Livia’s first three word sentence… at least as far as we know. The girl talks a LOT these days and sometime we have no clue what she’s saying. “I go away” was said while leaving Nana and Papa’s house last night.

I am a planner by nature. Though I may enjoy a surprise birthday party here and there, by and large I like to be prepared for what’s coming. Just a few weeks ago I started asking experienced mamas for book recommendations on toilet training. Before I could do much more than that, Livia initiated the entire process. And as I now do some reading, I discover that there isn’t much in the way of profound advice when it comes to this topic.

So here we go, wheeeee! Off and running with little potties and pull-ups, new vocabulary words and enormous doses of cheering for seemingly simple duties… The adventures continue!

Yup, that’s what our favorite 20 month old wordsmith has been calling me the past two days.

Between referring to me by my first name and her crazy mood shifts, I think she’s hitting the teen years a little early.

Dooce today cracked me up and reminded me of a recent exchange in my own house.

Jeremy: [while patting chest] Livia, who am I?

Livia: Da-dee.

Me: Who am I? [while thumping on my own chest]

Livia: Nana.

Me: [dejected but determined] No… Who am I? What’s my name?

Livia: Da-dee.

Me: [definitely dejected] No, no, no! I’m MAMA!! [thumping away furiously, thinking of all the diaper changes and bottle feedings completed with intense love and devotion]

The next morning…

Livia: [in crib, greeting me by patting her own chest] Mama. Mama. Mama.

Me: Close enough.

**Note: this child has been saying “Mama” for over a year now and definitely knows that I am her mother. Perhaps that’s why our little conversation drove me a little crazy.

SHE WALKS!

Woohoo! Hallelujah, praise the Lord. My child WALKS! First three steps, from Grandma and Grandpa T’s hands to my arms. Jeremy walked into the living room just in time to see the big event. Then she took five steps, and later seven, with a pause in the middle and continued on without even falling down. Come to think of it, she didn’t hit the floor once. Our cautious kiddo isn’t really a faller. But now she’s a walker! Yay, Livia!!

Sunday I forgot about the December Photo Project. Sorry, DPP, my mind was consumed with other things. Other things like, “Why can’t the Tredways ever leave on time?” and “Will Livia take a nap at home after sleeping in the car for an hour?” (The answers to those questions are: I have no clue. And yes, she will.) We had a nice time eating soup and opening presents in David City on that day… Christmas is offically here, my friends. Fortunately, Livia knows exactly what to do with a wrapped gift, and now I know that I shouldn’t place anymore wrapped gifts under the tree.

Livia’s Guide to Opening Presents:

1) Pretend like you’re watching television and simply hold wrapped gift long enough so that Mommy thinks you’re content just holding it.

2) Stick one little hand underneath the tape.

3) Rip and shred the paper! Woohoo!

4) Check and see if unwrapped gift passes the taste test. And then say thank you for the fun gift (thanks Carol, Jerry & Julie!).

Potential Titles:

What Happens When You Pretend Your Fluffy Sesame Street Chair is a Rocking Chair

or

Shoulda Listened to Mama

Dear Livia,

Happy nineteen months! What a big girl you seem to be now. I just got done bathing you and your body is so long and lean these days. You still have baby fat, and a delightfully round tummy, but it’s obvious to me that you’ve turned into a toddler. We used to think you’d have stick-straight hair, but no… You’ve got gorgeous blond-streaked brown curls at the back of your head. I’m so proud to have such a beautiful baby girl. God has blessed me far more than I imagined with you!

You’ve done at least two very endearing things today that I’d like to record for memory’s sake. The first involves sign language and the alphabet. It was my guess, early on, that if I sang the Alphabet Song to you and accompanied it with sign language, you’d someday learn to both sing and sign the alphabet. It’s true that I’m a big word person—I love the English language—so of course I want to expose you early on to the building blocks of our language. I haven’t seen any indication from you that you’ve been paying attention to all the singing and signing… until today. After pressing a button on your Leapfrog Learning Table, and hearing the Alphabet Song, you turned to me and started making signs with your hands! Ah, so cute!!! My heart melted a little bit right then.

The other sweet moment of the day came about when we were reading library books before naptime. While looking for a book to read to you about potty training, I came across books entitled Feet Are Not for Kicking and Hands Are Not for Hitting. Considering your penchant these days for all out whacking when you’re frustrated, I decided it’s never to early to read helpful primers like these. We read all the way through the kicking book and learned that kicking hurts and that feet are better used for jumping, running and kicking balls, not people. After we were done you immediately turned the pages back to a picture of a sad little boy (receiver of a swift kick, no doubt) and said, “OW!” Ha. It was a funny moment. I love it that you recognize owies and yet wonder when you’re going to quit inflicting them. Something tells me it’ll take lots of positive reinforcement and consistency in discipline before we see that day.

You are still the same sweet baby girl that you were the day we adopted you. I love your cuddly, cautious personality… In many many ways you remind me of your Daddy. You are both homebodies; I can see the tension roll off your shoulders when you get back home after being gone for awhile. You both love love love to hug and kiss. On Saturday mornings you have the pleasure of cuddling together for an extended amount of time, usually while watching some cartoon Mommy wouldn’t ever watch. You also are both very observant and like to survey the scene before getting overly involved. And yet, you both love people very much; family and friends are continually on the receiving end of your affections.

Livia Raine, I love hugging you. I love being kissed by you. Very honestly, your undying baby love has made me a better woman.

Forever,
Mama