I can’t believe our little princess is now closer to 2 than 1!  She is growing up so fast and I can’t stand it.  She is starting to develop quite the personality. She continues to be a sweet little girl, but her growing up is bringing some new challenges!

Noelle weighed in at 21 lbs and 4 oz at her 18 month appointment. Though she still isn’t talking much, her pediatrician feels like it is no longer an issue of hearing (especially since she has tubes now) and that she will talk when she is ready. She does lots of things to prove she can hear and understand. And goodness knows her brother does enough talking for the both of them. She points at things she wants, repeats words when you ask her to, and will clap at the end of a song. She will also make associations that let us know she is processing communication. If I ask her if she wants to go outside and play, she will go get her shoes and bring them to me.  The few words she does say frequently are all done, down, done, and nay (which she says when she’s excited or she will say to Jason and I after we have been gone).  I’m sure when she’s ready she will start speaking in sentences!

Noelle has developed a bit of an attitude over the past few months. She is sweet about 90% of the time, but if she is mad she will let you know it. It happens so infrequently that we usually just laugh at her, but those times are becoming more apparent!  When she gets angry she usually displays it in one of three ways. 1) throwing herself on the floor  2) screaming 3) (our favorite) picking up the first object she finds and throwing it.  After about 10 seconds she is over it and back to herself.  It is so funny how different our two kids are.  I never remember this “phase” with Ethan.

A few other things of note with Noelle include that we think she will be left handed. Daddy is pretty excited about this one. She always eats with her left hand, picks up objects with her left hand, and scribbles with her left hand.  Noelle has also developed a love for books lately.  After her tubes, she seemed to finally become interested in books, and now she will happily sit on our lap and read several.  I remember Ethan would read anything and everything.  We would read for an hour sometimes.  Noelle has about 10 books she likes, and if you choose the wrong one, she will keep closing it until you give up.

Noelle is quite the climber.  Ethan never has been, and is just now getting brave enough to climb up the playground equipment by himself.  I find Noelle sitting on top of the table more often than I care to.  She is constantly trying to climb something and give me a heart attack.  She confidently climbs the playground equipment and goes down the slides by herself like it’s nothing.  She is still quite tough and doesn’t get too upset when she falls, which is a nice combination.  I am afraid she will end up as the first child with stitches!

Here are some pictures of our sweet girl, her growing hair, and all 9 of her teeth: