20 Months!

Dearest Leah,

Oh, my sweetest baby girl. I'm not sure how to say this. 

It's been a rough month. 

Molars.

Growth Spurt. 

Newly Found Freedoms... And apparently, opinions. 

Let's start with the Molars. One day a few weeks ago, you started the day off a little cranky, and by the end of the day I noticed a low grade fever. Then around 1am that night, you woke up crying and wouldn't go back down. Your fever went away in the following 36 hours, but the night wakefulness and crankiness were constant for about 5-6 days. I would try to slip you some tylenol in your sippy cup, but you weren't eating or drinking much. Just snacking occasionally, and drinking water throughout the day. When you'd wake up in the middle of the night, I'd go in with an army of blankets and pillows and set up camp on your glider - which thankfully reclines. And we'd lay there and glide with you until you were calm enough to get back in your crib.

As soon as that cleared up you went straight into a growth spurt and slept constantly. One night you slept 15 hours straight. And there were three days where you slept almost 21 hours a day including your naps. When you'd wake up in the morning you were still tired, so your dad and I would take turns going in to lay in the glider with you. And you'd sleep another 30-40 minutes with us. While it was a bummer to see you not quite yourself, there was a small part of me that reveled in the snuggle time. 

And the next week, your sleep was back on track but you ate all day, everyday. Constantly hungry, not 20 minutes after any meal you were asking for more food - "Nom, Nom?" You'd say with the inflection of a question? I'd laugh and say "Are you SERIOUSLY hungry again, monkey???" And you'd reply with an emphatic "NOM, NOM, NOM, NOM, NOM!" And sure enough, I'd get you a banana and you'd finish every last bite of it. Giggling every time I'd offer you another piece. 

And throughout this time there reigned a level of crankiness, the likes of which I'd never seen. If there was ever a request of you, that you didn't happen to agree with, you made your feelings blatantly obvious.  There was one evening when it took us ninety minutes to get home from the store because I physically, could not get you into the car. (I'd hurt my shoulder pretty badly - I'm fine now.) But it was so bad I could not get you into the car, you'd buck and scream and cry and I just had to deal with it. We were walking back to the car through an outdoor - I don't even know what you call it - It's like a long grassy knoll, with an Olympic length water feature, and a couple of bridge like walkways. Any way, each time I'd try to get you back to the car you crouch down like this:

And if we were on a walk and you didn't feel like walking or letting me carry you - which KILLED my shoulder, you'd do this:

Time to change your diaper? I don't think so: 

You'd flip over and scream bloody murder. 

Again, bad shoulder... Made it difficult to correct you. 

And just when it got to be too much. I had called your pediatrician to ask about disciplinary book recommendations for toddlers. Because I couldn't take it anymore. And the very next day; Was just the best day ever. 

That morning we started your swim class again, and you LOVED it. Then we went to the farmers market. We ate croissants and apples, and tailgated with sippy cups and a mocha for me. The weather was gorgeous. It was just awesome. And though the rest of the day was uneventful, I can't remember a day when we'd ever laughed so much. 

While you're still not using your words as much as I'd like, I can see your wheels turning. And you're mimicking phrases, and I'm working on sign language with you. We're getting there.

YOu're also starting to show a bit more interest in the potty, and you frequently sit down on your potty while momma is on one too. 

Your daddy had been working like a mad man lately, so we trying to get down to the office every day to see him. And sometimes we can steal him away long enough to get to the near by park. But he also does his best to sleep in with us a couple times during the week (7am is sleeping in for him), and that way we can wake up and have breakfast together! 

So again, this month has been a bit challenging but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. And we're both doing our best to figure everything out! We'll get there, I promise!

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

Love, 

momma