15 Months

Dear Savannah,

As of last Friday you are fifteen months old. How much you have changed since the day you were born. It doesn't seem possible that so much time has gone by.

You just handed me the TV remote, your cue to have me restart your favorite shows. You actually only like the theme songs. This is fine by me- I don't have to feel guilty about letting you watch TV. Your favorites are the Little Einsteins (as soon as you hear the opening bars you stop whatever you are doing and stare, transfixed. Then you start patting); My Friends Tigger and Pooh is the new one, as well as the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and most recently- Barney. Today was the first time you watched Barney and you sat there, transfixed, while you watched that big purple dinosaur dance and sing.

I think you really just love anything musical. We'll put music on and you almost instantly start moving to the beat. You came around the corner one night when there was music on and then stopped- and started bobbing your head up and down. You will bring me your DVDs that have sing-a-longs on them and hand them to me, then you become my shadow until I put one on for you. You get this absolute passion for music from your daddy, that's for sure. You like any kind of music- rap, R&B, hip hop, pop, oldies, classic rock, punk... you definitely have indiscriminate tastes!

You are really big into sharing food these days. Right now as I am writing this you are trying to shovel miniture goldfish into my mouth. Even when I try to tell you no, thank you- you persist until you get your way. This happens quite regularly at mealtimes and snack times.

You have six pearly white teeth now and I cannot get enough of your toothy smile. You waited so long to sprout teeth that I got very used to your gummy looks of love but there's not much else I love in this world than seeing you beam up at me or your daddy with those tiny teeth poking out. You alos think it is funny to pretend to bite my fingers, which isn't so funny when you forget you are pretending and actually bite down- hard.

We've discovered that you are very passionate about many things in your life. You absolutely LOVE (in no particular order)...

Being outside
Your Daddy
Watching your Daddy work, mow the grass, whatever. Just watching him
Waking barefoot in the grass
Walking anywhere and everywhere- and not wanting to stay by our sides (this is a bone of contention when we are in public)
Peyton and Boone
Cuddling with your Mama (occasionally)
"Sharing sugar"- giving Mama and Daddy kisses
Rubbing my back, shoulders, face, hair. Whatever you can get your hands on
Pretzel goldfish
Swimming!!
Swing sets
Your sandbox
The beach
Playing in the hose when I water the flowers
Splashing in the water
Climbing the stairs- then climbing back down. Repeat. And repeat...
Being in your stroller when we are outside- never inside
Patting the dogs and giving them hugs and kisses
Your kitten
Looking at pictures of yourself (though this is not new, you have always liked to do this...)
Playing in the garage
Reading books

A little note on that last one... last night I was sitting on the couch, having a few minutes of reading time while dinner was cooking and you were laying on the floor by the couch, on your side, flipping through a Beatrix Potter book. I glanced down at you and my heart melted to see my little girl doing the same exact thing that I love to do so much- curl up with a good book.

We found out on the day you turned fifteen months that you are going to be a big sister next February. It was interesting to see your reaction to me helping GiGi take care of your cousin Madalyn yesterday- a slight glimpse into our future with your Mama taking care of another baby. You were surprisingly okay with it, not getting jealous when I was holding her and couldn't hold you. I know that watching your cousin for a few hours was very different from having a new baby in our house all the time but it helped to know that you weren't insane with jealousy. I have a feeling that you are going to be a wonderful big sister, though- just like your Auntie Jaime was to me.

So here is to another phase past in your life, as you are truly becoming a todder, a little person and leaving that sweet baby girl behind. And as we embark on these next months when we are preparing for the arrival of your little brother or sister I know you are just going to change and grow that much more. As much as it saddens me to know that this time is going to go by so fast and you are going to grow even more, I am so excited to see what the future holds for you, and for our family.

I love you, Monkey.

Love,
Mama