18 Months...

I can't even explain to you how quickly the time has gone by.  I've been thinking a lot lately about how Sophie was as a baby (to refresh my memory for the next one) and I can't help but feel a little sad that she has grown up so quickly.  I just can't get enough of my little Sophie.  She is practically perfect in every way and I wouldn't change a thing about her.  Some things you may have missed if you haven't been around:

-She still has a compulsive need to keep things clean.  If she spills it has to be cleaned before she can do ANYTHING else.  

-She is practically trying to potty train herself.  She hates wearing diapers and runs to the potty (yes...I'm calling it a potty) most of the time she pees.  We had a half day practice with potty training before I decided to wait until after the move and baby.  She loved sitting on the potty and her big girl underwear, but I was too preoccupied with packing to give it the time and attention it needs....which is a lot.  But she did pretty well and I'm sure it will be just as great in January.

-Her favorite thing to say is "Uh-Oh," but we get a lot of other words in there too including "dedus" for Jesus, "ivpool" for Liverpool, and "data" for Santa. 

-She has an extremely high level of understanding and it amazes me how much I can reason with an 18 month old.

-She helps me with everything.  And is actually helpful.  Especially cleaning and cooking.  She insists on "holding" the mixer while it mixes.

-Time-out is a real and effective tool in our house....even the threat of time-out can usually stop any unwanted behavior before it happens.  Got to love that.

-She loves our new apartment and is always running around in all the open space which is quite a drastic change from our old apartment where she was quite literally attached to my leg all day long.  

-She loves wearing anything as a scarf.  Especially the pom pom yarn scarf my mom made her over Thanksgiving.  She is constantly wearing it or anything soft she can find around her neck.

-She loves to play with my scrap fabric and at any given moment during the day she probably has a small square in her hand.  This is her glueing the scrap fabric with the cold glue gun.  Not very effective, but definitely hilarious to see her try and do what I do.

-She loves playing the piano, listening to music, and dancing.  Especially if she can use the headphones.

-She tries to do headstands everyday.  Even on the counter.

-She loves 'sewing'.  Her version includes flattening out the fabric and pushing it under the needle, realizing it has a crease in it, re-flattening it out, and then pushing it back under the needle.  This is repeated for 30+ minutes at a time.  No sewing ever takes place.  In fact, she prefers it that way, but it is pretty cute to watch her push the buttons and pretend to do things that she has seen me do.  I kind of love it.

-She loves her oatmeal....still with a banana mashed in it every morning.

-She's done with bottles and pacifiers (it's actually been about 3 months).  Although she still uses a pacifier at night, which I'm totally fine with.

-She loves eating and drinking out of big cups and plates and is actually quite good at it.  Can't leave extra milk in the bowl....duh.

-She loves reading books and spends hours a day doing it.

-She loves singing, especially at church during the hymns.  It's hilarious.  She also does it at home but usually only when no one is watching.

-She likes to play hide and seek and says "boo" almost every time she comes into a room throughout the day.  Always followed by her cute giggle because she thinks it's hilarious.

There is so so so much more, but I could go on forever and I don't think anyone is still reading.  I love this girl more than you could ever know.  Can't wait to add another little one to our gang.