16 month updates

Emily turned 16 months earlier this week and I realized it's been awhile since we've done an update on her. I can't believe she'll be going to nursery in just two months! Wow!
It's so fun to watch her learn and see how smart she is! She can do and understand so much!! Here are her stats for this month:

about 20 lbs. and 30 in. (according to 15 month appt)

likes: outdoors, books, purses, friends

dislikes: having sticky hands, discipline

girly girl

can follow commands, color, and say some new words

-Grant and I keep speculating about what kind of kid Emily will be as she gets older. Grant wants her to like sports and I do too, but I also want her to like dolls and the girly stuff. So far it seems like she'll have a little of both. Her Uncle Jeff made her a purse a couple months ago and she went crazy for it! She loved putting it on her arm and showing it off to people, as well as collecting things in it. Now she's totally into any purse. She also loves jewelry- necklaces and bracelets- and feels like she's really cool if she ever gets to wear it. She does the same thing with makeup. She knows if I give her chapstick, it goes on her lips, powder goes on her cheeks, etc. It cracks me up! She's such a girly girl! But Grant's getting his wish also. One of her favorite toys is any kind of ball and she LOVES the outdoors. She would be outside all day everyday if I let her. Sometimes she'll just stand by the door or window until someone lets her go out.

she even likes to be outside when it's raining

-Going along with our speculations for the future, we feel that Emily might be more geared for math when she grows up. She's really good at anything that requires spatial awareness, like puzzles, stacking, organizing, etc. but she's not doing too much talking yet. We'll see if our predictions have any truth to them as she gets older. She is saying some words, though. She'll sometimes say mommy, daddy, nana, or doggie when prompted, but not always. Her newest things are saying "amen," which she now says at the end of almost every prayer (if she's paying attention) and "uh-oh." She'll sometimes drop something just so she can say "uh-oh." She'll occasionally copy us when we say animal noises. The ones she'll do the most are "meow," "ruff ruff," and "ooh ooh ah ah," (which she just pronounces "ah ah").

-Emily's awesome at following directions. She can pretty much follow any command or question that we give her. If we say, "let's go upstairs," or "bring the ball to mommy," or "do you want breakfast?" etc. she knows exactly what to do. She's getting better at communicating her wants and needs to us as well. She'll walk over and stand by the high chair or fridge if she's hungry and she'll always make sure we're following her if she wants to go somewhere. She's started doing this really whiny voice now when she wants something. It sounds like she's hyperventilating. I really don't like it! I'm trying to teach her better ways to get what she wants, but she doesn't get it yet. Hopefully we'll get past it soon!

this is the only way we have successful grocery trips anymore

-She's still a great eater! Some of her favorite foods right now are blueberries, avocados, cheese, edamame, and chocolate. She's starting to transition from 2 naps to 1, which is killing me. I didn't realize how much I was able to get done during nap time until I didn't have it anymore. At first, it was hard because she would be fussier and was even having a harder time sleeping at night. For awhile she would even protest sleeping at all during the day and the only way she would fall asleep was in a carseat or stroller. Thankfully it's gotten better. I just have to get used to using my time better. She still takes 2 naps occasionally and I really cherish those days (today is one of those days, which is why I'm able to blog!)

-We just love this little girl. She's such a sweetheart! Occasionally she'll be in the mood to give us hugs and kisses. She kisses inanimate objects all the time, like her books, stuffed animals, and the iPad, but it's rare that we ever get one. And she would hug every animal and other little kid if we let her. She just gets giddy when she sees a dog... it's so funny! She's getting better at petting them the right way rather than grabbing their faces :) I took her to the zoo last week and her favorite part by far was the petting zoo! She's a major animal lover! I've started doing more play dates with her so she won't be completely shocked when she gets to nursery. She really enjoys being around other kids, especially if it's at our house and she can show off all of her toys to them.  She still says "aww" when she cuddles a blanket or stuffed animal.

this is how Emily makes friends :)

excited to share her toys

sorry she tackled him, Kendra :)

She's a doll! We say every day how lucky we were to end up with such a sweet, good, adorable, happy baby and it's so true! I just wish we could freeze time :)