Julia || 20 Months

Whew! Month 20!

I vividly remember toting Julia around when she was just a couple of months old, chatting with other moms whose babies were in the teens and twenty-something months, and I thought there's no way we'd get to month 20 this fast. But, alas, we are here. And there's nary an idea for a second birthday party. I should probably get on that...

Anywho...
Height :: I'm guessing about 32-33 inches
Weight :: 24.5 pounds

Loves

Per the usual, Marcus, depending on the situation.

Books.

Being outside.

Sticks.

Puddles.

Getting filthy.

Helping to walk our lab, Drake.

Snacks.

Cheese.

Sweets.

Puppies.

Kitties.

Snails (so gross).

Getting up on the computer desk and "typing."

The intro music to Bubble Guppies and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, but not actually watching the shows, that would mean sitting still.

Wearing shoes, particularly Marcus' shoes and her Mickey and Minnie Disney Twins; if you spot her in those and they don't even remotely match her outfit (see the last couple pictures below), it's because I've failed to hide them.

Running around in her birthday suit.

Dislikes

Marcus, depending on the situation.

Wearing headbands/bows. I knew this day was coming, but it doesn't make it any less sad. Daily, I attempt in vain to put headbands/bows on her, but they are almost immediately ripped out.

Hearing, "no."

Veggies.

Going down for naps and bed time (though the resistance is usually short lived).

Waking up from naps and bed time.

Language

This month seemed to be the breakthrough with words. 

Simple, two word sentences are now the norm. 

The sweetest is when she will be given something she's requesting and she says, "Thankssss, Mommy."

Potty talk. Oh my goodness, I don't think we had real potty talk with Marcus until he was just entering preschool. But, Julia loves to tell us, "Drake, poop," or "Izzy [our cat], poop."

Sleep

We've kind of hit a hiccup. For quite some time Julia would go to bed and sleep through the night without waking up. Lately, there have been multiple wake-ups per night. Usually the remedy is nothing more than a pat on the back and a reminder that it's bedtime. But, even those few minutes away make for some very groggy mornings. I'm hoping this is something that passes quickly, momma's tired.

Thankfully, however, morning wake-ups have been pushed from 4:30 to closer to 5:30, 5:45, and every Blue Moon, 6:00.

Another thing to note, Julia has recently insisted on going to bed with her water bottle. I thought surely it was just something to hold on to. But, in the mornings when I retrieve the bottle at least a quarter of it will have been consumed.

Notable moments

Julia can identify the colors blue and yellow. Red, green and orange still have some work. She is also able to help me count to three. I'll say "one," she'll follow up with "two," and together we will say "three."

Just recently I've noticed that when we sing to Julia she will "sing" along. It's more a mumbled hum with a bit of the song's melody tossed in for good measure. It's the most adorable thing, and I never want to forget it.

We've participated in two Easter egg hunts, and Julia held her own and loved running around with a basket swooping up eggs.

Along with potty talk, there's been a curiosity about the bathroom in general. Julia gives exactly zero privacy when it comes to bathroom courtesy. And, each night before bath time she insists on sitting on the toilet, though nothing ever comes of it.

That's a wrap on Month 20. Onward to 21. And time to start that birthday party planning!