Sweet 16!

No, you're not dreaming -- our little girl hasn't suddenly become a teenager. She was 16 months old yesterday and, as usual, mommy is just catching up.

Rachel is:

--walking, by inches, with more confidence. She has taken up to 12 steps all by herself.

--terrified of the toothbrush (see previous post).

--covering her eyes with her hands and playing peek-a-boo. She also covers her eyes after she watches mommy do so on Shabbat.

--enjoying her rubber duckies that our friend, Charon, gave to her for her 1st birthday. They're her bathtime companions, she clutches one of them while I rock her to sleep, takes them in the car to daycare. Otherwise, she seems to not be interested in dolls or stuffed animals right now. We will make a point of introducing them to her again.

--really enjoying stacking blocks and boxes. And, of course, knocking them down!

--turning off lights. Most of the lights are push-button ones, so they're pretty easy for her to turn off and on.

--jumping into the fray at daycare. She's right at home with the older kids, they tell us.

--really into books. She loves looking at them, loves the feel and heft. Right now they're her favorite playthings. The ones she loves us to read to her are: Polar Bear Polar Bear What Do You See? and a book about dogs that I think is completely dumb but was Drew's favorite as a child. She likes it too!

--loving the game that mommy plays with her: When I go out of the room, sometimes I'll pop my head back around and growl, "RACHEL"! and give her a big smile. She can't get enough.

--looking like Drew, still.

--giggling crazily when we tickle her, which is very often. Her tickle spots are under her arms, her neck and her feet.

--throwing temper tantrums on the changing table. We have no idea why.

--kicking and stomping her feet when she wants to climb up somewhere (like the leather loveseat) or wants out of her car seat.

--pointing and saying, "wash shat?" with everything, it seems.

--still averse to trying new foods, alas. We seem to have settled on a no-meat diet of Gardenburgers, whole-wheat shells, eggs (yolk and all), cheese sticks, fruit, jarred vegetables and applesauce. Sigh. Does this mean she will be an unadventurous eater?

--merry and playful and real joy to come home to at night!