18 months old

Well I guess at 18 months old, we officially have a toddler. I am so amazed by the new things she is learning daily. Watching her feed her babies, push them in a stroller, rock them, and pat their backs is a very typical day in our home. Ava is a very lovable little girl that likes to give hugs and kisses. Although, she has started to lean in for a kiss, rather than give one on the mouth like she used to. We've also been playing outside a lot as the weather is getting nicer. She loves to swing and go down the slide. Its going to be hard to get her inside at night this summer, I'm sure of that. Her favorite book is "Brown Bear, Brown Bear". We read that one several times a day. Her favorite TV show is Elmo's World and Dora. She also loves dancing to the music when I watch Dancing with the Stars!

At 18 months, Ava weighs 33.8 pounds, and is 33 inches tall.

Here are the words we are most consistently hearing her say these days. She will usually repeat them if you ask her to say them.

Dada or Da
Mama
Elmo
No
Yeah
Uh-Oh
Hi
Bye
Ball
Yum

There are some other words that she doesn't say quite as often. She also doesn't usually call me "Mama" or Darren "Dada" but will say it when we aren't around or if we ask her. Last week I was working on saying words with her, this is how our conversation went:

Mommy: Can you say Daddy?
Ava: Dada
Mommy: Can you say Mommy?
Ava: No
Mommy: Can you say Daddy?
Ava: Dada
Mommy: Can you say Mommy?
Ava: No
Mommy: Ava, say Mommy...
Ava: No
Mommy: Ava, say Daddy...
Ava: Dada

I will admit, this little girl is a mommy's girl through and through but she does say Dada more often than Mama!!

Big Girl!

This morning when I dropped Ava off at daycare, her teacher told me that Monday they had started transitioning to nap on a cot rather than in a crib. I cried when they told me because I can't believe my "baby" is already sleeping on a cot like a big girl. Yes, I'm that mom! Anyway, they said she did great! They also said they were going to start having her sit at a table on a big girl chair (rather than one with straps that hold her in). And also, would start in the next few weeks with a cup (rather than a sippy cup). She's sure growing up fast.

On another note, today Ava turned 18 months! Wow! A whole year and a half has passed. Its hard to believe its been six months since her birthday and only six months until her next one! I will update more on Friday after her 18 month well-check!

Let me in!

The other day Ava found some of Darren's keys and proceeded to take them to the door to the sun room and tried to unlock the door. It amazes me the things she picks up on and how her little mind is always at work. I am so proud of my little punkin'!

Ava loves oranges!

Well actually, clementines. A couple of weeks ago I was making dinner and when I had the refrigerator open she saw the clementines in the bottom drawer and wanted not one, but two. I offered to "open" them for her, but she wasn't interested that night in eating them. She wanted to carry them around, and then finally put them in the trunk of her car that she pushes around. I forgot all about them, until the next night when I was at work Darren sent me a text message that read, "I left the room for 10 seconds and came back to find Ava eating an orange with the peel like an apple. Where did she get it?!" What a funny gal!