20 Months Of Hayden

It is so crazy to remember the little screaming bundle of cute we brought home back in May of 2008 and then to see her running around here as a toddler.

I think your kid's independence kind of sneaks up on you. You are excited for all the new milestones, but then miss the stage they just moved from. The BIG things going on around here right now are the chattering and the constant acquiring of new skills! (so quick that they are hard to track and remember!)

Hayden probably says between 30 and 40 words and tries to add a few more each day. A few of her latest accomplishments are animal sounds (baa, moo, neigh, etc.), please, eat, stick (sticker), tee tee, poo poo, and repeating A, B, C, D, E after you. She will often run willy nilly around the house shaking her finger and giving an invisible someone what for in her own mumbo jumbo...way cute.

She is getting better and better at wielding the spoon and fork. I still insist on doing the way messy stuff, but I think soon she will have that down too. She can take off her own shoes and socks when she wants, though rarely upon request. There are several puzzles she has mastered and can match lots of shapes and colors. We of course find her to be brilliant.

Recently she has taken to saying who she wants to pray for in the middle of prayer...this almost always includes Mimi (the dog next door), Me (she points to herself), Mama, Daddy, Baby, and often the food or Curious George if near by. She continues to love books and has been enjoying playing with her baby dolls from Christmas.

Her big girl room is almost ready for her to move into. Most of the painting is complete and now we just need to finish things up. (pictures to come, I'm sure.) The timing doesn't leave but a few weeks for adjustment, but we are hopeful it will be enough to make her comfortable in the new space.

We sure are enjoying all the new fun things Hayden is doing. Bryan and I often find ourselves smiling at her and each other at the most random times. I guess cute, brilliant, mostly well behaved though very strong willed toddlers will make you do that.

Thank you Lord for our sweet girl, Hayden. She sure is a bundle of joy from You.