Lucy's Toddler Update | 15 Months

The last 2 years of my life have been a series of time-tracking. 

Each week (just about) of my 40 weeks of pregnancy I tracked how Lucy (and I) were growing. 

I documented how big I was, what her size was, what I was eating, craving, feeling etc - all so I would remember on that distant day when I would inevitably think

"Pregnancy wasn't that bad. Let's do it again"

I wanted myself to remember just how not-great pregnancy was!

And then Lucy was born and the documenting continued. Amidst the barage of daily photos of that precious new peanut there were the monthly updates. 

These always included:
A photo (to show how she was growing!) 
update on her weight/height/clothing sizes
her new discoveries / abilities / experiences
her sleeping habits
and how we were adjusting. 

There is something so important about documenting these things.
That's why baby books were invented. Because moms wanted to remember. 
Once they got through the fog of war they wanted to remember every milestone and new experience! 

No one is better at this than my mom. She is still adding information to our baby books! 
Every milestone, every new experience, every broken bone, every funny phrase of my childhood is documented. 
It's amazing really. 
And I'm so thankful! 

I will never live up.
Lucy's baby book is spotty at best. 

All of that to say... I'm gonna keep on with the documenting and try to improve on my failings within her baby book - because I'm gonna get old and senile and never remember that in July of 2015 Lucy said "Brush" for the first time

She did! Just today. Oh my word it's the cutest sound in the world. No one has ever said the word "Brush" with more conviction or down-right cuteness. I'm sure of it. 

So here marks Lucy's 15 month update. 
15 months may be a little random but I haven't really updated much since her 12th month. 
In the toddler-world a LOT can happen in 3 months. 

Not so much in the realm of adulthood. I haven't changed hardly at all in 3 months... I still like the same things and have the same number of teeth and words in my vocabulary. 

Not so for Lucy... it's been a busy 3 months!

What's New Since 12 months

Vocabulary 

She has a total of 16 words in her vocabulary! 

    New Words: "bye bye" "no" "what's that?" "hot" "night night" "up" "eat" "shoes" "God" "yuck" (sounds like guck) "elmo" "brush" 

Trying hard here to not get offended that she can say "elmo" before she can say "mom" or "dad" or really any of the other people who love and care for her daily. What has Elmo done for her? 

nothing, people. He's done nothing. Just stares at her from the pages of a book. Sheesh. 

Teeth  

 4 top and 4 on the bottom and one molar just popped through! (With 3 more on their way!)

Which explains the 2 weeks of a runny nose!

New Skills 

• April 27th she took her first steps on her own! Since then she is a mover and a shaker and is marching all over the place! 
• Hugs and Kisses - she started this back in May. (Her first real hugs and kisses were given to her dolls and teddy bears and then she finally warmed up to her family!) Kisses consist of tight lips and big "muah" sound afterwards!
• She has gotten better at eating - can take bites of sandwiches, bananas etc - but has also gotten a little more picky. We are working through it...
• Obedience (and disobedience) 
• Eating off of a plate! (usually with some sort of semblance of neatness)  
• Signing: "Eat", "water" and "please" most importantly she signs them at the appropriate times! 
• Though she hasn't said the words yet she can point to her belly, hair, nose and shirt when prompted.

Daytime Routine Activities

Lucy sleeps 12 hours and is up anywhere between 7:30 and 8:00 and is still loving 2 naps. So we are milking that for as long as we can!
Her day has independent playtime in the morning for about 30 minutes (we are building it to one hour slowly) 
We also make sure to go outside each day and get out of the house a couple times a week! 

Educational activities: Nothing yet - but we have big plans for starting some basic education as well as designated Spanish time! I'll let you know how it progresses! 

Likes

•  to say "up" and be held... constantly. (Though she thinks "up" means pretty much any movement and it is therefor used when she means up, down, over, up higher, etc)
•  the water in any form - pool, splash pad, tub, hose, sippy. She'll take it in all forms! 
• milk, grapes, raisins, veggie straws, bread, yogurt, bananas, eggs, peanut butter, ground beef
• animals - mostly cats and dogs since that's all she has experienced!
• music and to dance. It is a guarantee that if she hears music she will start to bounce and sway. My tiny dancer! 
• "Amazing Grace" - We sing it before naps and bedtime and she "starts it" for us... ya know, just so we know what she expects. ;) 

Favorite Games / Activities

• Peek-a-boo
• Any chase game - you chase her, she chases you, she chases the cat (the cat never chases her!)
• emptying out drawers, bags, boxes, etc. 
• "Reading" - she just loves to sit with her books and page through them. And also loves when her Pappy reads them to her (though he pretty much just makes up the story!)

The cat cowers in fear.

Dislikes

• A number of foods she used to love
• having her head dried after the bath
• the sound of a taped-box being opened! haha it's the funniest thing! 
• Blankets / covers of any kind 

Phases

• The whiney and "fake-cry" one... I'm calling this a phase because I'm really hoping it is just that! 
• Temper-tantrums (post on this coming soon!) 

Mom’s Observations 

Lucy girl, you have such a personality! You are energetic, rambunctious, talkative and wear your excitement for things on your sleeve! You are sweet and social; you will say high to anyone and everyone and have been known to go up to perfect strangers and hug them (young or old!). You are tender-hearted; giving hugs, kisses and holding the hand of any little kid who will let you! You are easy-going as she will go to pretty much anyone and play with any child! You are observant and you are inquisitive as you study others and your surroundings. But you are not without your share of disobedience. Even now I can see that willful spirit within you. But with joy I have seen the moments when you choose obedience a  and my heart sings with joy as I watch you contemplate and choose right! Watching hyour personality and abilities develop with each passing day and month is astounding. What a blessing it is to be your mom and to have the God-given privilege to train you and raise you in the Lord.

 My cup runneth over. 

Lucy's outfit for these 15 month photos is a favorite of mine! I found it originally for a friend for her daughter but then came across another one and had to have it for Lu! We don't have too many cute baby boutiques around here so I found this at one of the only places I can find boutique-like clothing: Marshalls! 
But some fairly similar bubble shorts can be found here, 

Lace, bubble shorts and a bow... baby-attire heaven!