Lucy at 20 Months

Dear Lucy,
Dare I say we are slowly coming out of a super fussy stretch? You have been really fun the past few weeks -- attempting to talk more and in phrases! I can't understand most of what you say, but I can make out some of it. And because of it, you seem a little less frustrated and prone to tantrums, which makes MY world a lot better. You've seemed to have aged a few months in the last few weeks! You look different, you're taller, you have all these teenager expressions -- I can't deal!

Language has been your biggest breakthrough I think. Your first phrase to me was probably "don't touch it" except it's all slurred. lol. You still don't have a word for "yes." You love saying "goggy!" You are also mastering the word "baby" recently. Speaking of babies, you are paying more attention to your baby doll and her stroller. I can see the little mama in you starting to appear in addition to a sense of compassion. You also have grown close to our stuffed basset hound, Sam, which really melts my heart. Also new is an affinity for blankets! When you're stressed out, you reach for a blanket to hold and carry around. So we've added "Linus" to your list of nicknames.

Current nickname favorites include the following: Lu, Big Girl, Baby Girlfriend, Bug Bug, Buggy, Buggah, Lil Mama.

You're all about playing games and wrestling with Daddy.

Food-wise, I've gotten pretty lax about your diet. I used to stress out over the ounces of milk you'd drink and if you were getting all the recommended servings of each food group and vitamin. Then reality hit me -- I'm now content if you eat a few bites of anything. Toddlers are notoriously finicky when it comes to diet right now, so I've had to loosen the control in that area. I still offer you most of the food groups, but I don't make you eat anything. You love snacks though, so I'll often put out mixed veggies as a "snack."

You are still the most expressive kid I've ever seen, just bursting with personality and sass. Your personality surprises me considering your daddy and I were super reserved as kids. You do really well when you're at home, but have trouble with temper tantrums in public. This is also the time you want to strike out, literally, at me. Praying that's a phase and that the more verbal you get, the better you'll be at controlling your anger.

Lucy at 19 Months

Oh Lu! How quickly time is flying. It seems you've entered the terrible two stage a little early. While I hate to list negative things, I can't truly capture this moment in time without being REAL.  You're stretching your limits and fighting for your independence. You have opinions and wants, and you're very vocal about them. When you are mad or angry, you yell. You often shout "no" or a similar negative word and start hit/grabbing whatever is around you - whether it's the table, your sippy cup, or your mom. You're an expert at sassy expressions, usually holding really still, looking down and then rolling your eyes around. It's actually super funny because I don't know how you pick up these things or if it's just human nature! I'm praying this is just a developmental phase, because if this is how you are as a young tot, I'm going to lose my mind before you're 18.

With all that said, you're still incredibly cute while you're being sassy, and your father thinks it's a good character trait to have convictions and fight for them.

Health-wise, I think most of your baby teeth have come in at this point, so yay. You caught what I believe to be an allergy-related summer cold, but you're powering through. When you went to the doctor for your late 18 month appointment, you were almost 24 lbs and 33 inches tall! They said you're growing perfectly and meeting all the milestones you should. I kind of think you should be talking more, but the doc assured me you were good. Your eating is very inconsistent. You're into snacks, but not really into dinner. Your taste preferences change on a dime, which leaves cooking for you quite a challenge. I always worry you're never getting enough to eat, especially when people make remarks about your "petite-ness."

Things you like including sliding on slides at the park. You even love the more challenging twisty slides. You're still not a swing fan, but you may be slowly warming up -- you don't lose your crap just looking at one anymore. You like many of your toys still, especially that Fisher Price Barn. You get very excited when you spot "goggies."

Your main love is Mickey though. You love that show more than anything. When you're in a total toddler rage and can't be calmed down with anything, a few minutes of seeing MMCH makes your world better and stops your tears. I feel guilty over the amount of screentime I let you watch, but I'm kind of in survival mode right now, so I hope you don't suffer any long-term effects from this!

I'm so in love with you. Even through the rocky times, I melt into a puddle and my heart wants to burst out of my body when you smile at me. I just forgive you of everything when you flash me that grin! I know that someday your ferocious spirit will serve you well in life. Mama loves you always, Bug Bug.

Lucy at 18 Months

A year and a half! Has it really been 6 months since you turned one? In my head, you're "just over a year old", but in reality you're quickly on the path to two. Unreal!

This month has been a very trying month for all of us. While your health has been pretty good, your attitude has gone awry. While always easily frustrated and quick-tempered, you've soared to new heights lately. You have learned the words "no" and "don't" and "dop." Dop, of course, means stop. While I'm sad you only have learned negative words, at least you're learning words... I guess. Maybe since they're new words, you want to practice them a lot. At any rate, your temper has matched your words, and you've been trying our patience a lot. I'm hoping you're going through some big developmental milestone and that it passes. You're still able to laugh and have fun sometimes. You're just very stubborn and independent, but from what I hear, you're quite normal as far as 18 month olds go. You've had a lot of upheaval in daycare teachers, which is probably adding to your discontent and frustration.

