Liza at 18 months.....

My Sweet sweet Liza: I absolutely cannot believe how much you have grown and changed since your 1st birthday......there ought to be an 18 month birthday to celebrate how much babies grow and change in a short 6 months! And you are no baby anymore....which gives me a range of emotions from sad and sentimental to super excited.

You definitely keep me on my toes! Words can't describe how much joy you give me and daddy....we say all the time we wish we could freeze you for a bit and enjoy this age a little longer.

I am going to type a few things about you at this age that I never want to forget....

I love that you still suck your thumb......I know I shouldn't.....and I probably won't enjoy the dental bills down the road....but it is so precious to me. You go to sleep sucking your thumb....and it is a sense of comfort to you when you are hurt.

I love how much you love a soft blanket. You call it a night night and can't go to sleep without one. And, I have found it safe to really just never go anywhere without one.....I never know when you might all of a sudden have a "nye nye" meltdown and need a soft touch. Thank goodness it is not one particular blanket, though....anything soft will do. But something small won't do.....so small lovies are out for us.

You also just love to hold something..... it could be your night night, a wet wipe, even an apple slice that you are done eating but just not done holding. You have gone all day holding a baby wipe....you wipe things and then just keep holding it. You hold it to sleep, play, and even run errands. When the sweet old ladies come to speak to you, they ask, "What is that in her hand?" I have to reply simply: A wet wipe. Then a confused look follows.....I just smile. : )

I love how many words you are starting to say. You will try to say anything that we ask you to....and there is always some resemblance of the word in your word. You love to say shoe, sock, hot, sit, dog, just to name a few. But your favorite words are Mama, Dada, and definitley BUBBA. No, we did not teach you Bubba....you came up with it all on your own. I will say, "Say Will." You say, "Bubba!"

What I love the most about what you say, though, is when you wake up. I come and get you....you first hand me your night night, then you say Mama Dada Bubba. Mama Dada Bubba. Over and over......it melts me....it shows me how happy and secure you are in our little family. You know who is your family and you have to say all of our names and know where we all are right when you wake up. We often have to sneak into Will's room just to show you that he is safely sleeping.....once you see him and know where he is, you are ready to play!

I can't talk about what you say without mentioning our friend, Judah. You and Judah are about 3 weeks apart in age....and you adore him! For every 10 times that you say Mama Dada Bubba .....at least 1 of those times you throw in a Mama Dadda Bubba JuJu. : ) You love your friend, Judah!

I love your little fingers. You always point and use them in the cutest and funniest ways. When Will is sleeping, you are quick to tell everyone, shhhhh with your finger on your lips. When you are excited, you kinda do this pointing thing with your hands.....you do it while you dance, too! It looks like your hands look in this picture:



I love your little legs and feet, too. You do the cutest thing with your feet....you twist and turn them and when you lean up against something you always sorta prop a foot up against your leg. It is hard to explain, but it is an image so cute in my memory that I don't want to ever forget. It is so girly. This picture sorta captures it.....not fully, but sortof:


It cracks me up when your temper flares and you throw your milk (or whatever is in your hands) ....then you immediately look at me and say noooooo like you know you are about to get in trouble. I haven't figured out if you are getting onto yourself and telling yourself nooooo, or if you are telling me nooooo for what I am about to say to you. : )

Did I mention that I love your temper? Okay, so maybe that is a part that I don't like everyday.....but it gives you spunk. I love that I see a glimpse of the spunk that you will have in the future.....but it causes me and daddy to pray much over that spunk! I pray for wisdom in directing your strong will so that it is productive and not just a lack of self-control. But, under the prayerful hope that you will learn self-control, I love that you are a bit of a spunky gal! : )

I love to watch you play. You play so "big girl" now, rocking, feeding and burping your babies. Cooking and serving tea. Sometimes you litterally shove food into our mouths.....you don't take no for an answer. : )

You love to show your bellybutton. It really cracks me up. You will pull your shirt up in a second for anyone that will poke your belly.

I love how you love daddy's attention. You hate when he comes home and then leaves again (like to mow the grass or back out to run a quick errand). You are okay when he leaves in the morning.....but when he comes home you want him home for good! You love to go to Bass pro with him.

I love all your animal noises. The turkey is a definite favorite.

You are so smart now. I am sure that is one that will continue to amaze me more and more each day....but it truly does amaze me how well we can communicate now. You seem to really understand and know all that I am saying to you....and while you can't fully communicate back, you are trying. You understand my words to you, and my looks to you. And you show me in small ways everyday how well your memory is developing. You remember where I hid markers from you.....you don't whine quite as much because you are finally beginning to remember to say please instead. You truly amaze me.

I could go on and on and on about the things I love about you.....but the one that makes me smile and melts me the most is to see you with your Bubba. You absolutely love Will to pieces. You love to just sit by his bouncy seat and talk to him....you kiss his hand, rub his head, take his pacy out and put it back in, you put his blanket back on him..... It is not always with the gentle ease of a mature 5 year old....it definitely has to be monitored.....but it always makes me smile so much because you are doing it all in love.

Psalm 127:3

"Children are a gift from the Lord..."