cheering for the chickens, of course)

I forgot to mention

One thing that I love about this girl is that like most babies, she has a special little lovey. It is a very soft and cuddly pink, cream, and tan blanket. However, unlike most babies she has a unique way of gaining comfort from her little lovey. She smells it. And smells it. And smells it. In fact, if she is looking for it, she will put her hands in the air, as if to say "where is?" and then will take a big fake sniff through her nose to tell me that it is indeed her blanky that she is looking for.

Best Fans Ever (or at least the best looking and most loved by me)

One great thing about my job in the ER is that while I am gone, Joe has the opportunity to really be a dad. He has time with Maggie all to himself, without me around to boss him around. Come Saturday afternoon, when I finally wake up after having checked out for two days, I pop back into their lives, catching them mid-activity and this is one of my favorite things; I always wish that I could have been a part of their lives for the last two days, but then again, me being gone is what makes the daddy daughter days so sweet. Well, on my last working Saturday I woke not too long before kick off for the UT football game and I found this:

Yep, Joe had gotten them both ready the big game in full UT fan apparel, complete with matching shirts, jeans, and shoes. Kind of melted my heart. So, naturally I threw on my own UT shirt and then demanded that Joe let me take some pictures.

This picture makes me really happy

Some Things that I like about this cute girl

Hi Little Cutie,

You are 16 months old now, and here are a few things that I LOVE about you.

I love it that I get to kiss your perfect little cheeks everyday.

You have started telling jokes that only you understand. After a few syllables of baby chatter you will force out an uproarious laugh. Then more baby chatter and more laughing. While I don't understand your jokes, you always make me laugh.

You love love LOVE to dance. Currently your favorite song is by Adele, and when it comes on you will break out some crazy cute dance moves or start drumming to the beat.

Sometimes you spin in circles until you fall over.

You love to wave goodbye to people, but always after they are out of sight.

You have started "helping" around the house. You like to empty and load the dishwasher (with non-dish items) and you also have started to understand the idea of "putting it away" which means that I find random things in random places.

You really like monkeys (especially Curious George) which is appropriate because you are a such little monkey.

When your daddy tells you he is going to eat your nose, you stretch it out as far as you can towards his mouth (to help him eat it, of course).

You are still super sweet, super smiley, and love to be outside seeing new places and trying new things.

I love you little cutie! Thanks for making me smile every single day.

I might just be in baby picture taking heaven

Although a friend at work informed me that Maggie is NOT a baby anymore . . .

I finally bought myself an SLR camera, and I am SO happy (imagine that I said so in a voice about 3 octaves higher than my own). I think I might have an addiction. I know that I have a very messy house and I may have already burnt dinner even though it is only 4:54. Maybe I didn't get my baby dressed until noon today (no comment about when I got dressed) and perhaps I will still be sitting here when Joe gets home from work . . . but maybe I'll figure out how to take some freakin' AWESOME pictures!

Obviously, I didn't get Maggie all fussied up for her photo shoot (although she is modeling a pretty nice scab on her forehead) but this was my first shoot with my new camera so I just have to throw a couple pictures out there.

I love how quick the camera is--I won't miss any shots on account of the camera (only on account of the fact that I frequently miss the focus). I feel like my creativity has been unleashed. So fun!

Families

This last weekend I spent two nights in the ER as I do every 2 weeks.

Among my patients this weekend were two little girls: one was 11 years old with leukemia; she was little more than a skeleton (she only looked to be about 4 years old) and I am certain doesn't have much time left on this earth. She has probably spent mostof her life in hospitals along with her devoted parents, but she was a little angel and her parents cheerful, patient, and caring. The other little girl was only 10 weeks old and had a severe heart defect; although she appeared to be thriving, she had very poor cardiac output, and I am not sure was her prognosis will be. She also had loving and devoted parents.

As I cared for these two little girls I felt very strongly how much their Father in Heaven loved them as he does each of us. I felt so strongly that he sent those two sweet girls to earth so that they could get bodies and therefore return to Him one day as exalted beings.

I also cared for two elderly women. One was 87, feisty and vibrant. The other was 97 and quite sickly, but they shared one important similarity. They both had devoted and loving caregivers (one had a daughter and the other a niece). I could easily see how much each of these younger women loved the elder so dearly and how willingly the caregivers offered the care that now, in their later years, my patients require.

