20 Months

(You insisted on wearing your wings in your picture. You were sick in this picture but still have that precious smile)

Sweet daughter of mine,

You are 20 months old and I still continue to be in awe at how fast you are growing up and changing month by month. I heard someone recently say that "the days go by slow, but the years go by fast" and I believe that is so true. Sometimes our days can seem so long, especially when you and I are bored at home and getting on each other's nerves, but I still wouldn't trade those long boring days for anything because I know before long you will be in school and I am going to miss these days with you terribly. I still find myself closing my eyes, saying a quick prayer of gratitude, and savoring all the special little moments that you and I have. Your daddy and I look at you all the time and say to each other "Gosh, she is the custest!". We couldn't be more proud to be your mommy and daddy.

Here are some things that you have been up to this month:

*You look so much bigger all of a sudden! You are tall, with long skinny legs, and beautiful long hair. Your features are becoming even more distinct. You were recently weighed when we went to the pediatrician and I about died when they weighed you on the "big" scale standing up and fully clothed! No more naked weight measurements in the baby scale for you. You weigh 26 pounds now by the way. No wonder mommy can't hold you for long!

*You love putting your shoes on by yourself. About 9 times out of 10 they are on the wrong feet and you do not like it if I try and fix them so often times we leave the house with your shoes on backwards. I think it is really cute!

*You still love to go on walks only now you would prefer to walk rather than ride in your stroller or pink car. You are always on the look out for "fowers" on our walks and must pick them so your hands are full.

*Your favorite shows these days are Dora the Explorer and Sid the Science Kid. You say just Dora and Sid for short. :)

*You have become a little parrot and will repeat just about anything we ask you to say. Your vocabulary is growing bigger and bigger although most people besides your mommy and daddy would never know it. You have become very good at saying the word no. As long as it isn't in response to something mommy has told you to do then I am usually ok with it.

*You have started counting things although you normally don't make it past 3.

*Coloring is still one of your all time favorite things to do and you are becoming so good at it! You hold your pencil/crayon perfectly, with no teaching from me I might add, and I am amazed everytime. I couldn't even get my 1st and 2nd graders to hold a pencil correctly and you are 1! You usually will pick something on the page to color and focus just on that rather than just scribbling all over the entire page. Again, amazed! I think you might have inherited the artistic Vaughan genes (although they skip a generation because I sure didn't get them).

* You got your first major sickness(es) this month. You had a stomach bug and then a week later got an Upper Respiratory Infection and Croup. We are still trying to get over the last two but you are still your normal happy self which makes me less worried. You are normally a very healthy little girl but even the healthy ones get sick sometimes too.

*Your shyness/stranger anxiety has become more apparent this month. Often times you won't even look people in the eye if they are looking at you or talking to you. Instead you just bury your head in my shoulder or cling on to my leg and hide. Looks like you inherited your introverted personality from your daddy and I.

*Anytime I leave the room for an extended period of time or if I have left home and then come back you always greet me with the sweetest "hiiiiiiii" and then give me a big hug. It reminds me how much you love me and how special I must be to you. It melts my heart and those are moments I never want to forget!

Well, 4 more months till your 2nd birthday! We have so many fun things to look forward to as a family before then though. Thanksgiving and Christmas are right around the corner and I can't wait to see how much fun you will have. This will be your 2nd Thanksgiving and Christmas, but like Halloween, I think this year will be the first year that you can actually enjoy them!

I love you so much Ava! I can't tell you that enough! I'm sad you are growing up but each month that passes I am getting more and more of a glimpse of the sweet little person that God has created you to be. He has such big plans for you and I am so happy to be right along side of you to love you, encourage you, and pray for you. You make me so proud.

xoxo,

Momma