Ashlynne - 18 Months

Sweet Ash,

Okay, I know you are only 18 months old for a few more hours, but I wanted to make sure to document who you are and what you love at this age because oh my!! You are an explosion of personality and love, silliness and affection, and we can’t keep you from shrieking your opinion at the top of your lungs! Unfortunately this means we hear a lot of “No!” and “Sto-Puh it!” It’s usually directed at your sissy who absolutely loves you to death and can’t keep her hands off your squeezy little face. But for every scream in protest you have a thousand million watt smiles to match…you even just learned to say cheese when the camera is aimed at your sweet face, which makes me laugh and totally feeds my picture taking frenzy.

You LOVE. TO. SING. You will burst into song when “Let it Go” comes on the radio, always putting great emphasis on the last word of each phrase…”Gooooooo!”….”AnyyyyyMORE!”……You also love nursery rhymes. When you’re cranky I can ask “Ashlynne, do you wanna sing a song?” and you will usually stop mid cry and sweetly say “Yessss.” Itsy Bitsy Spider, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and You are my sunshine are some of your faves and you love the “Shh Shh Shh “part on the Wheels on the Bus.

You can count to 10 already! This kinda blows my mind, because you are still learning how to use a spoon correctly, but your sister’s influence (and warning counts) has you picking up all sorts of things that surprise us. You know some of your ABC’s and are obsessed with books! You absolutely love to be read to…you will either push the book across the floor or carry it over to us, then turn around and plop yourself on or against our legs until you are in our laps. Sometimes you will lie on your belly and flip through the pages yourself which is the cutest…you honestly look like a tiny tween. Oh, and that reminds me how much you like puzzles! In the last few weeks you’ve learned to match the color and shapes on your Melissa and Doug peg puzzle and once your finished you immediately dump it out and start again! You love to color and draw with chalk, especially if Sissy is joining in the fun…she is your best friend. You love Elmo and Yo Gabba Gabba and you get so excited and kick your feet when you see and hear them on the TV.

One of my favorite things is that you love to say “I love you” and point to your head, heart and out to us while you say it. You just started doing this on your own instead of just copying us and it’s THE BEST! You also like to give hugs by dive bombing your head into our shoulders, so this could still use a little work…but it’s so sweet nonetheless. You are an affectionate little snuggle bug who loves to get cozy under a blanket and cuddle with the cat, sissy and Mom and Dad. Since Austin has been away most of the summer you get so excited when he walks in the door and you will often raise your arms to be held by him which melts my heart.

You are a good eater and sleeper which I am so grateful for! You love blueberries (all fruits, really), pizza, hummus, cheese, beans, pancakes, yogurt and avocado. You typically take one nap a day now from about 1:00pm to 3:30 and sleep through the night from about 7:30-6:30.

Walking is finally your primary mode of transportation. You hardly crawl anymore, except for up the stairs, which you’d rather walk up anyway with the help of Mom and Dad. You ask to put shoes on all the time and once they’re on you want to go “Otside”, “Otside”. You are still pretty clumsy, but when you fall you will usually get up and try walking again with no fuss. My hope is that by Halloween you will be able to walk and hold your pumpkin all by yourself!

Ashlynne, you are truly the gift that keeps on giving. You are a blessing and a joy. I live for your smile every day and feel so lucky to call you my sunshine.

I love you so much, Mama

**See Harlie's 18 month letter here**