Olivia at 21 Months...

Monkey Do, as we sometimes call her, is at that age when everyday I look at her and say to myself - please don't get any bigger, all the while envious of moms with kids that can 1) sleep on their own 2) pee on their own 3) won't endanger themselves when left on their own.

21 months bring Fall, long awaited cool weather.  Olivia loves taking (short) walks where she points to the ground, to the trees, to the barking neighbor's dog.  She picks up random leaves on the ground and the OCD in me has to remind myself not to stop her.  Her hair is long enough to brush against her eyes, and I happily slip a bow in there when she is not looking.

One night, as I lay in bed waiting for her to fall asleep, I felt a meaty little finger on my eye and a little voice saying Ai.  Then she pointed to my nose and said No.  Oh the kisses that followed.  My baby even knows shoulder and toes, thanks to her favorite song.  She loves post bath singing and tells me exactly what she wants to hear by veto-ing everything else with "no ma ma" until I sing the right song.  Something else she says that makes me swoon - thank you.  She says it with puckered lips like it's one word.  Gets me every time.

She runs everywhere now and it fills my heart with joy.  Especially when she runs toward me and wraps her arms around my legs.  It is rare that I don't pick her up and smother that face and neck with kisses.

Things I'm trying to teach her - colors and how to count.  Reminding myself to be patient, that once upon a time I was worried sick she wouldn't walk.  Look at her now.