-Evs has been going to bed around 8:30ish and sleeping until 8:30-9:00 a.m. most mornings. It is wonderful!!!! She takes one nap a day. For awhile we were in a transition period where she was wanting to take a morning nap but only take one nap a day. It made for some VERY long days!! Thankfully, she has now transitioned to one afternoon nap and she usually goes down around noon or 1:00 p.m. Her average is 1.5-2 hours. Although yesterday, she slept for 3 HOURS! I checked on her about 20 times because it was so unusual. I think it was because she ate a really big lunch beforehand so her little tummy was nice and full.
-Speaking of eating, she's been going through the most frustrating phase: not being hungry! It's so weird. She just doesn't seem to have an appetite. She eats every meal and some snacks, but just not a lot at each sitting. I'm not worried per se, I just wish I could feel satisfied that she's getting a good, full tummy each time. At least I know I'm not alone. . . Carrie and Kelly have both talked about their girls being that way lately.
-Restaurants have become touch and go. If we time it right, it usually ends up being okay, but if she's not hungry and occupied with food, she is fussing like CRAZY to get down from her high chair and walk. Argh. I know that's just the age we're in, but I sure do miss leisurely meals!
-She is waving and saying "bye bye" on cue whenever we ask and also when she senses or sees that someone is going somewhere. She even tells people in stores and restaurants bye bye as they're leaving. We get many smiles! Of course I think it's just about the most adorable thing in the WORLD to hear that little voice say "Bye bye" so sweetly. We joke that she says it with a southern accent! I guess that is where she spent her first year of life....
-Evy also says "night night" on occasion. She does know that when I say "Nappy" or "night night" it means that she's going to sleep. She'll look around for her paci and Bun Bun (yes, he's still here and going strong). We've developed a good routine recently. She'll let me rock her (because I love to rock and sing to her) for a little bit, and then I put her in her crib (she's still awake). She goes on to sleep by herself, and it's the best of both worlds!
-She is wearing 18-24 months clothes and a size 4 diaper. Her little legs are still chunky and I LOVE IT.
-Her hair is growing a lot and she has a lot of little curls. I just think they're the cutest!
-She says "Ish" every time she sees an animal of any sort (at my parents'). She puts her head down and cuddles Muffy (our Shih-Tzu) so kindly. I'm glad she's learning to be gentle!
-Evy still has a thing about shoes. She's moved on from being concerned about her own shoes, but if anyone takes their shoes off, she gets majorly worried and stressed. She won't let you rest until you put your shoes back on (or hide them, which we usually do). OCD at 16 months.....nice.
-If we give her a wipe and tell her to blow her nose, she will! She holds it up and blows--so funny! She will also dab a powder puff on her face as we say "Pretty."
-She recognizes family members immediately. She's gotten to spend lots of time with Kurt's parents as well as my family these last few weeks. She now says "Papa!" I'm sure all the other grandparent names aren't far behind. My dad got lucky because those are the easy sounds for her to make--hee hee!
-She dances to music and it's so funny. She bobs up and down and moves her head side to side. She definitely seems to be an entertainer (which I was as a kid), so it's fun to watch!
-While I was typing this post, Evy started fussing in her crib. I love when this happens (well, I don't love that she's fussing, but you know what I mean), because it's rare that she wakes up in the night. I get to rock her, smell that precious little head, and give her more kisses that the million I already gave her today. I love extra cuddling! :)
There's no way a list could enumerate what Bitty is up to and how much we love her. Not having Kurt here these last several weeks has made me appreciate single parents so much more. I have missed not having my teammate (and husband!) here. However, he's coming in tomorrow for the weekend! Then it's just a few days of paperwork back in Jackson, then he's DONE!!!!!!!!!!!
Evy has been adorable and precious at every age, but this is an especially cute time. She's really starting to communicate and interact with us. She's learning so much, and it makes me really excited that I could possibly be her teacher in a few years (we're still feeling led to homeschool at this point). I just want to be apart of what she's learning and watch her little mind grow. She's extraordinary, simply because God made her. I'm still in awe everyday that God chose me to be her mother. It's so cliche, but that's how I feel! When she acknowledges me as "Ma-ma" I just want to lift up my hands and touch God's face to say THANK YOU!
Kurt and I have never enjoyed 16 months of our lives so much! We love you, Bitty!
