18 Months

Eighteen months has brought on some interesting changes. Ava's personality and strong will has been surfacing more and more. At times it is wonderful and other times it can be quite difficult. Sometimes I feel like I'm living with Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. One moment we are playing having a good time and the next she is mad and throwing a fit. Along with her fits, Ava has starting hitting and kicking when upset. This change has not been pleasant and we are hoping it is a phase we can work through quickly.


On a happier note, Ava is still a cute, friendly, cuddler. She is quick to give kisses and snuggles to her mom and dad. She also loves to say goodmorning to Luca and give him a kiss at night. When we are out she often waves to people and can be quite friendly. It is pretty sweet, but sad that many people walk by and don't even notice. Ava gets really excited when someone notices and waves back. Last week she tried to follow a lady around Target that waved to her. It was cute, but worried me that she wasn't afraid of a stranger.


Ava's energy has also soared. It can be pretty exhausting keeping up with her. Now that our house is back together I don't have to worry as much and that gives me a little bit of a breather. Ava loves to run around and will often run up and down the hall making lots of noise. She also gets a funny manic energy as she gets tired. Sometimes the more tired she is the crazier she gets. Before nap and bedtime we try to wind things down with books so that going to sleep is a little easier. This works because Ava loves books. I often spend 20-30 minutes reading to Ava upon her request. She points to the rocking chair and tells me to sit down. Ava then gets a book or points to one she wants me to read. As soon as I finish one she is already pointing to another book and is ready to go. I have to admit storytime is probably one of my favorite parts of the day.


Ava's vocabulary is growing. She still signs a lot, but is picking up new words here and there. It is funny because she likes to talk with her mouth closed and mumble sometimes. She also makes up some crazy words that we can't figure out what she wants. If she really likes something or wants it she is more motivated to learn the word. This is why she can say cheese, cracker, bread, blanket, brown bear, panda and Buzz (Lightyear).


Ava is sleeping better again. Starting back in December until about April or May she was not sleeping through the night and struggling. It was a long several months for the both of us. The past couple months things have changed for the better and we are both happier. When she gets up she has to have her blanket, brown bear, and panda come with her. As soon as we get to the family room she puts them down and doesn't play with them again until it is nap or bedtime. Ava is attached to them, but it is only sleep related...thank goodness.


Ava still loves music. She often signs and says (her word for) music, so that I will turn it on. During Family Home Evening on Mondays her favorite part is music time. We normally would just sing an opening and closing song with a short lesson in the middle, but recently we have been singing more. Ava likes to lead, so we are taking this opportunity to teach her to lead music properly. It is so wonderful that she appreciates music especially the hymns since they bring such a sweet spirit to our home. I can't wait to see if Ava will further develop her love for music by learning to play an instrument.

Another thing Ava loves is the T.V. I'm not as happy about this discovery. There have been times when she points at the T.V. and tells me (signs) to "play" it. This is when I'm glad we have an armoire with doors, so I can close it and take away the temptation. When we do watch T.V. Ava likes the summer show "Wipeout" and sometimes it even makes her laugh. Ava also still enjoys watching "Music and the Spoken Word".

Overall, we are enjoying this new age even with its challenges. It is exciting to see her continue to learn, grow, and explore the world. We love being Ava's parents and can't wait to see what the next six months will bring.