to our 18 month old color wheel champion!

so last month i mentioned you knew a few colors....and then a week or two later you knew them all. and by all i mean all the ones you would find in a box of markers. plus gray and pink. you will just point to things and say the color that it is, which still continues to amaze us! the way you say orange "noinge" has got to be my favorite.
you moved to your new room this month and i've got to say that the transition went so smoothly. in your new room, you like to pile your favorite books (goodnight moon, wheels on the bus, papa please get the moon for me, and the lady with the alligator purse) in the rocking chair and then climb up into the chair and read them to yourself. lately you also like for your babydoll to sit in the chair next to you, and you cover both of you up with the blanket. and you are pretty good at 'reading' these books. you repeat several words and phrases from the books, especially wheels on the bus. when you say, "all through the town" i could just squeeze you it's so darn cute. i think you also like that your clothes are a little more accessible now. you often pull the same two dresses off their hangers and try to put them on.books are definitely your favorite toys. books and your little yo gabba gabba figures, which you like to arrange in different places around the house.
as the weather gets warmer, you are enjoying walking along the sidewalk on our street, where we often see our neighbors tom, patrick, and emily. you will point to their house and say all their names. in fact, when we read goodnight moon each night you say that the house in the book is "emily's". lately you have been practicing your independent streak by wanting to go down the stairs outside by yourself, which frightens mama tremendously. while outside, you often pick up the same two pinecones and carry them around.
you like to be naked and you also like to put your shoes on by yourself, which can make for an interesting wardrobe on some days. and your memory is pretty amazing....like when we were looking at a picture of mama and papa on their wedding day and i told you it was when we got married. now whenever we see that picture or any other picture from our wedding, you say married. or when you see the library near our house and say "books".
not only do you say a TON of words but you babble to yourself constantly, especially in the car or when you are looking in a mirror. you are so expressive that we are sure you are saying something, we just wish we knew what it was. you love to laugh and still and probably always will love to sing songs and be sung to. you love ANY song your papa makes up, especially the icky icky icky song and the zoo song. and you love to sing all the bouncy rhymes we learned at the library.
we have seen glimpses of those typical toddler tantrums, but nothing too severe yet. mostly you just like to say "no" any chance you get. you also will try to do something on your own and then ask for help, only to get frustrated when we try to help because really you just want to be able to do it by yourself.you have lately taken an interest in wearing mama's bracelets, whether it's on your arms or ankles. and mama's growing belly is definitely interesting to you....you will say "belly" and pull my shirt up to kiss or lay on my belly. it is incredibly sweet, even though i don't think you know exactly what you are doing or why. this may officially be your last month as an only child, and i can't wait to see you as a big sister. you are such a sweet, kindhearted, gentle soul who i know will love having a brother. at least eventually. we love you so much.