Olivia at a Year and a Half

Dear Olivia,

Today you are a year and a half old. Every time I write these letters I always mention how fast time has flown by, and this time is no different. What once was a four pound, fourteen ounce baby, is now a babyish toddler working her way to little girlhood. There's been so many changes with you over the last couple months, and I've seen the changes right before my very eyes.

You started walking over a month ago now. At first, you were so stubborn about it and refused to take even a few steps. We had to give you a lot of encouragement, which really helped you want to walk. Before I knew it, you were up on your feet, trying to hold your balance, and continuing to teeter to the ground. That didn't stop you at all as you kept on getting up and attempting to walk more and more. Soon you moved from the fastest crawler I have ever seen to one that was walking like a band member with knee lifts. You lifted up your feet so incredibly high. You're walking pretty steady now and can do the stairs if someone is holding your hand. Sometimes you also get going really fast and it looks like you are starting to run, but then you slow down before you take a tumble.


Your vocabulary is also coming along nicely. Instead of saying "no", which is more like "nah", you also "yeah" (instead of "yes"). So, it's pretty funny to ask you questions these days because you do the appropriate "yeah" or "nah". Additionally, you are starting to say other words like "plane" and "MooMoo" and "Dora". Just tonight I was getting you a cup of water and ice, and as I was filling it, you were chanting "agua" over and over again. It was so cute. You also say phrases which only your father and I can understand - like "I'm done" or "get down" or "go in the big truck". Pretty soon I think you will be talking up a storm, but for now I enjoy all of your baby babble.


You definitely don't like to sit still these days. You want to get up and go everywhere. You fear that someone is going to go somewhere without you, so when your father and I leave the room and it appears we might be going somewhere, you do everything in your power to stop us and throw a fit. You always want to go, too. When we ask you if you want to go bye-bye, your head bops up and down in convulsions while you say "yeah".


You're becoming more of a toddler each and every day. You're into everything. You examine everything. You come to your own conclusions. There's no stopping you. You are a determined little girl who seems to want her way, and if you don't get it, there is definitely hell to pay. It appears you need to try something, even if that means it won't go your way, just so that you can learn from it. You're so amazing to watch at times and I love seeing the world through your eyes.

When looking at pictures of you, your father says that you look like a real angel. And I have to agree. You're so beautiful, so perfect in every way. Your straight hair suddenly disappeared, and in its place, these bouncy tight curls (you inherited those from your father). Your body is starting to thicken up (finally), which I think helped you to walk. You needed some girth to support you.


Most mornings after you wake up, all you want to do is curl up into my arms and lay there for awhile. I know those moments are going to end soon, so for now, I cherish every minute of it. You are my baby, and I will continue to baby you for as long as I possibly can...until you let go, which I hope you never do. You're my little sunshine, so happy to see me and welcome me without any hesitation. I'm so glad to have you in my life and so happy you are a part of our family. For the year and a half that you've been around, you've made my life much happier, and I think that the best is yet to come. Keep being you, for that is the most amazing thing to me...

I love you,
Mama