16-month update

Although it didn't happen suddenly on Monday, Eden sure is starting to seem like a little girl these days. Not only are her clothes getting bigger and less "baby-like," but her mannerisms and general disposotion are also more mature. Here are some of the most recent updates and changes:

• She takes just one nap a day. Although we had planned to slowly move her towar this, like most things, she did this herself! She will sleep up to 3 hrs for her nap if she goes down when she wants (which is around 11), and she usually sleeps at least 2 hours.
• She thinks she's funny. There are a few things she does because she thinks they are funny like running away from me or Ashley when we ask if she wants to get out of her crib after a nap or offering us something to eat and taking it away as you try to bite.
• She has her first official "other" word. Although she did say "Dada" a long time ago and has said "Mama" for quite some time, she uttered her first official "other" word not long ago. It was ball (which is no surprise since she loves balls). She is now working on her second real word, hi, said in very high pitched tone and drawn out like a truly southern little girl (think "Hiiieeeeeeee").
• She loves to play chase around the couch. All you have to do is look at her and lunge and she starts running behind the couch (while screaming).
• She also has favorite books (a post about these is upcoming so we'll leave you in suspense). She asks for them by "name" and will shake her head no if you pick up the wrong book and ask "this one?"
• She is in size 3 diapers (except at night when she wears 4s), size 3 shoes, and 12mo/12-18mo clothes (with the straps on most shirts taken up).
• She loves to watch herself draw and is very deliberate with her strokes (post to come).
• She asks you to kiss her hurt spot when she gets hurts, and by asks we mean lifting her foot or hand to your mouth while giving you a pouty face. Although she gives us the correct hand or foot most of the time, sometimes we think she does it just to steal a kiss.
• She is addicted to watching videos on the camera. She'd watch them for an hour or more if we let her. In fact, she asks for the camera by name (by squinting her eyes because there is an old video of her showing us her eyes) and if you don't let her watch when she sees the camera she whines until you give in or distract her enough so she forgets.
• She likes to talk on the phone. Over the past month or so, E has definitely gotten into the phone. Whether it's making the phone sign (palm of your hand to the side of your face and ear) when a phone rings or we're pretending to be on the phone, always wanting to hold your phone and press a million buttons (how is it she can always get to something that says she's "connecting to the network" which I know will cost extra), or walking around talking away, she loves the phone.
• She loves to hug on her Momma's back and give her kisses while Ashley is sitting on the floor. She also likes to push Ashley over and have Ashley play like Eden is flying in the air.
• She still loves say hello to everyone (and we mean EVERYONE) whether it's going into a store, sitting in the cart, or walking around a restaurant to every table to wave hello. Such the diplomat (or anywhere else really).
• She likes to read in bed. After we put her in bed for the night or for a nap, she enjoys reading books in her crib by herself if she isn't too tired.
• She still also loves to be outside and tries to put everything in her mouth ...
  

She will also let you know when she's not getting what she wants, like eating the neighbors' flowers. I had to remove her from the neighbors' yard this evening when she began picking the flowers and trying to eat them instead of just smelling them. When I would not let her go back to the flowers, she immediately performed a perfect arched-back-take-me-back-to-the-flowers scream fest. Well, not so much a fest as a 10 seconds of being very upset ... but it was intense nonetheless.

She's generally back to her normal self and on to something else in less than a minute just as she did tonight when she was sitting between my feet just a minute after being upset.

It seems strange that we are posting the fact that Eden is 16 months old. It seems like just yesterday (don't parents say this all the time?) that we were commenting on the fact that she fit between my hand and elbow. How time flies when you're having fun!