to our 16 month old class clown

greta, you just keep getting more and more hilarious. i am laughing to myself thinking about what exactly to write in this letter. you are hilarious.....like when we heard you going, "tickle tickle tickle" in the car and we turned around to see you tickling your own bare feet as we drove along. (why are your feet bare in the middle of winter....because you seem to think taking your shoes and socks off for EVERY car ride is hilarious). you are hilarious.....tonight when i took your clothes off before your bath and you patted your belly and said, "naked". you are hilarious when you ask for a granola bar (which sounds nothing like 'granola bar' but i just know that is what you are saying) at EVERY snack, and then you will shake your head and say, "nah" because you know that's what i am probably going to say.
you are just the funniest little thing....you like to make faces and your papa just keeps teaching you new ones. you have your mean face, your surprised face, and now your kissy face. you love seeing new people and going new places, and you like to pretend that you are shy and hide behind mama's legs.
you have mastered climbing the stairs both up and down, and lately that's all you want to do. you like to go upstairs and wander around the rooms, looking for new things to play with. lately you like to play in your room, and like to take out the nesting cups and help mama build a tower that you can knock down. you also like to say, "knock knock" at your closet door so that mama will open it. then you proceed to play with anything and everything in there....diapers, shoes, a pillow. you like to say, "baby" and point to the infant carseat that soon enough will hold your little brother. actually, you seem to be very interested in any and all babies that you see. i had to practically hurdle a few people at the library to stop you from manhandling a baby in a carrier whose mom had stepped away for a second.
speaking of the library, you have suddenly taken an interest in what actually takes place at the library babies program we go to each week. when we came home from the library 2 weeks ago, you started 'singing' a song that is sung there and doing the hand motions. i barely know the motions, but we have quickly learned them together since all you want to do lately is sing that song. you've got the motions down to twinkle twinkle as well. and the best is when you sing along with us, or tell us 'no' if we start singing a song that doesn't suit your fancy.
like always, you are saying new words almost daily. the best is that you are starting to put two words together, like when you say, "help please" or "hi mama". lately you like reading the books 'goodnight gorilla', 'we're going on a bear hunt', and nursery rhymes including jack and jill. you ask for 'jack and jill' by name, saying their two names together in a flurry of sounds that sound like 'jahjoo'.
you continue to amaze us....whether it's your new spinning dance moves, your ability to use a fork, or just how stinkin cute you are.....we enjoy every day with you. even though your short naps cause mama some stress, you are constantly happy and busy and full of life. thanks for letting us smother you with kisses and humoring us when we ask you for a snuggle or a hug. i think we could hold you and sing to you all day long and never grow tired of loving this incredible girl you are turning into.....