18 Months!!

On June 13, Arden turned 18 months! Nonni and grandpa came to town the day before to celebrate with us! On the 14th, Arden had her 18 month check up. She weighs 25.8lbs (75th%) and is 34in tall (95%) They measured her head, but I don't remember her saying what size it was. The Dr. said Arden "is an observer and wants to check things out before she joins in." Maybe so, but when she's with me, she doesn't usually join in.



After the appointment, we took Arden to Chuck E Cheese (first time) and boy did she love that rat.
She loved watching the band play, and her favorite ride was the one with Chuck E Cheese in the passenger seat.



Giving me a hug-

(Thank you, Mommy for bringing me here!)

She gave Chuck E a hug, a kiss and was telling him secrets.




She wasn't into Bob The Builder



Mom and Dad had a little fun too!



Chuck E came out to say 'Hi' to all the kids and Arden followed him around and when he turned around to see her, she gave him her tickets, then pulled her shirt up to show him her belly button. About ten times. Maybe that's her way of saying 'I love you'. It was the cutest thing. After that, Chuck E left to say hi to the other kids, then on to the dressing room. Arden kept following him, determined to get him to show her his belly button too I guess.



Things Arden says:
Hey/Hi
Bubbles
Shoes (she LOVES shoes)
coo-coo (cookie)
ball

Things Arden used to say:
baby
book
dada
Tom
(I'm kind of thinking there's more, they just aren't coming to me)

She babbles complete conversations and will ask questions too which the Dr says is really good because she is saying words, we just can't understand what they are. Makes me feel better, since a lot of kids I know her age are saying more words clearly, but apparently she's ahead since most kids only say one or two words together.

Arden is very cautious with pretty much everything she does. Even saying new words, she does it slowly, until she gets it down. She is good at sharing and gentle with animals.
She is finally getting her lower lateral incisors in and her canines are going to be popping through soon.
Arden has been an amazing sleeper.....until this past week. Derek's parents were in town so I thought maybe it was that, but today, same thing. Perhaps it's the teething, but I'm not convinced, because she didn't have much of a problem in the past. I put her in bed for nap and at night and she cries. and cries. Yesterday at nap, I knew she was tired and I was just going to let her deal with it herself, and after 20 minutes, I peeked in and saw her lovey on the floor, so I went in to give it to her and noticed she pooped. So I totally felt bad because this one time, she actually had a reason to cry. At night, I have to hold her until she falls asleep, then I put her in bed. Then she wakes up...pretty much every time that first attempt, then cries a pitiful cry so I have to do it again. I don't go in there immediately either. I wait until the cry sounds painful. So all I can do is hope this passes and she goes back to being a great sleeper.
Otherwise, she is a ball of clingy cuteness and loves water, unless it's on her face. Her favorite things at the moment are her baby stroller, her purse, music (dancing) and books. She puts her babies or a stuffed animal in the stroller, puts her purse on her arm and sticks a small paper gift bag on the handle and pushes the stroller around. When she's done, she usually sticks her purse on the handle.
She's just so cute, I can't stand it.