Anlee's Favorite Things...and Not So Favorite Things (18 Months)

Favorite things:

Talking - Anlee loves to hear herself talk. She'll gab about anything and her vocabulary is expanding by the day. Besides the normal mama and dada, she has a few other names she loves to shout when she either sees a picture or sees the real life person: me-me (Grandma Yvonne), ba-pa (Grandpa Wade), google (Grandma Twila), pa-pa (Grandpa Randy), ya-ya (Cousin Mariyah), ky-ky (Kyrie the puppy). Then she has her favorite objects like ball, na-na (banana), cracker, cookie, car, tree, peas, gock (rock), ring-ring (like a wedding ring), ning-ning (swing, which she is addicted to). Another favorite is action words like eat, knock knock (on every door she sees), no-no (especially to Kyrie). And she knows more than a dozen animal sounds...but horse and cow are her all-time favorites.

Walking - Anlee will go anywhere, and I mean ANYWHERE if she can get there with her own two legs. We went to the City Museum in St. Louis and she ran for baby miles. Whenever we go to my parents' farm in Missouri, she just takes off in any direction. We head to the park around home and she explores the entire venue, not much caring for the playground equipment (besides the swing)...but the rock trails and open grass fields are her real playground. Only when she's really tired will she ask to be carried.

Swimming - Unlike her father, Anlee could live in the water. Put a swimsuit on the girl and drop her in a pool and she's good for at least an hour. It's unreal how her attention span widens when she's sitting in H2O. Just a handful of floaty toys will keep her busy...unfortunately she also tries to drink the water on every occasion. This summer has been full of kiddie pool time and we are talking about possibly getting her big girl swimming lessons soon...her dad needs them, too.

TV Shows: Miles from Tomorrowland, Doc McStuffins, Micky Mouse Clubhouse and her Baby Genius Favorite Children's Songs DVD (mesmerized by it since since birth)

Food: Applesauce, Banana, Bread/Toast, Ice Cream, Green Beans

Activities: Closing open doors (especially the fridge), climbing stairs (still), starting to build blocks more, jumping on Google and Papa's trampoline, playing with Mrs. Potatohead.

Not So Favorite things:

When Mom and Dad Say No: The only one left from the 10 month list that still stands. She's getting to angry toddler phase - if she doesn't get exactly what she wants exactly when she wants it, a tantrum is coming. Throwing her head back and letting out a blood curdling scream is quickly becoming an Anlee trend. Luckily, we haven't had any major public displays of humiliation yet...but I know it's inevitable.

When Kyrie is in her way: Since getting a puppy, we've realized how much a toddler and an energetic fur ball can
clash. You have those rare, cute moments when Anlee will love on and kiss Kyrie. Or they will play peekaboo with each other behind the couch once in a while. But most of the time, the labradoodle with a charged up battery will just butt herself into every interaction with the child until Anlee is throwing bows just to get to the living room. Nearly every day, Kyrie is knocking Anlee down because she just doesn't know how big she is. Hopefully she grows out of the puppy stage soon or the human kid might just have to learn karate.