19 months old

Are we really closer to two years old than we are to one year old now? Oh my!

If I had to describe our 19-month-old in three words it would be: energy, affection, and joy.

Energy- This girl never stops moving! From the time she wakes up until she goes to bed, she is a very busy child. She loves to "help" around the house. We are trying to teach her a little bit of responsibility (and channel this energy) at her age and she now helps clean up her toys, put away her clothes, helps "dust" the house when we clean, and throws things in the trashcan for us. It takes a lot longer to get things done with her "help" but its important that she learn these things now. :) She also has quite a zest for life in general. She gets excited over the littlest things and it sure makes everyday life fun! And did I mention that she never stops talking?!

Affection - This girl loves to dish out hugs and kisses...to everyone. :) It doesn't really matter how well she knows you, she loves you. And she'll pucker up and plant one on you. And then you're gonna need a hug after that. And then maybe another kiss for good measure. But hey - don't complain - its not every day that people get countless offers for hugs and kisses from a blonde-haired, blue-eyed babe. Consider yourself very lucky! :)

Joy- Savannah has brought such joy into our lives. As soon as she gets up in the morning, she starts singing. She sings and carries on and laughs in her bed until we go get her. As soon as we open her door, we get greeted with a huge smile and "Hi!" She really is a joyful child all day long, unless she gets hungry or tired (kinda reminds me of her daddy, haha!). She loves to dance, play outside, and chase our dog around the house.

All of that said, we have had our share of challenges this month. Savannah is becoming more strong willed than ever, and she is slowly learning the art of self-control. Lucky for us, she is very tenderhearted and usually a stern word will get her attention and we don't have to resort to spankings very often. We have had a couple temper tantrums though, but I think she is learning that they are not very effective and just make her really tired because they are getting fewer and far between. She is also learning that when Mommy asks her to do something, the correct answer is not "no." Sometimes she will say "no!" and I'll respond with, "excuse me? are you sure thats a good choice? what should you say to mommy?" and she'll correct herself and say "yeah" with an emphatic nod of the head. You almost can't help but smile a little.

Savannah has also struggled with teething and stomach issues - and hopefully both will resolve with time! She only has one more tooth left to get for now, so hopefully it'll pop through quickly. In the meantime, she is chewing on all of our furniture! :) We are continuing to wait for further testing on her "boo-boo belly" and hopefully we'll get some answers then. The appetite stimulant is working great (holy cow - this girl can eat) and the probiotics seem to be helping as well. We've made it three days with no symptoms and she's put away a LOT of food. :)

Please continue praying for us as parents while we handle these challenges. We want our sweet girl to continue to blossom into a person that reflects and glorifies Christ. I was reminded this past month that Savannah really belongs to God, and I'm just the one of the people He has trusted her with for the time being. Isaiah 43:7 says, "Even every one that is called by my name, I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yes, I have made him." I am so thankful that God made Savannah and placed her in our lives. We sure do love this little girl!