Carolina: Fifteen months

Dear Carolina,

You are fifteen months old now. You are such a big girl! Your daddy and I are truly amazed by your little personality lately. You have said a few words here and there over the past couple of months but you really started talking in the last couple of weeks. You will copy what we ask you to copy and a lot of it is really clear. You say "Cay or Key" for Clay, "Baa" for bath, "nac" for snack, "buh" for book, "cuh-key" for cookie, "ca-keh" for cracker, "kittttuh" for kitty, "nah" for no, "nigh-nigh" for night night and many other words. We are so proud of your talking!

You have also really started using your sign language. We have been working on sign language for months and ironically, you really started doing it when you also started talking. It's just your style to do things when you want to do them. We know that for sure. You do "more" and "drink" the most but you point to whatever you want. When someone is holding you, you point where you want to go. You will also go to your chair when you are hungry or point to the cup cabinet when you want a drink. When we ask you if you want to do something you don't want to do, you will shake your head no. You're a smart one, Carolina.

We've learned that you know what you want and when you want it (now). We know this from many, many fits and tantrums. As an infant when you would throw a fit you would sit down and put your face between your feet- every time.

Now, when you throw a fit (or even get frustrated) you ALWAYS throw yourself backward. If someone is holding you, you will do this until they put you down. It is your goal for the back of your head to hit the floor. If you are standing up when the fit starts you just fall backward until you hit. We don't like to give your tantrums attention so we always walk away from you. You're very predictable and you calm down easily when you accomplished your goal of hitting your head on the floor (I don't get it either....).

You love to play and you are great playing by yourself. You are happiest when you have one of your lovies and a pacifier. I think you are absolutely precious when you come down the hall clutching your kitty and sucking on a pacifier. You always sleep with a lovie and a pacifier and we usually leave them in your bed when you get up (because you always want a drink and a snack when you wake up). Some time later, you will show up with a lovie and a pacifier walking around the house. We see you go into your room and reach through the bars of your bed to get them. You are so funny (and sneaky!).

You love books a lot. I took out a basket of toys the other day and I noticed that you had sorted through the whole thing and taken out all of the stuffed animals. It didn't surprise me at all. When we take you to the toy store the only thing you want to play with are the stuffed animals. You will clutch one in each hand and be happy not playing with any of the other toys. We've noticed, though, that you have favorites. When I showed you the doll from your stocking this year, you threw it at me. There are several dolls that we have tried to give to you and you just push them away. You know what you like, no doubt about it.

We see that you love to be praised. When we cheer for you, you get the biggest grin and do whatever it is all over again. I can already tell that this will be the key to getting you to do things as you get older. We are glad to know at this early age that this is one of the big ways you feel loved.

Although you starting walking shortly after you turned one, you really took off during the week of Christmas. It has been so special to watch you toddle around and then get better as you held your arms out and now walk with so much confidence.

You fuss at us when we don't put you down when we leave the house. You want to do all stairs, parking lots and any public place by yourself. You don't stop until we put you down. You have the sweetest squeaky shoes and everyone watches you as you walk around in them. Your sweet smile, big bow and squeaky shoes make you the star of the show.

You love attention from people. You are never shy when people talk to you. You will smile and listen to whatever they have to say.

I am so proud of how well you are doing in childcare lately! I haven't been paged out of any of my meetings or church times in a couple of weeks. Last week when I went to pick you up I talked with the childcare worker over the door while you played. You didn't even pay attention to me at the door. When I called your name you came toddling over to the door and just as you got there you threw yourself on the floor and threw a huge fit. I think you held yourself together as long as you could in the nursery but you had had enough and were ready to go home. Once again, you wanted your opinion to be heard.

You have a brother who is so proud of you. When you two are out playing he will tell the other kids, "That's Crina. That's my sister." At home, you two fight quite a bit. You have very different personalities and it's hard for you to communicate well with each other right now. When Clay does something you don't like, you will hit him in the face. No questions asked. You don't want him to touch you (at all) or take anything you are playing with (and he loves to).

The funniest thing I have seen with you and Clay lately is the love you have developed for Clay's blanket. Clay decided long ago that the one that Mama had made for his bed was not big or cuddly enough for him but he still brings it out sometimes to cover himself on the couch. Somehow, you have made it your new lovie and you don't want him to touch it. I'm thinking we might have to have a new lovie made just for you (we might trick you by making it look a little like Clay's).

You are such a special girl and we are so glad that God chose us to be your parents. We can't wait to watch you grow and grow!

Love,
Mama