Skiing with Zealand

Dear Avery at 19 months,

Dear Avery,

Your personality is getting louder and louder with every word you master.  You are no longer content to shine brightly on the sidelines.  You are now using your voice at every chance and pushing your way into the middle of things.  You and Zealand have entered the territory of vying and demanding for attention, toys, turns, anything and everything.  You have started saying "me first," "my turn," and "up" - all while your brother is doing the same thing at the same time.  He is by no means edging you out.

You are fast becoming a force to be reckoned with.  You are experimenting with hair pulling, which is accompanied by a sly grin and a swift time out from us (just a minute in your room).  You force yourself into the middle of Zealand's trains, cars, and blocks and demand a turn.

The dynamic of Zealand controlling the play has decidedly shifted.  I am constantly coming in as referee and often your older brother is in tears because you took a car from him.  But, just as often as I am intervening in a conflict I am watching the two of you happily playing together.

Right now your brother is your best friend.  You love jumping on the couch together.  We move the coffee table away from the couch and all of the cushions end up on the floor.  This is the "yes jumping couch" - the other couch is the "no jumping couch." - although that boundary is always being challenged, with you in the lead.

The two of you like reading books together, chasing each other through the house, and playing together in your pretend kitchen.  Zealand delights in your mischief.  You have discovered the intoxicating power of being naughty.  Dropping food on the floor, allowing milk to fall out of your mouth, and all around silliness.  It is hard to compete with the gleeful laughter from your brother.

You are incredibly vocal.  You are now speaking in full sentences and grabbing new words daily.  You are practically fully conversational at this point.  You are quick.

And, did I mention you are LOUD.  "Watch me mama," DADA?.  You love your dada and often though out the day you ask of his whereabouts.  In the morning when I get you from your crib you ask for Dada right away.

You love being tickled, chased, and rocked in your rocking chair, "rockies."  You love your baby doll, a small soft baby doll with a plastic head that you call "Baby."  You love your "mommy" - the monkey equivalent to Zealand's lambie lovey.  And, your thumb and "ba ba."  As long as you have a healthy does of all of the above throughout the day you are perfectly content.  You are a joyful child and up for just about anything.

Today you had a play date (one of the few to date) with Harper, the younger sister of one of Zealand's friends from preschool.  It was so fun to see you playing with a group of kids: happy, confident, smiley, and holding your own with the two older boys while making time for Harper.

I love seeing you on new stages and very much creating your own at every turn.   Continue to be loud, joyful, mischievous (Zealand and I like to call you "sneaky rascal"), loving, silly, adventurous, and determined.  The only thing I would like to see less of is the hair pulling.

We love you Baby Avy!

Love Mama