Baby Mim - 21 Months

Dear Mim,

Where do I even begin with trying to put down into words just how amazing you are. Just when I think you are at the absolute perfect age, things just keep getting better and better. The last couple months have brought you a newfound independence and a determined attitude - that easy-going baby is slowly being replaced by a funny, sweet and autonomous little lady. You're assertive and feisty when you need to be, but snuggly and loving as can be, which I think is the best of both worlds. I'm still not sure how we ever got so lucky with you, but we couldn't love you any more.

I can't believe how well you can communicate with us and how much you're saying. You know every animal and animal noise. You are working on your colors (you love blue) and facial expression recognition. You can legit count to 14, which blows my mind! My mouth literally fell open in complete shock the first time I heard you do that - I was expecting maybe 1, 2, 3...but you just kept going! I guess all that hide and seek with Mac paid off. You love to sing Happy Birthday and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. You still jam out to Taylor Swift's Shake It Off daily. You always always say thank you when I give you something or help you out and sometimes you even remind me to say thank you when you do something for me! Your manners are impeccable! You love giving hugs and have to hug every dog you see, every kid you know and any stone garden animals. You give the best hugs ever.

Physically, you seem to have grown up nearly overnight. Now that you're running and climbing and chasing Mac around the neighborhood, you've lost a lot of that baby chunk and have shot up tall. You're incredibly strong (you can certainly give your brother a run for his money) and it's nearly impossible to take something away from you once it's in the clutches of your little hands. You also shriek like a banshee and thrash around...so, you win, child. Your coordination is getting much better and (knock on wood) you haven't had a serious forehead bruise in nearly three weeks! You rarely walk anywhere these days - you're always full speed ahead and running to get wherever you want to go. Your hair is finally filling in and it's getting really blonde and curly after our recent vacation. 

Speaking of vacation, you are a beach baby if I've ever seen one. You took to the beach like you were born to be there, absolutely fearless and completely in love with all aspects of it. You splashed in the waves, you chased the birds, played in the sand, dug for crabs, caught fish with dad and enjoyed a nice cold beverage (lemonade) while lounging in your beach chair with the rest of us. I was shocked by how much you immediately loved the beach and didn't want to leave. The only things that would convince you to leave were swimming in the pool or a golf cart ride to get ice cream. Pool time was also a big hit and we can tell that swimming lessons have been paying off. You refuse to wear a Puddle Jumper because it doesn't allow you to go underwater, which you love doing. You're a total fish! 

You're also a pretty good little gymnast these days. You've been going to gymnastics class for months now, but all of a sudden it seems to have clicked and you get it! You love the tumbling (my favorite) and can do a somersault all by yourself. You now wait in line for your turn on the equipment instead of just running around like a wild woman. You love the jumping on the trampoline and hanging from the bars. And after everything, you raise your hands and say "ta da," which totally kills me. I couldn't love it more. 

You are getting so independent these days and I can already tell that the "terrible twos" are coming soon. While I don't think you'll be anywhere close to as "terrible" as your brother was, I do think you're going to be getting more and more assertive, demanding and opinionated. You insist on picking out your own clothes and you must have things the very second you want them. Anytime I try to help you do something (like put on your shoes or brush your teeth or open chapstick) I'm met with "I DO IT!! MIMMY DO IT!!" I love this age so much, but it certainly comes with a price (which is my sanity). 

Now that you're a bit more independent and vocal, you and Mac have actually been getting along a lot better. So long as you're not taking his things or monopolizing daddy, he likes having you around and wants to play with you. Sometimes you're interested and sometimes you're not. You have no problem playing by yourself and you've realized that playing with him sometimes means that you get pushed around and things taken away from you, so you don't even bother despite his pleas. You are a total little copycat and parrot, so anything he does or says gets repeated, much to my displeasure sometimes. 

You're still a great eater and we're constantly impressed by the amount of food you'll eat and the things you'll try. You love any food you can dip and you've recently discovered honey mustard, so you insist on having that on everything. Anytime I ask you what you want to eat you exclaim, "CHICKEN!" Followed by, "SAUSAGE! EGGS!" Vegan you are not. You would eat all day long, if we'd let you and ask for snacks no less than 75 times a day. You love sweets and can put away ice cream faster than anyone in the family. You insist on having cereal multiple times and day, but only eat the marshmallows. You can use utensils, but choose to eat yogurt by the handful. After every drink you take, you slam your cup down, smack your lips and say, "Ahhh!" 

Oh Mimmy, I just love you so very much. Thank you for being you. Thank you for being mine.

Love, 

Your mama

Sayings:

- Oh duh (all done)

- Poppy (pacifier)

- Buddy (all guinea pigs)

- Sagey NO!! 

- Wub Ew (love you)

- Agos! (adios amigos)

- Wedy! (ready...every time you pick up a baseball bat)
- I do it!!
- More too! Done too! Mimmy too! Go too! (anytime you want to do what Mac's doing)

Favorites:

Book: Little Blue Truck

Food: chicken with honey mustard

Color: blue

Number: two

Show: Daniel Tiger (Ti Ti) and Curious George

Movie: Wreck It Ralph, Frozen, Minions, Little Mermaid

Animal: owl, dogs, cats, bunnies

Activities: swimming, slides, playing ball

Treat: anything

Toy: baby doll

Fruit: blueberries

Song: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star (and Shake it Off by Taylor Swift)