Sixteen Months Old

Dearest June, Where does the time go?

You have been growing so much lately. Getting taller, eating tons of food. Last night we tried grapes and you could actually chew them, finally.

You and I went on a trip to Oregon last weekend. (Mommy was hoping to get a job, but alas, was not selected.) We had a fun time anyway, visiting family. On the airplane you really wanted to sit in your own seat, without Mommy holding you in place.

This morning you ate crackers for breakfast. You ask for crackers all the time, and you agree that even dehydrated fruit or peas can be crackers. I like this. And you ate your breakfast astride your riding lion.

Today, your Daddy is listening to Desmond Tutu speak in Minneapolis. This is very cool and perhaps someday you will appreciate it. He will be attending a workshop as well that Desmond Tutu is running and everyone works in small groups. I can't wait to hear all about it.

But this post is about YOU my love. I would like to share some of your recent words:

bear
toy
yummy ("ummy")
yucky ("ucky")
cold
hot
down
off (you've been saying this awhile now)
out (you've been saying this awhile now too)
Shorty ("orty" - our dog)
button

You can say the words for and identify every single part of your face (except eyebrows which we haven't taught you yet.) My favorite is "tongue" because each time we play that game we stick our tongues out at each other.

You have a song you sing: diddle diddle diddle doo! diddle diddle diddle doo! And the doo! is a high pitched sound like you are mimicking a robot or something.

You are a sweet and snuggly girl. We still nurse every day, though mostly at night to sleep and during sleep. You still sleep with Mommy and Daddy, though we have a toddler bed for you. Now all we use your big girl bed for is reading to you at night. You love climbing into it and I think that soon it will be where you sleep.

We haven't yet had your 15 month doctor's appointment! The doctor rescheduled on us, then we rescheduled. I'll have to post later all the details about just how big you are.

Sometimes you string words together like: "no, cold." Or, "Hi Debbie."

I hope you can see how much you loved the swings in Lithia Park, in Ashland. This was your first time in the swings and I appreciated the way that big jacket stuffed you into the swing like a sausage. I'm always worried about you getting hurt.

You've been mostly healthy this month, though have had a stuffy/runny nose for the last week or so.

We miss Daddy, but he'll be home soon.

Love,
Mom

P.S. Mommy looks a lot like her Mommy, Nana Becky, in this photo.

Scent

{Thank you everyone for your uplifting comments yesterday. And for being in this same boat with me. It is inspiring to know so many women who care about the earth, their place in it, and their families.}

Walking from downtown to my car this morning there was a smell in the air - like earthy black licorice. That mixed with the smell of orange blossoms. It was delightful, and I hope I can recall it when I think of Tucson after we move away from here.

The smell in the air got me thinking of the other night during June's bath. Adam said, "Come smell her head." I leaned in and took a whiff of the top of her still-dry head. I looked at Adam, not sure what he wanted me to notice. He said, "She smells like a person." So for a recount, here is what she smelled like to me: aloe vera when you first break it open to smooth onto a sunburn, mixed with a touch of light lemon.

Adam smells like sandalwood, or like a birch tree when you lean in really close.

I don't know what I smell like (thankfully perhaps!) except sometimes I smell just like brownies. And I like that.


Little Junie report:
Well, sometimes when she wants to go to sleep, she will walk right up to me and say "night night." She will also stop me, mid-reading a book, lay her head down, pat the bed and say, "night night." As in, "Mom, I'm done reading. Let's go to sleep." At daycare today I learned she does the same there, walking up to her main caretaker, Debbie, and holding her hand and saying, "night night," leading her over to her crib.

At the library a week or so ago, I was doing something June likes. Which is, I was holding her in the air as though she is laying on her belly with her arms out, letting her push her own stroller. She loves this and could do it for hours. A little girl who was there with her father called June "baby super." This made me smile and I keep thinking of it.

Lately when you take June's jacket off of her she doesn't want you to take it away. She wants to hold it. She is similar with her shoes. She used to hate them, but now she wants them on her feet at all times.

She has started walking with her arms deliberately held down instead of up in the air for balance.

She will give you a beso, and if you ask where her "panza" is she will lift her shirt and/or cup her belly.

She will climb into your heart too, when you aren't looking. Or maybe when you are!