My Little Momma...

is 16 months old TODAY! It is so hard to believe, but it is so true. I can tell you one thing... she's already in her "terrible twos" and going on 20! She is in the precious stage of hugging and kissing us. I never thought our baby would be cuddly because Julip has always been such a wiggler and mover. She can hardly sit still long enough to hug someone. But finally, she has started loving on us! She is more like her daddy everyday. It is so stinkin' sweet! When you ask for a kiss, she'll purse her lips and lean in for a wet one. We love Julip kisses. They can brighten any day!

                                 

Things to look for in this video: The curl at the nape of her neck, Julip hugging the seahorse and giving it a kiss, Julip rocking the baby seahorse, Julip moving her rocking chair to sit by the big rocking chair, and Julip not sitting in the chair just in front of it (so close, silly girl). 

I've talked with other moms about how fascinating it is that little girls from the start are interested in being motherly. They point at babies in the grocery store, want to touch little babies and help feed them, pretend their dolls are their own little babies. It is so fascinating, don't you think?

Julip is "hugging" her Maggy Monster Aunt Vanessa made her long ago! 

Jubie is also all girl. She LOVES purses and necklaces, bracelets and earrings. Just recently she stopped fighting me about wearing hats and shoes and has kept them on...she'll even occasionally wear her sunglasses! I seriously don't know where she learned to like accessories, because I'm usually only wearing my wedding ring- no purse, no jewelry- but it is so cute. She carries two purses around the house and puts treasures inside.

This is her favorite purse. Inside she'll keep balls and small toys and sometimes snacks. 

Julibelle seems to be a little girl. She is in the 25% on weight weighing only 20.5 lbs. But she is probably just petite. She nurses 4-5 times a day, and eats three big meals of both table food and pureed baby food. I think from all the moving she's doing, she's just burning through a lot of her calories. I'm not sure how tall she is, but she seems to be tall and lean with chubby little legs!

After her morning nap. She's drinking her apple juice, has egg on her face, and some serious bed head! 

Julip is also communicating better. In the video you can hear her kinda squeaking. This is her primary form of communication.  I suppose it is better than whining... but let's just say I cant wait for her to be able to speak her needs. It is cute though... she'll squeak for me to get her purse, to be picked up, and even to nurse. She's also says "thank you" all the time and points and says "bird" and "puppy" when we're on walks. And every time we leave a room she says "BYE" as loud as she can! :) She still hasn't called me "Momma", though.

 Julip loves rearranging the furniture in her room and around the house. Maybe she'll be an interior decorator of some sort. Or a professional squeak-er! 

She loves to move furniture (stools, chairs, side tables) all around the house. She'll bring us books to read to her and can usually sit through half of the story. She loves taking showers with me (it's the easiest!) and getting all soapy and then rinsing off. She loves to jump on our bed and be chased and tickled by her daddy. She likes riding in cars and her stroller and watching the world go by. She'll sometimes reach into her crib and get her pacifier and put it in her purse to hide it for later. She makes us smile and laugh every day- our hearts are exploding with love!

Looking through a scrapbook from her trip to Germany. She points to everyones face and squeaks. Unless it's daddy. She knows her daddy! :) 

Sweet baby Julip girl, we love YOU! 

Love, 

your M-O-M-M-A, xoxo