You love steps! You also love running and trying to play ball. Your favorite everyday toy is your Fisher-Price Barn that is a shape sorter. You still don't like swings, but you love the slides and the steps of the playground.

While you had an unusually fussy month, I feel like things are on the upswing. You sleep great at night and now don't immediately wake up and cry. You can chill out in your crib for a few minutes until I get over there. Your naps on the weekends are pretty hit or miss, and you can only nap an hour and a half max compared to the two at daycare.

Your words are: goggie, hot, mama, dada, duck, doo (two), dop (stop), no, don't, Pappy, shoe... and some others I'm probably forgetting.

I can see you changing a lot -- I look over and you're like a big kid with big kid expressions. And you just LOOK different to me lately too. All legs and and many expressions. You're really understanding the words and tone I use, though you're too stubborn to repeat things back to me. Just a year ago you were a bald fat lump who couldn't even sit unassisted and now you're this bold, curious, emotive child. When you're happy, my heart wants to fly right out of my body. I still can't believe I'm your mama.

You're my heart, Buggy.

Lucy at 17 Months

Dear Lucy,
Every day you grow and learn new things -- some good, some bad. It's amazing to watch it unfold either way.

Your language skills are really coming along now. You understand the words I say, most of them anyway. You follow one and two-step commands, unless you're being defiant and then you ignore me altogether. Your words are: mama, dada, hot, hat, cracker, gok (book), shoe, goggie (doggie), pup pup (doggie), and duck. The other ones are probably words but I don't understand them.

You had your first real boo-boo/accident. At daycare you were unstrapped from the buggy and launched yourself to the sidewalk, injuring your pretty little nose. I wasn't even sure if you had nose bones in there to break, but if you did I was sure you broke it. You healed up rather quickly and a visit to your pediatrician assured me you were going to be okay. You also battled another round of teething angst -- this time, your canines. Because of the new teeth, you're not eating very well. You like snacking on things like crackers and veggies, but lately you're just content to chug your milk.

Your favorite toys involve shape sorting and organizing things. Since it's finally getting to be more spring-like, Daddy and I have been taking you to the playground and on walks. You're still terrified of the swingset for some unknown reason. 

The most stress-inducing trick you have is deliberately disobeying our orders. You will purposefully touch something you're not supposed to and HOPE that you're yelled at! You smile the biggest smile while getting reprimanded, it's just unreal. Needless to say, I'm at my wits end trying to keep you safe because you just want to do the things you're not supposed to. And be smug about it. 

You now won't go to just anyone. It takes you a bit to warm up to friends and family members, though you happily let the waitresses at the local Chinese buffet hoist you around. 

You continue to amaze and surprise me all the time. I often wish I could shrink you back up to 5 months old, but you are so fun now that you can communicate a little. I dream of all the things I can teach you and all the activities we can do together as you grow into a young lady. And most of all, I still have to pinch myself daily when I look at you and then it hits me "I'm this beautiful girl's mama. WHAT?" I've never known another child with as much personality and charm as you. Of course, I'm clearly bias and I have a thick pair of mommy goggles, but other have told me the same. You're pure magic, Buggy. Magic.

Lucy at 16 Months

Dear Lucy,

All of 16 months old, and you continue to be spirited and independent, affectionate and caring. Your language skills are starting to emerge lately -- you "talk" a lot now, though I have no clue what you're saying. After being around two days for a day, you know the word "pup." I just love hearing you babble; your voice is the cutest thing ever. Even when you're angry. I especially love when you're in the car and just start babbling "mum mum mum mum-a." I love that you understand commands, even two-step commands. I dislike when you listen to my command and ignore it.

Eating -- I loathe meal times. Now Daddy takes you to school really early so you can eat breakfast there, because you're downright picky and change your mind. One week you love bananas and the next week you cry when you see them. While you seem to eat most foods at lunch at school, you won't eat meat at home. Your favorite foods are peas, corn, beans, broccoli, noodles, and french fries.

You love shoes, and will walk around with them on your hands. I think you want to try putting them on by yourself. Last week you had an opinion on what shoes you wanted to wear. Which terrifies me. You get mad if I take something away from you before you're done with it (toothbrush, snack cup, etc) so you melt down for a minute.

Your favorite toys are stacking cups, your hairbrush, my hairbrush, and your Fisher Price piano. You like to line things up to your other, including the toilet paper rolls on top of the (thankfully closed) toilet lid. 

