Keeping Up with the Gerges': Say it Ain't So

Just like that, our baby is 18 mo! I truly can't believe that we're at this milestone. The start to the summer sort of seemed to go at a normal pace, but the last 2 months have flown by at record speed. So, 18 months just sort of hit me upside the head.

There is so much about this age to love. The talking, the learning, the giggles, the play, the affection - it's all so innocent and pure. Add to that, Anna's larger-than-life personality and everything is magnified. We are having a blast with Anna, watching her grown and watching the world through her eyes. She is a little peanut, at 20lbs 12 oz and she has this personality with so much zest, sometimes I think "where did you come from?!" She is dramatic, she is feisty, she is independent, fearless, and so animated. She loves to get a reaction out of you, and she has a mind of her own.

Though in the 90th percentile at birth, Anna slowed down around 9mo and has been steadily in the 10th percentile since. So although she's developing at leaps and bounds, her physical growth has been a little slower. In a way, since she's not off the growth charts, it's helped me feel like she's not growing too fast. Sometimes all she wants is to be held, and I've mastered doing so many things all while holding her :)

I can't remember when it was exactly but I want to say it was around month 14, that I realized Anna didn't really have any words. Madelyn started talking fairly early on and it really helped us understand her. It hit me one day that I was enabling Anna by doing everything for her and not encouraging her to be verbal. So, I made a point to say "Anna say ----" and I swear within a week there was a significant difference. Now, a few months later and she has a lot of words. In the last week, she's started to go from 2 words, to putting 3 words together. It's so neat to see that jump in development. In addition to Mommy and Daddy, these are some of her words:

no-no, yes, please, thank you, sissy, buddy (Q), home, up, nigh - nigh, bless you, pee-pee, help, ba-ba, nana (banana), yo-yo (yogurt), play, I do, all done, outside

These are a few of her favorite things:
songs: twinkle, wheels on the bus, row your boat, happy and you know it
foods: hot dogs, sausage, cheese, yogurt, strawberries, blueberries, mac n cheese, hummus, pasta
toys: lovey, musical car, kitchen, Frozen boombox,

From a very young age, Anna was a mover. Although she didn't really start walking early, she rolled over early, got up on all four's early, and started crawling early. While in a swing or rocker, her legs would be kicking non-stop. Granted she has a busy older sister around, she's not so interested in keeping up with her. She's just active, and curious... constant motion. I have so few photos of A from recently because there is no chance I'll be quick enough to photograph her. Sadly, I end up having to delete photos I do snap because they are too blurry to view.

Here are some pictures of our amazing little girl, who really is our sunshine - we love you so much Anna girl!!