18 months old.

sweet bug.  i cannot believe you are a year and a half old already.  i can remember so vividly one year ago...you just sitting up for the first time, starting to cut your first teeth.  my, what a difference a year makes.  now you run and jump everywhere, complete with the gleeful narration of "running!  jumping!".  you have ALL your teeth except those two pesky ones and your big big molars.  you color and draw and jabber non-stop.  you have definite opinions, though i would argue you've always had those.  but you voice them now and aren't afraid to say no or to gesture and babble until we figure out what it is you actually want.  you will be moving in to the warblers classroom at school, starting the transition next week, and i think it will be a great new adventure for you.
you have really thrived at school these last six months, i have to say.  the explosion of language and sociability is amazing to watch.  we got a picture of you and your classmates from the school recently, and you like to pull it off the fridge, bring it over to us and name every person in your class.  it's adorable, and i'm so impressed that your little mind can discern all those names and faces in a photograph.  you also love a picture we have in the kitchen of me, dad, jj, kk, and big joe, taken when i was quite pregnant for you at the end of the summer.  you like to name everyone in that picture, too.
we started swimming lessons with you a couple of weeks ago and they are going great!  you seem to really love the water, and your dada has been taking you while i sit on the sidelines and watch.  i love what a great bonding experience it is for the two of you.  we have gotten in our pool a couple of times so far, but it's still not quite warm enough.  your little teeth chatter and you shiver non-stop, but you still refuse to get out and get upset when we make you anyway.  stubborn little bunny.
you really are a delightful, joyous little girl and we are so grateful for you.  you relish everything we do and we never get tired of watching your expressions as you discover something new.  you remain a great eater and sleeper (are we lucky or what?) and you love your cuddle time.  i nursed you for the last time on your 18 month birthday, a bittersweet decision for me, but you've taken it in stride, as you do most everything.  we love you, bean.  happy half birthday!
*these pictures were taken at turkey creek and in our backyard.  the young miss was not super excited about being photographed for this shoot, but she's still pretty cute, if i do say so myself...