Taking care of these four patients in such a short window has made me ponder how brief and frail our existence on this earth is. At the same time, it made me realize how wise and loving our Heavenly Father is; how perfect his plan is for us to come to this earth in family units that can last for eternity. It is truly amazing. I am so grateful for my fantastic family.

On that note, Joe and I have been super fortunate to spend a lot of time with our families over the last month which has been an infrequent treat since we have moved to California. We loved visits from Joe's sister TeriAnne and her family, my parents, my brother Jeff and his wife Sam, and also loved spending some time in Utah with the rest of Joe's family.

Baby Gifts

Maggie walked up to me today and handed me a hair.

"Ooohhh thank you so much!" I said after realizing that she wasn't just handing me air.

She was VERY proud of herself.

McGrath State Park

What a beautiful weekend for camping near beachside.

Maggie had to help Joe set up the tent because I was too busy snapping pictures. It's okay. She didn't complain.

We had fun escaping just as a little family.

And we had fun playing at the beach; even though we brought bathing suits and boogie boards...

My favorite thing about this next photograph are the shuffling baby prints in the sand.

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

Little Stinker

Today I was standing in line waiting to check out at the store. Maggie was, of course, sitting in the front of the shopping cart. She had been really patient during our shopping trip (she usually enjoys cruising around, chewing on various things that I hand her as we navigate the isles), but now she was getting tired and hungry. She reached out for my hand, held tight to my arm with both of her hands, and laid her head on my forearm.

"Oh, how sweet," I thought as I savored her little babyish snuggles to my forearm. Just then, 4 sharp little teeth sank right into my arm. "Ouch," I yelped as I jerked my arm away.

"Whoa," said the lady behind me in line, perhaps involuntarily.

What a little stinker...

13.5 months old

Hi my crazy kid!

I am writing you this letter when you are 13 months old.

I can't believe it, but now a toddler, you are no longer a baby. You have grown up so much over the last couple of months. You are GREAT at walking! Sometimes you try to run (and usually turf it) which is why your little forehead is still constantly covered in bruises. You are also a little climber. You can make it up a step ladder or up your running stroller (as if it was a step ladder) in seconds. Yikes!

You are learning to communicate. You have been able to say "mama" and "dada" for sometime now, but you also just learned how to say "hi" and you are always quickly whip out this word whenever your daddy or I walk into the room. At church, stores, etc. you walk around saying "hi" to strangers as you pass by. My favorite though, is when you say "hi" to other babies; then you look at them expectantly; when they just stare at you, you stare back.

When you are hungry or thirsty you say "num num."

You have learned how to sign "more" and "all done." Sometimes you use these signs appropriately and it is helpful (and adorable) and sometimes you cycle through the signs so quickly (e.g. more all done more all done more all done) that you make me thoroughly confused (and you make me laugh). Sometime when you are really excited mix the sign for more in your cheering.

You try to say teeth--it comes off sounding something like "eeee." You also try to say "hot"(ot) and "uh oh" (o-o). I think you try to say a lot of other words that I am just not picking up on yet. Other times you chat on and on while looking at me intently as if I understand everything that you are saying. It sounds like you are talking in your own little alien baby language. You also learned how to imitate a monkey sound. At first you just used it for you little stuffed monkey; then you started using it forbirds; then for the cougar you saw on a camping trailer; then for dogs. Now you use it for anything you are excited to see (i.e. usually dogs and birds). You also imitate the noise that cars make; it's a scratchy gurgling noise in your throat. You get VERY excited whenever a motorcycle or bus pass by. You also notice every airplane that flies through the sky.

You have learned how to kick a ball--making your mommy and daddy very proud! You can also occasionally follow simple instructions and point to familiar objects when asked. You recently have decided that it is fun to try on mine and Joe's shoes and then try to walk; not very effective but very adorable. You LOVE eating anything that is nice and juicy (i.e. fruits and veggies).

You are starting to assert your independence and make your opinions and desires known (i.e. we are starting to see little temper tantrums); I love it that you are developing your own sense of self and your own personality; I don't love trying to put you in your car seat, but it is a small price to pay for getting the chance to be your mommy.

You are SO fun and funny. You make me laugh everyday.

I love you little cutie.

Soccer Champs okay not really

My adult co-ed soccer team just finished up a _____ season.

Our record . . .

0-13-1

Obviously I can't call it a winning season. I guess I could call it a losing season. I think I am just going to call it a fun season (although somewhat crushing to my competitive spirit. . . do I play on that team--you know, the one that couldn't win a game even if we had 14 tries to do it?)

