18 Months

Where did the last year and a half go? Peyton is looking like, acting like, and seeming more like a toddler than a baby every day (it probably helps that we added a newborn to the house which made Peyton seem HUGE overnight). We love her and her ever-growing personality.

These days she:
-- has stopped doing baby sign language
-- learns new words on a regular basis (even if it takes us a few tries to decipher them)
-- insists on using utensils every chance she gets
-- loves to help when she's asked, and loves even more to be told she's a good helper
-- gives us lots of practice taking turns at her command ("mom turn, dada turn, Payties turn")
-- loves cars, helicopters, and airplanes
-- loves the pool even if she doesn't always love getting in - it's also 10x more exciting if Preston is there (her neighbor friend that's 6 months older than her)
-- has a new favorite food: "faffles and ceem" (waffles and whipped cream)
-- has to have her drink and "cerrul" (cereal) for car rides and helps us remember to put them in the diaper bag when we get to our destinations
-- has learned to put on her own shoes, and constantly puts them on the wrong feet no matter how many times we put them on the correct way for her
-- still loves shoes and is always willing to help get mom or dad's shoes for them, especially if it means going outside
-- LOVES to eat fruit
-- sleeps cuddled with a stuffed lamb and a bear every night
-- has started helping say prayers
-- has figured out what the word fast means and likes to try to walk fast and help other people walk fast
-- likes to help put on lotion and do her bedtime routine especially if she gets bubbles in her bath
-- loves to kiss mom, dad, and "Baby Owie" (Baby Allie)
-- has her canines mostly in on the bottom, and only needs 6 more baby teeth!
-- loves animals and going through what they say, but is still nervous to get close to very many of them
-- her favorite time of day is when dad gets home, she yells "daddy!" over and over and goes running to him!
-- has learned most of her letters thanks to a puzzle she loves to do 10 times a day
-- is totally fascinated by bugs and always points them out, but never gets too close
-- loves to play with her "laylows" (Legos), especially with dad
-- hilariously tries to help people stand up by grabbing their hand and lifting it as high as she can (sometimes even up onto her tiptoes) and saying up and then grunting as she tries to help lift them up
-- is already the cutest big sister