Zoey at 18 Months

Dear Zo,

Eighteen months is such an incredibly fun age with you.

You are tall and lean, full of energy, always. Your hair is getting long, bangs are in your face, I call it your ragamuffin look but it's so cute I hate to change it. Sometimes you'll let me pin it back with bows (often several in a row), but a lot of times not.

You're talking up a storm, lots and lots of words and if I ask you to repeat something a lot of times you'll repeat it back to me. You also talk in long, nonsensical (to me) sentences.

You say "no" a lot, but it's so soft and sweet, you're just gently letting your opinion be known.

You are great with your brother and with other kids (except for a few biting incidents with Bubs).

Your favorite foods are milk and cheese. When Daddy gives you a cookie you run around in circles and screetch.

You love doing "beanbag splashdown," where you jump from the coffee table into your beanbag.

You're on a strict schedule and sleep from 8 to 8 at night almost always, with a nice nap in the afternoon.

The boxers who live with you, Dexter and Newton, are a little overwhelming, but you've learned to say, "back!" to them when you need some space.

You love your stuffed animals (which we call "stuffies"), especially Rock and Mimi, your rabbits, and dog-dog, your schnauzer.

You wear lots of dresses with Converse tennies (so you can run around and be a kid). You love being outside. You love to swim. You love bubble baths. You love stories, or even just turning the pages of a book by yourself. You love your new legos and can build and build and build. You are full of snuggles and giggles, and your smile is one of the best things in the world.

You are, overall, an easy, sweet, smart, fun little girl. Like I tell you every morning, I am so lucky I get to be your Mommy.

Love,

Mama