She's a Full-Fledged Toddler!

Our little baby girl is growing up. I tell everyone she's 1 1/2 years old (not 72 weeks or 18 months)! I look in the rear view mirror and no longer see a baby, but a little girl! It didn't happen overnight, but yet it took me by such surprise! There is no question that she's now considered a full-fledged toddler!

We want to cherish every one of these little accomplishments and enjoy this phase because, she's growing up so fast! I'm afraid to blink - she might be starting pre-school!

These are a few of the cute things she is doing now:

• walking around in Mommy's high heels
• climbing on the couch, into chairs by herself
• she is really good at stacking blocks and building towers w/ her legos
• likes books, turning the pages, and pointing out pictures
• she walks fast/runs, walks up stairs w/ one hand on the rail, can kick/throw a ball
• points to lots of body parts correctly: eyes, ears, nose, mouth, teeth, tounge, hair, toes, tummy, elbow, ...
• scribbles w/ pencils, pens, crayons
• feeds herself using fork/spoon, drinks from a cup
• she is always pretending to talk on the phone; holding it up to her ear w/ no hands (like Mommy, i guess)
• taking Hailey for a walk
  

• laughing, cracking herself up
• walking backwards
• she is always gathering an arm full of things to carry into the other room
• playing outside w/ sticks, rocks, leaves, acorns, dirt...
• she helps me put the clothes in the dryer from the washer, then takes them out for me to fold - I'll take all the help I can get with laundry!
  
• loves her babydolls
• she's so sweet, and gives such good hugs and kisses to Mommy & Daddy

We are constantly amazed by Ali and her ability to do and say so many new things. She understands nearly everything you say to her, and is in the phase where she repeats nearly everything you say. She is building quite the vocabulary...
These are just a few of her words that came to mind:

• "Bye Bye" - for good bye and for airplanes (b/c they go bye bye)
• "Please", "Thank You" - she has very good manners ;)
  
• "Uh Oh" - one of her favorites
  
• "Love You" - this one will melt your heart
• "Ali"
• "Baby"
• "House"
• "Shoes"
• "Duck"
• "Bath", "Bubbles" - she loves her bath, especially w/ bubbles!
  
• "Book"
• "Blocks"
  
• "Moon"
  
• "Truck"
• "Up", "Go", "Stop", "No"
  
• "More", "Snack", "Juice", "Ice"
• "Hot", "Cold"
• "Night night"
• "Hailey", "walk"
• "Bryleigh" & "Ellie"
  
• "Thank you Rye" - this started out sounding like "Thank you eye"
  
• "Thank you Daddy" - awwww!
  

Some things are in her own language, but very clear once you learn to translate...

• "All dome" = all done
• "Eyes" = eyes and sun glasses
• "Balalaba" = banana