Brooklyn ~ 18 Months

~ Very little has changed over the past few months as far as Brooklyn's schedule goes... still naps once a day for 1-1/2 to 2 hours, still goes to bed around 7:30 and wakes up around 7 a.m. The only difference is that now she no longer fights it... if she's sleepy & you ask her if she's ready to go night-night, she says "yes" and heads for her bed!

~ Horribly picky eater. Fruit is her staple food group. Primarily blueberries. She stuffs blueberries in her cheeks like she's a squirrel storing away nuts for winter :)

Some days she barely eats and other days she does great. She is not much of a meat eater, just the occasional chicken nuggets. And if you try to bribe her with ketchup or sauce, she just sucks the ketchup off instead of eating whatever food it's on!

However she knows desserts when she sees them and very much has her Mommy and Daddy's sweet tooth!

She is starting to use a fork and spoon pretty well, and is very independent. She only wants to feed herself.

~ Brooklyn has a LOT to say... she likes to walk around and just talk. Well, more like jibber-jabber. We're not always sure what she's trying to say, but that doesn't stop her. If you ask her to read a book or talk on the phone she'll carry on in her own little language (that is, if she's in the mood!).

But her vocabulary is quickly growing. She can repeat most words & learns and applies new words very easily.

She can name several animals and tell you what each one "says".

I think what amazes us the most is how much she comprehends and how she can understand and follow directions so much more each day.

~ She can be the most cuddly, sweet, funny, active little girl. But that can quickly change to strong-willed, shy, and/or grumpy. And of COURSE that usually happens when she's around people she doesn't know.

~ Likes to dance, spin in circles, clap, and yell "yay!". She likes for everyone in the room to acknowledge her if she's proud of something she's done.

~ Diaper changes and brushing her teeth or hair can sometimes cause her to throw a fit.

~ Does a lot of Mommy stuff--Loves baby dolls, stuffed animals (she hugs & kisses them and puts their hands together so that they can pray!). Loves bracelets, necklaces, and will sit completely still to get her nails painted.

And a lot of Daddy stuff--Laughs hysterically when someone chases or tries to "get" her. Isn't scared to climb up or jump off anything! Recognizes ESPN or a baseball game on TV and yells "home run!". Knows how to give "knuckles" and head-butt :)

~ I'm guessing she weighs around 25 pounds. Wears size 5 shoes, size 18-24 month clothes, size 4-5 diapers.