15 Months Old

Tula,

This month you have truly, truly, turned into a little girl. I find myself constantly saying to Daddy, "I cannot believe she....(is this big, can do this, just did that, knows how to, etc.)" You absolutely amaze us at this time in your life. You are so full of curiosity and excitement and joy. Your personality is becoming so much more apparent to me, and your reactions to anything so much more predictable because I feel like I actually know you. Of course, you are at an age where you are now capable of completely throwing me for a loop, but we are still luckily at that stage where it is more in a good way than a bad. You surprise us everyday with a new something. Whether is is a word or a love or a fear or activity. This month, you decided one day that you were afraid of dogs, then a few days later Grandma came to visit and brought Sadie, and though it took you a few hours to warm up to her, dogs were now cool with you and you wouldn't stop saying "Say-Deeeee" and laughing hysterically when she would run by you. When we couldn't find where, we would as you "Where's Sadie?" and you would do that cute arms in the air thing and try to repeat the question. I could play that game with you for hours and hear you repeat it back to me, and then watch you whole face light up when she comes running out from behind a chair. The smallest things bring you the biggest joy, and that transfers to me, and I cannot thank you enough for all the smiles you have brought into my life.

This month, you have really stepped up to the plate in the Big Sister department. You, my girl, are so good with your baby brother it is unreal. You love to kiss him, and will always tend to him when he is crying. And I can honestly say that you have even been able to soothe him a couple times. Don't ask me how, no offense sweetheart but your version of "gentle" isn't quite what one would hope it to be, but you are learning fast and I can't expect any more from you. You love to suck on his fingers and toes (this is adorable) but last week, while having a suck on his fingers, you decided twice that you needed a little nibble as well and bit him. Poor Maverick has never cried that hard in his life, but as soon as he started screaming, you truly did have the most concerned look on your face. You did it again the next day, maybe just to see if you would get the same reaction out of him, and you did, and it hasn't happened again since then. Thank Goodness. You know to give his his blankie whenever he is without one, and I catch you wiping his face with it like I do from time to time. You love to hand me wipes when I change his diaper and help pour water on him in the bathtub. You are like a little Mommy to him, and there is such a special bond between the two of you already that brings a joy to a Mother's heart that is overwhelming. Watching the two of you together is magical to me.

You are growing so fast though, and lots of big changes this month. Although you still haven't eaten meat, we are finally almost done with pureed foods. Before, it was you that always wanted them and I was trying to give you the finger foods. Now, I feel like it is more me trying to get you to eat the pureed stuff left in the freezer before we completely do the transition. You still love yogurt and your apple dessert I make you, I would say that is your favorite right now. Pureed apples and cereal and cinnamon, it kinda tastes like baby apple pie and that warmed up with a sippy cup of milk is almost always a hit with you. This month, you actually had one whole day that you went without breastfeeding, and although I was excited for you and your little independent self, I have to admit I felt sad that I wasn't as needed as I once was by you. I remember the times when I couldn't leave you for more than 3 hours because you would need to nurse, and maybe because I am not at that stage with Mav, you just seem so far past it and so much older and bigger.

Thank goodness that you make up with your rapid growth with affection. You are so lovey with us all right now, with everyone in fact. You will give anyone who asks the biggest open mouth kiss possible. You have started approaching Daddy and I with kisses too, not just when we ask for them. I love that sometimes you look at us and just open your mouth and want a smootch. I never thought a big wet slobbery kiss like that would feel so good. You love to kiss your friends, and even new kids you meet. Sometimes this freaks the other kids out and they will push you away and it breaks my heart. I love that you are so resilient you will usually just toddle over to someone else and kiss them. You will go sit in any Mommy's lap at playdates, which I find interesting, some of these Ladies you have only met once in your life and you will sit in their lap and actually approach them. I am often so proud of you and your confidence and trust in others. I love your calm personality that really is okay with anyone. Sunday afternoons we have a small group come to our home and this month you had your first babysitter. Grandma saw you with her today and said when she walked in the room you went to her and wanted up immediately and seemed to love her. My wish for you, Tula, is that you live your whole life loving as freely as you do now. I know that circumstance and hurts and life will get in the way of that a little, but if you could stay half as loving and accepting as you are today, your love would make this world a better place. Everyone should be so lucky to get a hug from you!

You are a girly girl. You love clothes. You like to brush your own hair after bath, and have decided you love to brush your teeth and if you remember, will go into our bathroom where you know your toothbrush and toothpaste are and point up there saying the usual "Dat, dat, dat." You love, love, love shoes, and often want to wear them in the house while playing, take them off, put them in your car. A few pairs of shoes would entertain you for a long time.

You have decided now that you are a big sister that you love to entertain yourself. And you have always been fairly independent, but this is different. You like to go into your room, climb up on your chair with a couple books and "read" away. You flip through the pages and babble away, but so expressive. It is one of my favorite things to watch you do right now. When you play downstairs, you are talking so much more to yourself. I don't have to check on you to see where you are cause I just follow the voice. Oh, and of course you can't tell us one of your big stories without your hands moving a mile a minute. You point and shake your finger and flail your arms, oh yes it gets pretty intense. You wouldn't, by chance, have some Italian in you?

Tula, Mommy has been so busy with Maverick the last couple weeks since we brought him home from the hospital and you have adapted so well to the whole thing it blows my mind. I make a point every day to find some time with just me and you, and I can tell you cherish it just as much as I do and love the one on one attention from Mommy. But you have also done so good at stepping back and letting me do what I have to do with Mav and your patience with him (and me!) I am so grateful for. You are such a big girl and good sister, Maverick is a lucky brother and Mommy and Daddy are blessed beyond measure to have you both in our lives.

Love you!

Mommy