Etta Mae is 18 months

etta mae is a year and a half today so im taking a moment to write down the things that i dont want to forget about this age.  

first of all i think i have decided that 18 months to 2 years is possibly the cutest AND most frustrating age.  etta is talking all the time, and most of the time i am able to understand what she wants.  but when i can't, she is livid.  because, in her mind, she has communicated her needs very clearly and i am just inept.   

many times a day i just melt into a puddle because of a look she gives me, or the way she waddles, or a slobbery kiss or watching her dance.  but just as often i find myself saying something like 'etta mae use your words, koresha amagambo' or 'etta mae, no whining'. and those moments feel repetitive and laborious.   

a few things she does regularly:
-when she asks for something and i give her an explanation she responds 'ohhhhhh' as if she understands perfectly now
-when i ask her a question and she does not know the answer she says 'uhhhhhhh' like she is searching for an answer.  its so stinking cute.

-she she wakes up from a nap or in the morning  she asks for the same few things; edee, bow, socks, daddy, baby (eloise, the little girl who i keep full time)
-she wants to do pretty much anything and everything that eden does.  this both delights and terrifies me!
-she loves to sing and dance and when a song is over she will start signing and saying 'MORE' immediately.   
-she loves the bath
-she says 'cheese' whenever i have my camera out and 'i see' whenever i have my phone out

-she loves wearing shoes and she knows where to get them out and put them away.
-she can follow age appropriate instructions like cleaning up toys or brining me things that i need.  its fun to see how proud she is of herself when she completes a task.
-she is really affectionate and loves to snuggle, which every mother loves.
-every day she can say or do something new and its so thrilling.

-she is VERY opinionated and has a much harder time getting self control at this age than eden did.  already i can tell that she is a fighter and does not mind when there is conflict.  eden has never wanted anything to come between us and wants to reconcile right away after something has broken our relationship.  etta is all 'get away from me'.  its a bit shocking to me.

-watching these two together is such a joy.  especially as the days get darker and shorter, and my patience gets shorter, its good to take a breath and remember what a blessing they are.  what a gift it is to be their mother and to be here for the day in and day out.  for the wonderful moments and the not so shiny moments alike.