E at 16 months

To my sweet, sweet E at 16 months,

You are a joy in our home. You have the happiest of demeanors. You loved having Papa and Nanny here along with Tee for several nights during Christmas. You are still walking around saying, "Papa...are you?" which of course translates to "Papa, where are you?" Then, because I have told you many times that Papa is with Nanny at their house, you answer yourself with, "Papa, Nanny house (which sounds like howch)." Adorable! Also, you love spotting Santa(Tantah). You will answer, "Ho, ho, ho" when asked what Santa says.

You still love to sing and dance. You received musical instruments for Christmas and have enjoyed playing them. Every night after bath and whenever I change your diaper, you request all of your favorite songs. They are, in your very specific order: Wide (Deep and Wide), Face (If your happy and you know it--which you request by pointing to your cheeks with your fingers), and Roun-roun (The Wheels on the Bus). It is precious! You like to sing Jesus Loves Me to your babies (or whatever you're holding that is being your baby at the time).

You like to play Peek-a-boo with the curtains in den and any thing you can put over your head, especially laundry (clean or dirty--you have no preference). You say, "Where Liza? Peek Boo"

You can very clearly say Luke and Lily (the cat). You say Cecil as CHe-CHul, and your sweet big sister is either sisser or Line. Caroline secretly likes having your special nickname for her. She is wonderful with you, too!

You often ask to go to the potty. We are amazed! We take you when you ask, and you have been pretty good about it. I am in no way ready, so I'm just going with you on this one...

Right now you are eating most everything except meat. You don't like french fries too much, nor anything fried from my favorite place CFA. You like the grilled strips, though. Whew! You still love milk, and you learned to ask for a "toot-tie" (cookie) and cracker during the Christmas holidays.

Here are the words you say: nack (snack), wink (drink), bite (which can be drink or eat), kitty, Cecil, Luke, Line, sissy, Mommy, Daddy, stays (stairs), bye-bye, night-night, toot (which is when you want to potty), cue me (excuse me), tan-too (thank you), po-ee (potty), nana (banana or Nana, depending on situation), phone, Josh (whom you love), Tee, Nanny, Papa, howch (house), ball, ow-si (outside), sly (slide), wing (swing) , bir (bird), pup-py (puppy), Eliza, Liza, are you (Where are you), bear (Pooh bear which you love to snuggle while sleeping), dog (especially when speaking of your pink dog you sleep with), pees (please), bes u (bless you when someone sneezes or coughs), jejus (Jesus), toot-tie (Cookie), cwakah (cracker), more, shire (shower), yes, uh-huh (while nodding head yes), no, no-no, bah (bottle--yes, you still enjoy it--don't ask) hal (help), Tan-Tah (Santa), ho ho ho, tee (tree),dat-tit (jacket), wow (one of your very first words) lah ooh (love you--my favorite)

I think there are more, but this is all I can think of now...You are growing a large vocabulary so quickly.

Every night, you want to read at least 2 books, then be rocked and we sing. Then, you get snuggled down and say, "nigh-nigh lah ooh" (which of course is good night, I love you...) Often, you ask us to put you to bed by saying nigh-nigh and bringing us a book or pooh. It's not like we're keeping you up late, you start this about 6:45! :)

Ok, I've got to get to sleep. Just wanted to remember your little precious self! I love you so much!