18 Months

It has been 18 months since this little beauty entered our lives:

On a side note, this picture will forever make me laugh. Her pouty lip, the way she is holding on for dear life... it cracks me up. Even funnier is that she STILL to this day cries when we put her on the scale at check-ups. She barely cries when she gets a shot, but don't put her near that scale! (I get it peanut, I don't like stepping on the scale either.)

These have been the fastest 18 months of my life.

At the same time, I can hardly remember life before Mikenna. 

She continues to surprise me everyday with her knowledge and funny little personality.

I know she has to grow up, but a part of me wishes I could keep her at this age!

We had miss Mikenna's 18 month check up. As usual, everything went great!

Age: 18 months, 13 days

Height: 34 1/2 inches (99th percentile)

Weight: 26 lbs 5 oz (68th percentile)

Head Circumference: 49 1/2 cm (off the charts! She has to store that genius brain of hers somewhere!)

As always, I tried to prepare Mikenna for the doctor visit, so we talked all morning about the doctor and what he would be doing. When we got there and went to check in, she told the receptionist all about it.

"Go to goctor. Say hi goctor! Shot... oowwwiieee. Mmmmm.... sucker!"

Mikenna loves going to the doctor, I think because she likes to say hi to all the kids in the waiting room. There was a newborn waiting with us and she politely asked his mommy to give the baby a "head kissy."

Once we got into the room and the doctor came in my little chatterbox started chatting away. He said he was impressed looking back over her chart at how little problems she has had (yeah!), and told me her speech continues to be very advanced (double yeah!). As usual she was a happy camper until she had to lay down. But, she was quickly distracted by the stethoscope and light. When the doctor checked Mikenna's eyes she said, "Preeeeeetty." When he looked in her ears he said, "is that an elephant in your ear?" She made her elephant noise for him (if you know her, this is the funniest thing ever. She loves her elephants). Then, when he went to look in her mouth she told him, "we no bite!" She is not a biter, so where that came from is beyond me! It's always reassuring to go to check ups and hear that everything looks great, she is showing no signs of illness, autism, etc. Of course I think she is perfect, but I always feel like a weight is lifted after hearing that.

Some fun things about Mikenna at 18 months:

She calls me "Maymi", Daddy "Da-ey", and calls herself "Nenna"

She LOVES animals, any and all animals, and has no fear of them no matter how big they are. Her favorites are elephants, cows, and pigs. Future vet?

She is fascinated with body parts and can name just about every one of them. (Also, watch your belly button around her. Those little fingers come out of nowhere!)

She knows just about all of her colors, her favorite seems to be yellow.

She can name a circle, star, heart, and square.

She knows the letters "A" "B" "M" "R" "H" and "F" and their sounds. (Why these letters? No clue...)

She has a newfound love for play-doh:

She still prefers to be outside, and loves taking walks and playing in the water.

She can climb the play-structure at the park and use the slides all by herself.

She has 16 teeth in that cute little mouth.

She is starting to "pretend play." She plays with her babies more and more.

She loves to give "kissies", "eye kissies", "nose kissies", and "big hugs."

We have successfully mastered painting with watercolors (yay!)

She likes to put things in groups and sort things in and out of basket. (That's my girl!)

She has started putting her toys away on her own... I am hoping that lasts, but not counting on it.

Temper tantrums are now a common thing in our household... she has her spot near the door where she sits to take a break and calm down. She will put herself there when she's upset!

She is fully potty trained if I leave her naked at home, but with clothes on it's another story. We will be working on that this summer :)

She makes THE BEST elephant sound I've ever heard, no joke.

Happy 18 months sweet girl!