Olive @ 18 Months

There's something magical that happens at 18 months.  

More language, more affection, more personality and more fun.

Schedules seem set and routines are appreciated.

The days go pretty smoothly and communication is improving.

Definitely one of our funnest months to date.

Noteable 18 Month Happenings:

// Olive learned how to give real hugs and gives "huggies" very often.

// She wants to read all the books, all the time.  She has favorites and we read/reread them all day long.  Llama, Llama, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, You are My Cupcake and her picture naming book are all favorites.

// She had her first surgery on December 3rd to help her heal from her bad burn.  We spent a good portion of the month quarantined at home with sickness and recovering.  We had our share of doctor appointments and did our best to take it easy.  We are currently trying some new bandages to help compress her scar in the hopes that it'll smooth out and no more procedures will be necessary.  We go back mid-January to recheck her hand.

// Olive's love of candy has increased with all the treats that were out for the holidays.  She broke into the candy jar and discovered how delicious candy canes were, LOVES M&M and was caught in the middle of my MIL's table wolfing them down by the handful and she loves Nerds.  I have to keep them out of her sight because she turns into a crazy woman when she spots them.

// We did tons of fun baking and holiday projects for Christmas.  We delivered cookies to our neighbors and had lots of fun decorating gingerbread men.

// Olive hunts anything with berries.  She will pick off berries from wreaths, flower arrangements and off of Christmas trees and leaves a trail of berries.  It was a little embarrassing when she did this at someone else's house.

// Loved all Christmas decorations - especially the musical ones.

//  She throws up the touchdown sign at the slight mention of a touchdown.  She's also learned to give double high fives.  My husband is thrilled with his little cheerleader.

// She loves all pens and we have to keep them hidden!  She scribbles on everything and it's darling when it's on paper, but not so darling when she tattoos herself or the furniture.

// She doesn't throw too many public tantrums and usually saves them for home.  Unless we plan a trip to Target, then she will wait and throw some pretty ugly tantrums there.  I guess she hasn't gotten the memo that Target is a sort of lady paradise.  Let's pray this changes or else she'll be banned from outings to Target... kidding... kind of :)

// Favorite foods:

pizza

chips & crackers

cheese

dips - salsa & ranch

carrots

rice

any mexican food

eggs

apples

apple sauce

M&Ms

// Frequent words:

Ho ho = Santa

happy = Christmas ornaments

apple = apple (and all other fruit)

I see you

What's this?

Who's that?

shoe

kitty cat 

Toph toph = her name for both cats

choo choo = anything with wheels (cars, trains, trucks, etc)

cheese = cheese & what she says when I'm taking her picture

ish = fish

quack quack = any bird

yummmmm = any food

Love you

Papaw - was the first person she learned to say outside of her parents.  She spends her days asking for papaw, calling him on her pretend phone and then gets stage fright when we facetime.

// I was unloading the dishwasher one afternoon and Olive was nearby.  She sees me do this most days and has just started helping.  She'd hand me silverware one piece at a time and be very proud of herself.  I got distracted with something in the fridge and I looked over to find that Olive opened the silverware drawer and was piling in the silverware.  I was shocked because I didn't realize she knew where the silverware went and she was proud of herself for taking this job on herself.

Favorite 18 Month shots:

 18 Months old will go down as one of our favorites.

Oliver may disagree...