Oh well.

Will I be playing next season?

Oh, most definitely.

Also, I will eventually mention (and get around to documenting) that super exciting things have happened recently . . . like my little brother getting married to a super awesome girl and my daughter (no longer a baby) turning the big 01. Yay!!

Me and Wink

I love being a mom (probably obvious as you look at my blog and it is just picture after picture of one cute little girl), but I actually have been amazed at how much joy (and sometimes stress, laundry, and laughter) a little baby can bring to your life. I love having my little buddy tag along with me all the time. She makes the most mundane tasks seem like fun whether she is waving to people at the grocery store or pulling everything out of my cupboards as I make dinner. 

11 Months and 1 week

My sweet little baby,

I am feeling a need to hurry and record something of the last few months because in a couple short weeks you will be a year old. I cannot believe how quickly this year has gone and how much has you change and grow each week!!

After you learned how to walk about a week ago, walking was all you wanted to do for a couple of days. Now it is the one thing that you definitely do NOT want to do. If I try to get you to walk you look at me, start to cry, and then sit down. I guess it is pretty scary--you have received at least a few bumps on your head since it all started. I am sure that you will pick it back up before long. In the meantime you are enjoying standing by yourself and you LOVE to push things--anything (your shopping cart, your exersaucer, kitchen chairs, the office chair, our ottoman, doors, and especially our neighbors little yellow truck). You have learned that you can push your shopping cart in any one of four directions (including the ways that the wheels don't roll) to get anywhere in the house that you want to go. You are not afraid to venture off into rooms of the house where I am not--this means that our house is not nearly as baby friendly as it should be. Yesterday you got yourself stuck between a bookshelf and a filing cabinet.

You are now a really good eater. You will eat just about anything as long as you get to feed it to yourself. But, if I am trying to feed you it had better taste good, or you will end up with more on your face and in your hair than in your belly, but it is okay because you LOVE bath time. You would eat frozen blueberries all day it I would let you. You often munch on your food a few times and then spit it out. Not because you don't like it but because you think it is funny or because the pieces are too big. Then sometimes you pick it up and eat it again. Then spit it out again. Then eat it again. Every time I pick food out of your lap (you know all those pieces that never made it to your mouth) and toss it back on your tray you start to laugh. You are a messy eater, and it IS funny.

You love reading books and are still a cuddly little baby. You have started giving hugs (by pulling something close and laying you head on it) to everything. Every time I see you give the remote control a hug it makes me smile, but I love it when you hug me the best. You still love to give kisses. Unfortunately you have not yet learned that your teeth (now you have 7) are not supposed to be involved when you are giving a kiss. We are still working on that one. You cry out "mamamama" whenever you are upset. When you are happy you say "dadadada." I don't know what that really means. I think it means that I help you when you are sad and your daddy makes you laugh. You have also started shaking your head and saying "Na na." Sad. I guess I say "no" too much. Today we were sitting by the ivy that covers the ground around our apartment. You would pick up a leaf and try to put it in your mouth. I would brush your hand away and say "Ew, yuck." You shake your head and say "na na." Then you would pick up another leaf and try to put it in your mouth. I would brush your hand away and say, "Ew, yuck." You would shake your head and say, "na na." Then you would pick up another leaf and try to eat it. This went on for leaf after leaf after leaf. Sometimes you would even be shaking your head and saying "na na" as you were trying to put the leaf in your mouth, so even though you are starting to get it, you really don't get it.

You LOVE playing outside. We try to go play in the courtyard most evenings, and I think this is your favorite part of the day. You squeal with delight whenever you see the neighbor babies outside, and you will not be satisfied until we have gone out to join your little friends. The other day when we stepped outside one of the little neighbor babies said, "Ah, Maggie!" You have a friend who knows your name! If that isn't just the cutest thing! When you are with your daddy he will take you for long walks and help you climb trees. You LOVE going for these adventures with your daddy.

You are my little buddy and my little bundle of sunshine. I love running with you and shopping with you. Everything seems like more fun because you are always at my side.

Thanks for letting me be your mommy.

These Boots . . .

Beach Baby

One reason that I love Santa Monica . . .

. . . Also, look at those blue eyes . . . she has her Grandma Webb to thank for those eyes.

This is going to be a weekly occurrence now that the weather is warming up. I managed (at least mostly) to keep Maggie from eating sand this time. She giggles and shrieks every time she we put her feet in the waves. I don't think she loves her sun hat quite as much.