16 Months

Dearest Leah,

You continue to be the brightest part of my day, but I'll admit, you're starting to become a bit challenging. While I encourage your curiosities and propensity to question authority, I kind of umm, I don't like it. Partly because I worry too much about your safety, and partly because I am really tired already of say No! and PLEASEDON'TTOUCHTHAT (it reads exactly like it sounds coming out of my mouth). But mostly, it's the idea that I probably have another three plus years of those two phrases... Ahh well. You're too stinking cute to be annoyed for long at all.

You really do not like loud noises. Daddy sneezing, blenders, but most notably public toilets and hand dryers. You start to cry if the shopping cart so much as points towards the general vicinity of the restrooms at costco.  

You really, really hate it.

Another of your immense dislikes are the swings at the park. This, I did not see coming. But you literally shake and cry if we try to put you in them or even attempt to swing with you on our lap. But we'll keep trying every few weeks or so.

We've been working on your eating skills, specifically eating with a spoon. Since you've been feeding yourself since 7 months, you are great with your hands, but you seem puzzled by the spoon. 

I help you scoop some food up, and you can get the spoon in your mouth just fine. But you still aren't sure how the food gets on the spoon. And you'll keep putting the spoon back in your mouth even if there is no more food on it. And like everything else you do, it's pretty adorable. 

You chatter like a little spider monkey, and most recently have picked up saying Dada, and Yeah. The important thing is that you really know what Dada means, but you usually just say DA! And now you've started to cal me DA! And while I know you know Mama, I don't really mind because we're both your parents. And either way, there is an inflection of affection behind the way you say it. 

And I love that. 

 Leah and DA!

Leah and other DA!

You love walking up and down our street, and most importantly up the three stairs on our porch. We usually spend a good ten minutes a day on the stairs alone.

I want you to know, that every morning I wake up excited to see you. To think about what the day will have in store... The moment I open the door to your room, your smell wafts right into my face, and I can't help but smile. You're going to think we're nuts, but sometimes your dad and I will bring one of the two blankets you use and take turns smelling it before bed. And most of the time we sleep with it. I know, it sounds crazy. 

But we just can't get enough of you. 

Can't wait to see what the next month brings.

Love, Momma