Reese, you are 23 months old!

Reese Cup, I'm so sorry that I haven't kept up your blog very well! I wish I had stuck with doing monthly posts - but hopefully you'll still appreciate these updates when you're older. You are almost 2-years-old and that seems unbelievable to me. The past couple of years have flown by & I still see you as my sweet little baby.

You had a great doctor's appointment at 18 months -- and definitely went through a growth spurt -- weighing in at 24 pounds, 1 oz & 32.5" tall. I would say you're definitely well over 25 pounds now! I stored away most of your 18 month size clothes the other day -- mostly because you're way too tall for them now! The problem is that most of your 2T jeans still fall off of you, so you're kind of in an in between stage. You're also still in size 4 diapers. You're headed back to the doctor right before Christmas -- so I'll have another growth update then!

I was considering making a list of the words you say, but it honestly would just be too long! Some of my favorite things you say right now -- "thank you" all the time, "here I am!" when I ask where Reese is, "roll up" when I open the cabinet and you see Fruit Roll-ups & "okay?" every time someone gets hurt/sneezes/coughs/does anything that concerns you. Your little voice is so adorable!

My biggest annoyance with you right now (although someday I'm sure I'll read back on this and miss it) is the fact that you're ALWAYS taking your pants and diaper off when we aren't looking! You love, love, love running around the house with no pants on. This would be totally fine if you were potty trained but you aren't! I have to say "Reese, keep that diaper on!" about a dozen times a day. Maybe more.

A few weeks ago you started going to gymnastics class at our gym & you absolutely love it! It's not incredibly structured since the class is for 18 months-3 year olds, but you are learning how to swing on the bars, do forward rolls and even working on cartwheels. I think it's important that you have an activity that's just your own -- something special that you really enjoy. And right now that's gymnastics!

We're planning on having a low-key birthday party for you at home, complete with a Bubble Guppies theme & lots of pizza and cake. It'll be lots of fun!

Things you currently love: taking your shoes off in the car (no matter how short the ride is), Bubble Guppies, coloring with your sister (you'll say "wanna draw! Wanna draw!"), bananas, pushing your baby dolls and stuffed animals around in their strollers, grapes, Olivia the Pig, Burger King chicken nuggets and fries, pushing the automatic-open handicapped buttons when entering buildings, pulling your sister's hair, bath time, waffles & Grammie's cat, Lily.

Some recent pictures! You're such a beautiful little girl!

Reese, you're 17 months old!

Reese, I can't even express how much you've changed since my last post & how quickly you're growing up! You're constantly learning to do/say new things and always trying to keep up with your big sister. First off, your vocabulary is exploding! You currently say...

Bye

Cheese (referring to both the food and smiling for the camera)

Ta-da!

Cup

Up (you'll say dramatically, "I NEED up!")

Mama

Dada

Uh-uh (like "no")

Uh-huh (for "yes)

Poop

Baby

Kiss

Yum

Your dad and I always joke about how different you are than Caroline and the biggest proof of that is the fact that you're fearless. Seriously, completely fearless. You would climb to the top of a mountain if I wasn't there to hold you back. You're constantly climbing, jumping off of things, doing whatever you can to give mommy mini-heart attacks.

You had an incredibly easy checkup at 15 months -- the doctor said you're absolutely perfect. You weighed in at 21 pounds, 7 ounces and 31.1" tall. You currently fit perfectly in 18 months clothes, some 2T stuff. And I'm pretty confident you'll be in size 4 diapers for the rest of your diaper-wearing days. You have a teeny tiny butt and waist -- something you definitely didn't get from me! ;)

Last month you took your first trip to the beach when we went on a family vacation to Destin, FL! You loved everything about it -- the sand, sand toys, putting your feet in the water, playing with Caroline. You are most definitely a beach baby! We can't wait to take you guys back again soon.

You are an incredibly laid back little girl (about 95% of the time, at least) and love to snuggle, especially when you're sleepy. I definitely try to treasure every cuddle session I get with you, because I know they don't last forever!

Some of your current favorite things: fresh fruit (especially watermelon), taking off your diaper and then running around the house, stealing daddy's XBOX controller/TV remotes, Jell-O, pool time, grocery shopping at Schnucks (because you always get a cookie), pestering your big sister, Curious George, playing kitchen, waking up daddy for work, playing in the backyard, stealing sips of Grammie's Diet Coke, your pacifiers, ice cream and helping mommy clean up.

Here are some recent pictures, including some from our Florida vacation! I know I'm biased, but you are seriously one of the cutest little girls ever! I'm so proud of that you're mine.