Happy 18 months, Story!

Say it isn't so!  Oh, but baby, it is, and you just aren't a baby any more!  Momma can hardly stand it.  These 18 months have just flown by.  Let's see what you are up to.    

What a difference a year makes.  Here you are this time last year, scooting around on your tummy, sporting that big ole dimple and two baby teeth.  

• We haven't gone to the pediatrician here in MS yet, so I don't know your stats, but I bet you have lost weight because you have been oh so sick this week.  That's right, you have your first stomach bug, and it has been brutal, just awful.  Thankfully, we think you are on the mend.  
• You are wearing size 24 month and 2T clothes, is there really any difference?  We are squeezing you into your size 5 shoes, but I don't think it will be so much longer.  Your toes are growing!  
• You wear size 4 diapers.  

• You have four new teeth, two on top, and two on bottom.  That completes your baby teeth for now until your two year molars.  
• You sleep and sleep and sleep!  You are still taking a morning nap, most days for about an hour.  You take a long afternoon nap between 2-3 hours, and you sleep 12-14 hours at night.  

• Your little personality is really starting to come out, and you are one funny girl!  You repeat most things we say, so we have to be careful, ha!  
• Some of our favorite things you say:  yea dawg, holla, mommy, daddy, Hundley, thank you, hi, Gooo dawgs!  Sic 'em!  Woof! Woof!  Woof!  
• During your 17th month, we moved from our home in Austell, Ga, where we brought you home from the hospital, and where you learned to walk and talk and do so many things, to a new home in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.  
• You have handled the move like a champ!  Even with all the time changes.  
• I adore this outfit on you; it's one of my favorites.  You can see your little sassy personality here.  
• You are still a screamer, Story, but maybe not as bad as you once were, or maybe it is just my wishful thinking?  
• You think that you can do everything that your brother and sisters do, and it irks you so much when we won't let you.  I'm sorry, but you are not ready for Kindergarten yet!
• You love music, love to dance!  We have several favorites that really get you bouncing, and it's so cute to watch!  One of my favorite things is when your brother and sisters are singing songs they know, you clap and try to sing along with them.  Precious.  

• Your eyes are true blue, a darker version than Carter's.  Your eyelashes go on for days.  
• Your hair is lighter than Summer and Tilly's, maybe closer to the color of Carter's hair.  It's curly in the back, so sweet!  
• You look so much like your big brother.  

• We took a family trip to New Orleans last month, and you were a big fan of the sno balls on Elysian Fields!  
• You adore, I mean adore your daddy.  It's the cutest thing ever.  You might be more taken with him than any of the others were at your age.  You ask for him first thing in the morning, and you continue to ask for him all day long.  
• When he comes home, you squeal with delight!  You love to crawl up in his lap and put your head on his shoulder.  

• Earlier this month, you went to your very first parade!  We live in a college town, so we took all of you to the University of Southern Mississippi's Homecoming parade.  Early in the parade, we gave you a sucker, so you were most content.  You loved the music played by the bands.  
• My Story girl has a sweet tooth, and I have no idea where you get that from, ha!  
• You love to be right up under me, wherever I am in the house and whatever I am doing.  Something you do that just melts my heart is you will wrap your little arms around my leg and hug me so tight, pressing your little cheek close.  Oh, how I love those hugs!  Oh, how I love you!

• Your eating has improved, I think?  I'm curious about your weight, because you seem so light to me!  
• You love eggs, spaghetti, pizza, green beans, cookies, french fries with ketchup, cheerios, chicken nuggets, bananas, oatmeal, and yogurt.  
• You have been feeding yourself for a while, and you do NOT want any of our help.  You are quite emphatic about doing it yourself.  

• We celebrated your second Halloween.  You wore the same costume as last year; it just wouldn't snap between your legs!  
• For Halloween, we helped pass out coffee mugs in our neighborhood with information about our church, hoping to invite some new friends to church.  

• Just last weekend, Papa and Gigi came to visit us in our new home.  We enjoyed showing them around our new town and taking them to our church on Sunday.  
• I have not taken a group photo of the four of you yet, but I will do that tomorrow and post it.  

Happy 18 months, Story.  We are so thankful to be your mommy and daddy.  I remember like yesterday when we found out you were going to be joining our family, when we named you, and when you were born.  These last 18 months have gone by oh so fast, but it has been a pleasure watching you grow and discover.  We are thankful for your little life, for your good health, and for your sweet smile that just lights up any room.  We love you, Story!