Marissa is 18, 19...20 Months

Yes I had every intention of posting an 18 month update on my little lady. Didn't happen. Oh well. She is now 20+ months and keeping me on my toes. Here are a few little updates of Marissa during her early toddler time.

• She started getting her canine teeth in January (at 18 months) and pretty much had one come in every month after that. At 20 months, the chomper count is now up to 16. And yes, she occasionally uses them to chomp with...YIKES!
• Marissa is sweet and snuggly. She loves lying on your shoulder, especially when she's a bit tired.
• She also loves blankets and stuffed animals and will carry one around with her often.
• Her favorite thing to carry, however, is a purse. The girl will put anything over her shoulder to tote it around. She is such a girl that way!
• She LOVES her binkies!! It is like Christmas when she finds a long lost binkie and like the end of the world when she doesn't have one. I've got my work cut out for me in the post-binkie department for sure. Chupete is the word for binkie in Spanish and she calls them her chupies (chew-pees). She will whine, squeal or laugh saying the name, depending on her emotion towards finding or losing one. Bad news for sure! She recently figured out that she could put two in her mouth at once. Although not nearly as soothing, she realized it got a good chuckle out of her parents and will often shove two in her mouth simultaneously hoping for a good laugh.
• She started going to nursery in January. She is slightly dramatic and cries every time for a brief moment and then forgets completely that we ever left her. Unfortunately she seems to schedule her pooping during nursery so we get to experience two very dramatic drop-offs each week (one after sacrament meeting and one after the inevitable diaper change).
• She has forgotten how to smile for real. The second she sees a camera, she squints her eyes, sticks out her bottom jaw and gives you a real cheesy smile. Not sure how long this will last, but it is pretty much what every single picture of her looks like if she knows you have the camera (or video camera) out. Hilarious!
• The kid is a walking parrot. She repeats everything...and I do mean everything! I wish I had a list of words written down, but she went from a handful to a ton overnight. Her first few words were ma-ma, book, pop-pop (for Papi), baw (ball), fu-fa (her sound for dog), and duck.
• She uses her head to nod in agreement all the time rather than saying yes.
• One of her favorite phrases us uh-uh. Yeah, not my favorite, but hers.
• She gets sad if you just mention she's in trouble. She doesn't need much more than that.
• She already sits really well on time-out and knows when she is warned that she does not want to sit on the mat.
• She loves her brothers. Dylan is her protector and Preston is the one that tolerates anything from her (although lately she has had to tolerate a lot from him as his loves have become slightly too aggressive).
• She is a HUGE fan of water. She loves baths, swimming and playing in the sink. She also really likes to help with dishes (which is not really helpful, but I try to allow to some degree so she can learn).
• She has been an awesome sleeper at night and great at taking naps. She thrives on her routine. She is going through a kind of I-don't-need-or-want-naps phase though. I've got news for her though. Whether you nap or not, you get to do quiet time every day. It's the only way my day flows well with all the children home with me all day every day.
• When she coughs or chokes while she's drinking, I will often ask her, "Are you okay?" She just nods her head in true Marissa style. Now she watches for similar cues and when I cough will turn and look in my eyes and say, "Okay?" It melts my heart every time!
• There is a recently developed sibling rivalry between Marissa and Preston. I think it is Preston's rapid brain development mixed with a pretty feisty and determined toddler. Preston has somehow "learned" how to tease and is way too loving. And Marissa has learned to to scream louder and make herself heard. I always know something is awry when I hear "No! Pesss-ton! No!"
• Yeah, her s's are a little "th" sounding. And extra long.
• She can turn anything into a blanket for her baby. Her favorite thing is taking washcloths out of my kitchen drawer and bundling her little baby up with those.
• She is also a HUGE fan of her baby stroller. She could push that thing forever. Um, but she's not great at sharing yet. At all. We are working hard on that one.
• She jumps on the tramp with her brothers and is a pretty tough cookie.
• She loves to be outside and could play in the sandbox for hours. She lets you know when she's full of sand or needing to unload the extra weight in her diaper though. :)
• She loves walking up and and down the stairs now. She has always been a good little stair climber, but now tries to climb them unassisted or barely touching the wall.
• Which brings me to my next point. She is independent. Very independent! Already wants to put her pants on by herself and lets you know when you try to help her.
• She also has discovered a love of the potty. For now, we just put her on there before her baths. It's a start, but I'm not pushing her. I'm not sure I'm ready for potty training again. Just finished up with Preston last year.
• Loving and spunky. Those are the two words that describe my lady bug best.

This is most likely the face you will capture on film the minute Marissa realizes there is a camera around

The sweet, nurturing, cuddly side of our little lady

Trying to tolerate her older brother's love, but screaming for help when necessary

The princess in her fancy skirt Aunt Angie bought her with food and a sippy cup...pretty typical

Eating pizza. Sees the camera and goes for the cheesy face. This is mid-cheese and cracks me up. I'm pretty sure that is a face only a mother could love! :)

Evidence of her pure love of the binkie

Cheesy grin in the tub...one of her favorite places to be

Climbing. Yes, she can be mischievous...and adventurous. Apparently that's how we make them. I swear I'm a fairly strict and consistent disciplinarian.