18 Months

Well folks, here we are at the 18th month update. I can hardly believe that Belle is already a year and a half old! It feels like just yesterday I was telling you all about her arrival. She has become quite the character in such a short time. In this picture she is wearing the grey shirt for the day and has taken the stripped one out of the laundry and is wearing it like a shrug. All of her own idea she just slipped it on that way. Earlier in the day she was wearing a strainer for a hat after eating all the grapes out of it. Such a munchkin.

For her 18 month check up today we took her into the doctor's office. We've been there a lot for my pre-natal appointments, but this time they called Belle's name and she walked in with confidence following the nurse. Then we stripped her down and she again followed the nurse with confidence to the scale where she proceeded to move the little weights, pretending she knew what she was doing. Then the doctor came in and they talked with each other, she just chatted in her jibberish a mile a minute as though expressing her health concerns. Then we got her all dressed again and she sat on Nick's lap for her needles. The first one went in and she didn't even flinch. Then the second one, which stings happened, and she didn't flinch until the plunger went down and then there was the howl, cuz it does hurt a bit. So Nick cuddled her up and the doctor said "Okay Belle you're doing great see you next week!" and she stopped crying immediately to say "Good-Bye. See ya later" and then went back to whimpering in Nick's arms for a few seconds. We then placed her on the floor and she led us out, getting a sticker from each nurse she passed on the way out. One of the nurses even told us Belle has become the highlight of her week! Such a great girl.

She is currently slightly above average in height and slightly below average in weight for her age. Growing to be a tall slim girl. Can't complain about that. She passed all the little tests they ask about. She can walk backwards, follows commands, and has at least 10-20 words. I was trying to write down all of her words this week for her scrapbook and she just adds new ones each day! She always says "hello" and her "good-bye" is always followed by "see ya later". You can understand every word she says even if her enunciation is not totally clear, like it's obvious she's saying squish, but not as clearly as I would. Very cool.

Then tonight we went to a BBQ for the church staff to introduce us formally to everyone Nick is working with. We were the youngest by at least 20 years thus making Belle 40 years the youngest. She captured everyone's heart. Even though it wasn't our home she said "good bye" to everyone at the door and gave everyone a hug goodbye. How adorable is that. She basically walked in a circle throughout the house and deck flutting from group to group. All through the night I heard little comments of "She's so cute" and "She's so good natured". Just the thing a mom wants to hear. At one point in the evening people started telling us we are doing a great job parenting and the women's pastor said I should start teaching parenting classes. And while that was flattering, I don't think I can take much credit, Belle is just a blessing- not only to us but to everyone she meets!