You hate snow.

Healthwise, you were a mess this month. You had a 36 hour fever/flu-like thing. Your exczema got so bad we had to take you to the doctor to get a prescription ointment, and then had to take you back in because of a yeast infection. But you're growing normally -- 22 lbs 4 oz; 33 inches at 16 months. You fit pretty well into Target/Old Navy/Gap 12-18 month clothes, though Carter's 12 month stuff is too big!

Lucy at 15 Months

Dear Lucy,

15 months old! You continue to be curious, fun, dramatic, expressive, impatient, beautiful, cuddly, and tenacious. I wish I could mentally freeze moments in time so I could grab pen to paper to note certain little quirks I notice daily. Your daycare teachers consider you independent but good at playing with others.

You are officially down to one nap a day, but often wake too early in the morning. This results in you being very crabby in the morning, but we're working on it. Our bedtime routine is pretty simple -- we bathe you starting around 6:45. From there, it's pajamas and the last cup of milk. You either get a second wind of fun energy or you get really whiny and squirmy. When that time comes, I ask "Do you want to night nights?" If you collapse on to my shoulder, that's your "yes!" Daddy and I take you to your room and put you down. You flop to your belly, nuzzle up to the blanket and put your butt in the air.

Speaking of milk, um, you're addicted. You were drinking more than the recommended maximum, so I had to come up with ways to cut down. If you had your way, you'd do nothing but drink milk all day long. So now I try to distract you with snacks, get you new fun sippy cups for water, add ice to your water, and put water IN with your milk. ::sigh::. In other health news, your eczema has flared up a lot the past month. :(

Speaking of addictions and causes of mommy guilt -- you're also infatuated with Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. You can be in the grouchiest mood ever and a switch flips when you see Mickey walk over that hill to greet you.

You say hi and bye and wave most of the time. I've been told you keep everyone laughing all day at school and that you're pretty well-known throughout the center. I'm beginning to think you have a bigger-than-life personality. You definitely light up a room, which is fitting as the name Lucy means "light."

As much as the toddler stage is scary and infuriating, I manage to love you more with each passing day. What IS that? I can't get enough of you. I want to cuddle and kiss you all day long. And you're a bit of a cuddler, which I LOVE LOVE LOVE. You're usually content to snuggle with me on the couch while you watch Mickey. Every day, you surprise me with a new trick or a new expression. My heart bursts by the minute each time I glance at you. You're my world, Lu!!

Lucy at 14 Months

Dear Lucy, 

You're really figuring out this whole toddlerhood thing with every day that goes by. Each morning I feel like I'm dropping off a baby at daycare and pick up a big kid. You're fully walking now -- and still falling, especially when you're tired. The bonus to the walking is you don't find little bits of string on the floor to eat. :) 

In language developments, you say my name! It's always "mmmmmm-om" and not "mama", but I'll take what I can get right now. I've been waiting so long to have a name from you. You mix up your constanant sounds -- books are still gocks and dogs are dos, but I'm sure you'll have an explosion in the next few weeks.   You are adjusting really well to your new school and to a completely new schedule. You surprise me with the things you now that I know you learn at school like sitting down and doing hand motions when I sing "Itsy Bitsy Spider." 

You thrive on praise and celebration when you do something well. You just love the positive reinforcement and mimic us when we only do a reinforcement once. For example, you clap your hands together in delight when you put your sippy in the designated spot on your highchair tray and when you kind of sort get the shape in the right place. When you're reprimanded or redirected, you either laugh at us or cry.

You definitely have developed object permanence. If your toy rolls under the TV stand, you stoop down low to find it -- it doesn't just disappear because you can't see it anymore. And with that comes separation anxiety when I drop you off at school. Fortunately you snap out of it quickly, but it still breaks my heart when you lunge for me and cry as I'm making my way out the door.

The last month hasn't been the best in regard to your health. You've had a hacking cough that made you throw up, pink eye (which required a trip to an urgent clinic), the worst teething pain due to emerging molars, and eczema. Most of the above affected your eating, so you haven't been eating much and went through a weird couple of days of hating meat. I want to encourage more utensil-using soon. You eat a little bit of everything I offer for the most part, though you sometimes push away things you liked previously. Guess I need to prepare myself for the fickle toddler period. You're also like that with everything else. I offer milk, you push it away. I offer it again and you snap it right up. You come over to my leg and want to be held. So I pick you up and you try to leap out of my arms 5 seconds later.

You're also developing a mischief streak. When I tell you to stop touching food to your hair when you eat, you grin at me and slowly raise it back up. We did this several times. And when your father tells you to stop pulling at his shirt collar, you turn to me with the expression "Is this guy for real?" and slowly put your hair back up his collar. I think we're in for some trouble!