Gillian Grace is 15 months old!

Dear Sweat Bean,

It's now a few days into November and though I haven't posted monthly updates since your 12 month birthday, I've decided to continue with quarterly postings until your second birthday! I am officially late with this posting though since we marked your 15 month milestone back on October 20th.

Each month seems busier than the last, and life isn't showing signs of slowing down any time soon. You are busier than ever, which means there isn't much downtime in our house. You are always on the go!

You have become quite the talker and we've dubbed you "Radio 2" or "R2" after the original non-stop babbler in the family, Grandad! Most of your jibber-jabber consists of words you just make up, but more and more you've begun spouting words that we recognize and understand! You like to hum and sing, though most of the songs are GG originals.

"Hi" and "bye" are still some of your favorite words, and you've nearly perfected your timing of the wave goodbye. You used to wave and say "buh-bye" as your visitor slipped from view, but now you wave and say goodbye right on cue just as they begin to go. We're working on "thank you" and "please" but still have a ways to go, though you do have the "puh" sound down pat!

I'm pretty sure that Heaven has a disco, because you were born with a love of music and a boogie in your step! You dance wherever you go and anywhere you hear music. We can be in the middle of the grocery store and the second you hear a catchy tune, you begin to shake your groove thing for all to see. Your favorite tunes to dance to are usually those in tv commercials. You can be in the middle of playing when the iPad commercial with it's doo doo doo, doo doo doo doo comes on and you'll stop, get, up, and bounce every single time! You're such a happy toddler!



You love your family, but still aren't too sure about most grownups and take a little while to warm up to anyone new. Kids still fascinate you and you've begun calling anyone your size or smaller, "bay-bee" (baby), which usually results in giggles from anyone within earshot!

Though most of the time you're as good as gold, you do have your not-so polite moments. We've seen more tantrums since you turned one, and Dr. Shearer assured us that the "Terrible 2s" often begin around this time and that you're just testing your boundaries. As hard as it is for me, I am pretty firm with you and can hold my ground, though I often feel like crumbling and giving into your every whim. Luckily for you, Gammie and Daddy aren't quite as strict with you as your Momma, but that's okay too. Every kiddo needs those spoilers in the family, and you've got more than your share of people that adore and spoil you rotten! I'm pleased to say that you've become quite accustomed to the word "no" and now just shake your head back and forth each time you hear it, as though you're confirming to us that you understand what we're telling you.



We've begun working with you on blowing kisses and you've almost got it down. Even though your delivery looks a bit more like a playful slap on the lips followed by a puff of air, we love it anyway, clapping every time!

You're not as much of a sympathy crier as you used to be, though you still don't like to hear anyone in distress. You love to share with everyone, and have become quite the helper around the house. You love to clean up and put things away, a trend I can only hope will continue through your childhood. We're thinking that Barnes and Noble will soon be your favorite store, as you love books and try all the time to read. Sometimes we'll hear you playing, only to suddenly hear silence. When we sneak up to check on you, we often find you sitting criss-cross applesauce amid a pile of your books reading! You're such a little Miss Smarty Pants!

You recognize faces and love to point to pictures around the house. You are obsessed with shoes and bouncy balls! You'd wear your shoes all day, every day if you could and everything round is a "bah-all" to you. Though we correct you with the appropriate word every time, we're proud of your consistency with shapes. There's no denying you know what it means to be round!

The holidays are just around the corner, and Daddy and I couldn't be more excited to share the upcoming season with you! I just know you will grow to love the Holidays as much as we do, and I'm quite certain that with all the "bah-alls" on the Christmas tree, it will be one of your favorite decorations!

You soak up new knowledge like a sponge and we enjoy watching you make those connections and learn new things each day! Your comprehension is astonishing and we are in constant awe of all that you can do and understand. You never cease to amaze us!

You've grown so big and so much has changed, we don't even know what to expect next. But we do know that it would be hard for our lives to get any better! With you, life is near perfection!

We love you bigger than the sky,
Momma

15 Month Stats

Height: 31 inches long

Weight: 25.2 pounds

Shoe Size: 5 (and sometimes wide--- You have a chubby lil' foot!)

Clothes Size: Mostly 24 month, and some 2T. The 24 month pants are a bit too long, but we always find ways to make it work.

Diaper Size: 4 daytime/5 nighttime

Food: grilled cheese, apple sauce, bananas, chicken nuggets, oatmeal, strawberries, pancakes, any kind of pasta, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, spinach quesadillas

Words and Phrases: Hi, Bye, Momma, Daddy, GG (Gammie?), Moon, "Iggy" (Pig), "Elbo" or "Mo" (Elmo), "Bah-all" (ball), Bubbles, More, "Bay-bee" (baby), Pool, No, Bath, Bed, Bottle, Bow---I'm sure there's more, but I'm drawing a blank!

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