Audrey Leigh is 18 months!

Had to stop and count a couple of times to make sure this little gal is actually 18 months...how can it be? Audrey, you just keep surprising us with the things you are learning and the speed at which you are growing up. You did in fact finally learn to walk;) At around 16 months you decided one day that you would walk on your own. Since then you have taken off and are (trying to) run around and climb up everything your sister does (thank you dear child...mommy is tired of the permanent back ache that goes along with carrying a 30 pound baby on her hip all day...at times I worry that I may OD on ibuprofen). You say your sister's name now and it is the cutest thing. Sounds like "au'ka." You point to everyone around the dinner table and say "mama" "daddy" "au'ka" and then point to yourself and say "audy" with a big smile oh so proud of yourself. You are linking together 3 to 4 words at a time..."i all done mama" 'i get down mama" etc. 

You love to play outside at the park, in the dirt, on the plasma car. You have already had more bumps and bruises than your sister as its looks like you did not inherit the cautious gene quite like Annika. I sometimes have you do something first to convince your sister to try it. 

You love to read books and to sing songs. My favorite ones to sing with you are "Twinkle Twinkle" and the ABCs. You sing your little heart out.

Audrey you say "no" with such strong conviction...you have since you were 10 months old. You will not be persuaded to do what you don't want to do. But, you are just as sweet as can be. You love to give "gisses." Still the open-mouthed, slobbery kind but you give them over and over and we love it. 

You love the nursery and the ladies all just laugh and tell us how much fun you are when they hand you back to us. I guess you are pretty vocal about what you like and don't like there...often telling them when they should be "all done" doing something.

Poor baby it looks like you inherited your mama's propensity for getting ear infections. You have already had 3. You never show any symptoms other than being unhappy when you have them so it often takes your mama a while to figure it out (even to the point of disciplining you for whining and crying)...so sorry sweet baby. 

Can't tell you how many times I look at your daddy and say "she is just so sweet" or "she is so stinking cute." You are so much fun little one. Love that you are ours.