M's half-birthday by the numbers

It's incredible how much change takes place between a baby's first birthday and the next six months. I was browsing old posts on here and came across my entry for when D was 18 months old, so why not complete one for M as well? As it's meant as a milestone tracker, and not a tool for comparison, I won't include all the same categories.

18: months old today

10: teeth cut so far (all since her first, toothless birthday, and happily for me, all after weaning)

7: months she's been walking

97, 3, and 7: words she can say in English, French, and sign language, respectively.

1: favourite cuddle object, that being a stuffed cat which was appropriated from my parents' house. She wraps one chubby little arm around it whenever we put her in her crib for naps or bedtime.

2-3: the number of stories she likes us to read at bedtime. This is quite a feat. At her first birthday, she was just starting to take an interest in books. We are talking about a child who does not take to sitting still, and yet she will cuddle with Hubby or me in the glider at the end of the day. We truly treasure that time. The books of choice are Night Night Baby; Eyes and Nose, Fingers and Toes; and Baby's Bible Friends.

3: things she hates the most. Being strapped into a carseat/high chair/stroller, allowing me to be alone in the kitchen, and having her hands wiped. All of these elicit screaming fits.

4: number of gates we have to block her from the kitchen, upstairs, or basement.

0: number of siblings we anticipate D and M having anytime soon. I'm quite happy with my two girls, and none too keen to roll the dice on another child!

In closing, let me just say that my dear little M is a terrific kid: active, busy, adventurous, tough, sweet, funny, strong, and uncommonly pretty. I've never met anyone like her, and I love her fiercely.

"Why, thank you for such kind words, Mother."

D pushed her into the bannister; M cried for all of a minute. Tough little broad.

She does sometimes wear clothes

I can't help laughing every time I look at this picture!

Sickly spring Sunday

Poor little M woke up from her nap yesterday with a fever, and spent the rest of the day being cuddled. As sad as it is to see her sick and lethargic, it's kind of nice that's she's still long enough for me to really marvel at her. She fell asleep in my arms this morning, and that hasn't happened since she was a tiny baby! M is what we call uncommonly pretty.

D has been quite the champ today; as disappointing as it is to miss church, we've managed to have a nice enough time languishing around the house. We baked ginger muffins, made some beaded necklaces, and played in the basement with a new-to-us kitchen. Over the past year and a bit, I've been collecting kitchen play things for the girls, and although I found a toy oven at a garage sale last year, the rest of the things weren't much use without an actual (play) kitchen. A friend posted on Facebook that her kids were done with their kitchen, and I messaged her right away; she was incredibly kind and delivered it the next day!

We've been trying to make more use of the basement lately, mostly because it's nice to have a place other than the main floor to keep all the toys! I like to be able to sit down and relax in the living room during the girls' quiet time, and while I am not so fastidious as to be unable to be still in an untidy space, I prefer not to be surrounded by clutter. Now that the kitchen is downstairs, the basement is the place to be.

Today's quiet time knitting: My Blackberry cardigan, sleeves in particular
Audiobook playing: Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand