20 Months Old

Dear Ruby,

I just read the letter I wrote you back when you turned 18 months and I can't believe how much you've changed in the last two months. I fully intended on writing a 19 month post but it just never happened, whoops! What can I say, you turned 19 months old just three days before Christmas! Not to worry - I've been jotting notes down for the past two months and will do my best to recap both your 18th and 19th months together here.

First and foremost, your largest accomplishment over the last two months was learning using the big girl potty! Yep, that's right! Daddy and I owe a huge thank you to Potty Elmo (a gift from Santa.) After we returned from Lake Tahoe you were reunited with your Christmas gifts and you seemed extremely taken with Elmo, his sippy cup, and his potty. You also seemed to grasp the concept - after the sippy cup Elmo would need to use the potty. A day or two later I began to find you sitting on Elmo's little potty (a funny sight let me tell you!) I asked you if you'd like to try the big girl potty and was surprised when you replied with a confident "YEP"(while running to the bathroom.) It was almost like you'd been just waiting for me to ask. Imagine my shock when the very first time I sat you on the potty I heard the infamous "tinkle". Mommy was FLOORED. I literally marked the date on my calendar - January 5th. Proud Mama over HERE! Since then you've also impressed us with showing us you can also go poo-poo on the potty. That a girl. You are still not 100% potty trained but I have no doubt after mommy decides to take this seriously and we set aside a few days to ditch the diaper at home you'll do great. Hey, you'll do ANYTHING for a cookie!

Here are a few more things we want to remember about your 18th & 19th months of life:

• You are repeating everything! You love to talk. Your favorite word is "Yep." It is hilarious to me considering most kids your age love saying "No". We still hear "No" plenty but not half as much as "Yep"
• My favorite words of yours are "Sushi", "Swish, Swish, Swish" (when you want to do the wheels on the bus on the iPad), and "Thank You"
• We also have started to hear you exclaim "My" (mine) about your toys or other items you don't want taken away. This threw mommy into a slight panic. But after learning that asking an almost two year old to share is like expecting a 6 month old to use the potty (it just isn't going to happen) I decided to let it go. You are teaching me to accept the age appropriate behaviors even when they aren't so attractive. I know you'll learn to share eventually....
• You are obsessed with books. You love to read the same books over and over. You get annoyed when Mommy wants to read a new one but after I have, it quickly becomes a favorite.
• I am no longer allowed to even attempt to spoon feed you. Nope, you won't have it. You insist on feeding yourself. The plus side is if I give you a spoon you'll pretty much eat anything. This is mommy's trick to get you to eat your vegetables. We'll see how long that one lasts.
• You love, love, love the park. Lucky for you your Gigi and Tucka take you almost every Tuesday and Mommy and Daddy have been taking you lots too. I sure wish you didn't love digging in the sand as much as you do but oh well - it's an activity that keeps you entertained which is BIG.
• You can now open any and all doors by yourself. This includes the front door. YIKES.
• Elmo is favorite. What is it about that guy? Now when we turn on old favorites like Barney or Yo Gabba Gabba you are totally disappointed and say "ELMO!" and if that's not enough you follow up with a "PLEASE Mama" which I can't resist.
• We went to the pediatrician's office for a check up at 20 months. You are in the 95% percentile for height at a tall 35 inches and the 75% percentile for weight at 26.2 lbs. Daddy's claiming an Olympic athlete :-)

I found you without your PJ's on the other morning. I could hear you saying "UGH-OH". Not really sure why you took them off but we've stopped wearing these for now.

You had a couple shots last week at your check up. You were VERY upset about your boo-boo's and continued to fuss and complain even on the drive home. We had to stop for gas and I asked you if you thought a cookie might help the boo-boo's go away. You of course said "YEP" and proceeded to chow down this cookie from good ol' ARCO.

Each and EVERY morning since while I am getting you dressed for the day you point to your thigh and say "boo-boo, cookie?" with a pouty face. Um - NICE TRY!!!

Auntie Jennifer and Baby Paige came out this month for a visit from Colorado.

We had a fun time seeing them!

Aunt Rose also came out for a visit. We had fantastic weather and enjoyed play dates with her. She even got to visit Pretend City. Lucky Aunt Rose! :-)

Ruby and Papa on stage at Pretend City. Papa looks like a natural!

Tickling the ivories with friends Tyler and Ryder

We took a trip to Crystal Cove with Nana, Papa, and Aunt Rose. A gorgeous January day!

Ruby, I doubt I'll ever stop saying it - it's really hard to believe you are already so big. To think I'll have a two year old in just a few short months is just mind blowing. Being your mommy is such an awesome job, I can't imagine spending my days doing any other thing. Daddy and I love you more than you'll ever know.

Kisses,

Mama