Dear Lila

I just wanted to write you a quick note to let you know about all the fun and...well, I was going to say annoying, but we will just call it "quirky" things you have been doing during your 14th month. I can't believe my tiny little baby will be 15 months next week. I must say, this month has been hard on you. Cutting all those teeth is just not fun! Everyone says they can't believe how many you have and even the nurse at the pediatrician's office said you are cutting them very fast. I use to try and write down every new tooth as they came in, but I can't keep up! Also, this past month has been the first time I have ever really seen you throw a complete temper trantrum. Funny enough, it has been over wanting shoes on and wanting to go outside. You are usually easily distracted, but not over these two things. Just this morning we walked to the mailbox and when we came back in, you were NOT happy. You threw an all out fit about wanting to go back out. As I mentioned before, you are obsessed with your shoes and want them on immediately. Well, you now not only want your shoes on but if you find a pair of shoes in the floor you bring them to us and want us to put them on. I have realized that I leave WAY too many of my shoes lying around because you find them often. You also have this thing about wanting your shoes on, but not your pants. Therefore, you will be seeing lots of pictures of you in your shirt, diaper, and shoes! "Shoosh" (shoes) has also become your new favorite word these past few weeks. Also, if we put you in your highchair, then we better have food ready to give you right then because you are not very patient. We are working on you saying and signing please. You say something alot that sounds like "ah me", so I am just telling myself that it is you saying please. :) You sure are cute though and each day you amaze me with all that you learn. Grandmother and PopPop came to visit a few weekends ago to help paint mommy and daddy's room and your baby brother's nursery. While they were here, you discovered daddy's little wicker chair from his church where he grew up. You love to climb up in that thing and just sit. It is so cute. Grandmother also taught you how to sing Row Row Row your boat. You literally lift up that those pointer fingers like you are conducting an orchestra and sing "Row Row Row Row...Me Me Me Me" Even now if I start to sing a song you don't like, you start singing row, row, row. Your other favorite song is the "10 Little Monkey's." You like to point to your head during the "bumped his head" part and then shake your finger and say "No,no,no" at the end. You already point to and say eyes, as well as your belly button, and toes, but just 2days ago I asked you where your head and nose were and you pointed to both! You also grabbed a hold of daddy's nose and brought blood! You absolutely will not let me trim your nails or file them. Even when are you asleep, you wake up and pull away from me. Anyway, you love to come up to me and lift my shirt and kiss my belly. It is so sweet. You then say "Bye Bye" and pull my shirt back down. You sometimes say baby and bang on my stomach, but I am afraid I am confusing you with telling you there is a baby in there and trying to teach you it's our belly button too. You sometimes say "Boyee", when I tell you you will have a litte brother. You also will come up to me and tickle my feet and say your version or tickle tickle. One of my favorite things that you have been doing is while I bless our food or say our prayers at night, you will start saying "AAHHMEEN, AAHHMEEN" in the middle of it. It always makes me giggle because it is like you are telling me to hurry it up!
You have been saying this phrase that I couldn't quite figure out what you were trying to tell me because you would use it at different times. I finally figured out that you are saying "I going." Since you have started walking anytime you get up to go somewhere or I say we are going to go somewhere, whether it is to swing, the bath, to eat, or leave, you say "I going." You also really love any type of balls and can spot them from afar. You actually have a really good arm on you and like to take a ball in each hand and throw them. I should probably not be allowing you to do this, especially inside. I can't help it because you are really good at it and then you like to clap your hands afterwards and say "Yeah" like you are so proud of yourself. I also love the fact that you are all girl and like to try and put bows in your non existent hair and carry my purses around saying bye bye. You are also doing very well with following my instructions. I will ask you if you want to change your baby's diaper and you will walk across the room to get a diaper out and then come back and get your baby and lay her down on the changing pad. OH, and how can I forget? My all time favorite thing you do right now is throw your hands up in the air and say something that sounds like "Where'd they?" or "What's that?" If someone leaves the room or if a ball or toy goes out of your sight you do this and it is PRECIOUS! I am super proud of you and I can't wait to see what a wonderful big sister you will be! I love you little one.