Aiden: 18 Months

Holy cow, we have a legit toddler. Aiden Grace is 18 months old... one and a half! (Well, technically now she's 19 months, because #life.) There is hardly a hint of baby left, she is officially a little girl. I don't even know how to do an update since the last one on her first birthday, she is so different - but also the exact same. That makes sense.

First haircut!

Getting her passport picture taken for the big cruise in April!

Coolest girl at the ballfield

• She's a running, dancing, stomping, clapping mess. If she's awake, she's moving. The girl does not stop. 
• The good news is she wears herself out and is a great sleeper. She takes about a 1.5-2 hour nap in the afternoon and sleeps from about 7:30/8pm - 8/8:30am at night.
• She's a chatter box! It's been fun to hear her really start trying to figure out words. She's got a handful down, although almost none in actual English. :) Mama, Dada, Papa, Nonna, thank you, please, cracker, all done, more
• Animal sounds are a favorite past time! She can do a monkey, elephant, cat, duck, sheep and goat. She loves trying to do a rooster (cock a doodle doo!) and it's about the cutest thing ever to hear her try.
• She loves music and dancing. Her favorite jams are her Bible CD from Grandma, her Aiden CD from Nonna, the Itsy Bitsy Spider, the Wheels on the Bus and Jesus Loves Me. She's also obsessed with Alexa, which we ended up having to hide from her. 
• She loves Sesame Street, Thomas & Friends and sometimes Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood.
• She got her first haircut! She looks like such a lady, and also still has a weird mullet going on. She did so well, considering she's a toddler. 
• She knows exactly what she does (and doesn't) want, and has quite the forceful "no" head shake.
• She is strong-willed, to say the least! She loves to test (and break through) boundaries, which is both exhausting (temper tantrums, yay) and so interesting to watch.
• Disciplining an 18-month-old is.... tough. The whole "redirection" thing is exhausting when it's what you're doing all day long.
• Dog food is her snack of choice. So is crushed ice in a bowl. Being a typical toddler, some days she's a great eater and some days a granola bar is a success.
• She loves to play with zippers and climb up and down stairs.
• Jude is still her bestest friend and they are so fun to watch! She's also a big fan of Ruthie and Hank, and constantly tries to sit in Ruthie's 'lap'. They're good sports!
• She thinks she can jump, but she can't. And it's HILARIOUS. I laugh so hard every time. (There's an attempt at a video below.)
• At her 18 month check up, she clocked in at 24.5 lbs (75%) and 34.25" tall (98% - which the doctor said must have been a mis-measurement, so who knows how tall she is??). Her head is still holding strong at 19" (93%). Praying my next baby's head is a smidge smaller, at least coming out!

She's still the happiest kid, ever. She's curious and sweet and hilarious and loving. She's just the best.

Some fun videos of the past few months:
Bath giggles
Man down on the ice
Can I still be a baby?
Trying to jump
Her little voice! I hope I always remember it.

We'll finish this one off with a picture of her at her 18 month doctor's appointment - just enjoying a quick snack! #thatbelly