14 Months Old

Dear Sweet Ava,

You are now 1 year and 2 months old! You are growing up way too fast little one. I try to live in the moment every day and not let anything pass me by with you but I still find myself wondering where did the time go? I have to say that I love you more and more with each passing day. You are pure joy and light up my heart.

This month you are once again proving that you are a toddler. You haven't had any real tantrums yet but you are one busy little girl. You bounce from room to room in the house and you want to check out everything. It is becoming very hard to keep up with you. The second I turn my back you are gone as if you have sprinted out of my sight. Usually I can find you either trying to turn the tv on and off in mommy and daddy's room or in your room pulling out the shoes from your closet or sitting nicely to read your books. Reading books and watching Praise Baby is about the only time I can get you to sit still more than 2 minutes.

Some new things that you have learned to do this month are dance (and by this I mean slow squats), touch your belly button (and mine!), walk bacwards, and kick a ball. You kick so well for such a little person and are so entertained by it that I think you might be a soccer player one day. I approve though because I think little girl soccer players are the cutest!

Even though you no longer depend on me for milk you are still so loving and affectionate. I hoped that you would still find time to give your old mom a hug every once in awhile and you definitely do. Anytime your daddy or I (or Macy) are laying on the floor you almost immediately climb right on top of us and snuggle. Thank you for that little reminder of how much you really love us. Sometimes I lay down just so I can get a hug from you.

You are starting to follow directions very well. Anytime I ask you to "Look at Mommy" you always stop what you are doing and look at me and if I ask you to follow me you will. Whenever I change your tee tee diaper and need to throw it away all I have to do is ask you for your help and you quickly pick it up and walk to the pantry to wait for me to open the door to throw it away. I love watching you fill with pride when you accomplish such things. You know you are big girl and can do things like Mommy and Daddy now.

I am trying to teach you good manners by saying please for things that you want and saying thank you. I have been signing these things to you and just recently you signed please for the first time. It was so funny the first time you did it because I was holding you and you signed please on me. I guess this makes since considering you watch me do it all the time. You now will sign please yourself, especially when I ask if you want to do something you really like such as go swing or play in the sandbox. It looks like you are just rubbing your baby belly when you do it but I know what you mean. :)

I know your mind is always going a mile a minute but you prefer to not talk much for now. There aren't many words that you say on a regular basis but you have started saying "ba" for ball. You prefer to babble and listen to mommy but I know the time will come soon when all of a sudden you will just start talking. I can only imagine what our conversations will be like. You make me laugh just by your actions alone!

One of your favorite times of the day is when your daddy comes home from work. I know this is a time that your daddy looks forward to as well. I love watching your face light up as he walks through the door and how you reach for him to hold you. You seem mesmerized by him and just stare at him with such love. (I know how you feel)

Ava, you mean the world to me and I love you more than you will ever ever know. I can't wait to see what the next month has in store for you little munchkin!

xoxo,

your mommy

Here is a slideshow with pictures taken from the last 2 months.

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com