Time is flying. Our baby is one and a half already and I need to be better about maintaining our blog since it's really the only space where I'm documenting our family memories. Well, the blog and the hundreds of monthly pictures I take. I so often find myself watching Julia's delicate movements or listening to her sweet voice and thinking that I wish I could bottle them forever. She is truly one of our family's sweetest joys (the other being Frankie, of course!).
Julia is a talker. She has so many words and repeats pretty much everything you say. The other night, while on a walk after dinner, she dropped some acorns that she collected and said, "Oh, bummer". She's started putting words together and will throw her hands up in question and ask, "where go?". She loves "panes" (airplanes) and will put her arms way in the air and say "reach, reach". Or come up to me, "what doing?" Or start walking, turn around and wave her hand, "om on" (come on). Or sit down and pat the ground, "sit, sit". Or beg to "a color". (Most of her words are preceded by "a".) She just makes me smile.
And her hair is finally growing! She has the sweetest little ringlets in the back of her head that I want to stay forever, but I'm fairly certain are just baby curls and will disappear after her first hair cut. Her hair actually gets in her eyes sometimes so I try and try to put clips and headbands in it, but she just won't keep them. I'm not giving up, but unfortunately neither is she. ;)
She's getting an attitude and has started to hit and bite Frankie - or just throw things when she isn't getting her way. She will quickly reconcile with a hug, kiss or a gentle pat ("do gentle, Julia"). She may give us a run for our money over the next few years. But on the other hand, she loves to snuggle, gives hugs, blow and give kisses. She does truly love her big brother, too. On the mornings when she rises and shines first, her face lights up when Frankie comes down stairs and she yells, "Bay-dee"(her version of Frankie). Julia loves following in her brother's shadow and tries to do everything he does...including jump from the steps or slide down the stairs on her bum...jump on his bed...or jump on anything. She's much less fearful than Frankie was - she's a big fan of slides (even high ones) and embraced the sand and ocean during our Nags Head trip this year.
I've started to notice Frankie & Julia playing together ever-so slightly. They certainly love to pull the cushions from the couch and build forts together - and jump on the cushions together. They love playing outside in the water together or "pay-doh" (Playdoh). Sometimes Frankie even lets Julia play with one of his cars (just one) which she likes to drive around and make engine noises (but she's still a much bigger fan of her "baby"). She's also picked up on the emergency truck siren sound and will belt that out whenever we see a firetruck - or hear one.
18 Month Stats:
Height: 31.5 (43%)
Weight: 22 lbs 11 oz (25%)
Head: 18.1 (33%)
ER trips: 3(!)*
*Back in June, when Frankie & Julia were running around, Julia fell and landed on her arm. By both her cry and they way she was holding her arm, I knew instantly something was wrong. I called Frank, who was at soccer practice, and he answered his phone (possibly the most surprising detail of this story), and was able to meet the kids and me at the ER. After x-rays, it was, thankfully, confirmed that Julia did not break anything, but likely had nursemaid's elbow (elbow dislocation). The doctor did a series of reductions to put it back into place and we were on our way with a happy, healthy girl again!
Also, another quick trip after we returned from Nags Head for breathing difficulties that (thank God) turned out to be nothing severe. (Since the beginning of summer, Julia's been on regular breathing treatments to manage her asthma.)
I've started to notice Frankie & Julia playing together ever-so slightly. They certainly love to pull the cushions from the couch and build forts together - and jump on the cushions together. They love playing outside in the water together or "pay-doh" (Playdoh). Sometimes Frankie even lets Julia play with one of his cars (just one) which she likes to drive around and make engine noises (but she's still a much bigger fan of her "baby"). She's also picked up on the emergency truck siren sound and will belt that out whenever we see a firetruck - or hear one.
18 Month Stats:
Height: 31.5 (43%)
Weight: 22 lbs 11 oz (25%)
Head: 18.1 (33%)
ER trips: 3(!)*
*Back in June, when Frankie & Julia were running around, Julia fell and landed on her arm. By both her cry and they way she was holding her arm, I knew instantly something was wrong. I called Frank, who was at soccer practice, and he answered his phone (possibly the most surprising detail of this story), and was able to meet the kids and me at the ER. After x-rays, it was, thankfully, confirmed that Julia did not break anything, but likely had nursemaid's elbow (elbow dislocation). The doctor did a series of reductions to put it back into place and we were on our way with a happy, healthy girl again!
Also, another quick trip after we returned from Nags Head for breathing difficulties that (thank God) turned out to be nothing severe. (Since the beginning of summer, Julia's been on regular breathing treatments to manage her asthma.)
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| Waving her flag at the Memorial Day parade |
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| National Zoo |
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| Nags Head |
