Charlize is 16 Months Old!

My friend Michelle (whose little girl is in my Kindergarten class) gave me some clothes for Charlize, and there was this *aDoRaBle* cowgirl dress! I've been so excited to get out and take pictures of her in it! I know that flower may look a little out of place, just on top of her head - but she won't keep headbands in so I just clipped it in her little bit of hair. She wouldn't leave it for long. So, here's a little bit about our little girl. . .

She carries on conversations with hand gestures and eye expressions. She says: "Hi Baby", "hot", "off", "on", "Whereishe", "ball", "horse".

She still signs and we've been working on "please".

She is a milk-a-holic! She loves it and even tips her sippy's to the side. I think its so she can still see what is going on around her.

She loves to eat, just about everything. She does however have this funny habit if she doesn't like it, to chew on it for a second and then just drop it out of her mouth. Even if she liked it before.

She loves to watch Nate cook and is usually involved in the process (she's good at stirring).

She knows that you are supposed to squeeze the lime in the Diet Coke, and enjoys doing so.

Charlize loves to take baths and plays for quite a while. She knows where the bubbles are and surprised me by picking it out herself. She has washed her hair by herself a couple of times, but still hates the water running down her head.

She loves to wash her hands and brush her teeth. She gets Nate's and My toothbrush constantly while I am getting ready. If I put one away, she knows where to get the other one.

She carries blankets around the house, hers and ours. She is determined to carry our large, full size ones around as well.

Charlize loves to read and be read to. I will find her sitting in her room, on her chair, just reading away.

She crouches down for dogs, other little kids, and imitating me when I am taking her pictures.

She loves music and dancing. While we are driving, she bobs her head and taps her foot to the beat.

She opens all the doors in our house (with lever handles) and is very good at throwing things away. (Nothing too important yet, *knock, knock*)

She is very sociable. Loves to visit others, go for walks and of course, be outside.

She loves her grandparents very much.

On Tuesday's and Thursday's, Nate's mom comes to get her and she wakes up saying "Poppa, Gmpa and still working on Gma". She adores Grandma's dog Libby.

She loves my mom "Una" and never sleeps around her because there is always so much going on!

She likes to listen to my Dad's band and adores the animals he has given her.

She is a climber! She knows how to climb up on the couches, the toy trunk and onto the bed (from chair to bed) and likes to jump on them.

She also loves to ride bikes. I push her around at the arena and we've looked at them at the stores. She is fearless and wants so badly to do it by herself.

She can say the sounds of a: horse, cow, dog and lamb.

She sleeps in on the weekends! Yippee for us! Charlize loves her sleep,

but doesn't want to miss out on anything! She won't fall asleep unless she has to

(which makes for a very crabby baby sometimes).

She wakes up talking to herself and her toys.

If you hadn't noticed, I cannot get my child to look at the camera for me! And her 'photo shoots' are usually more stressful than when I go take pictures of other kids. I think its because there is always a mom behind me jumping around and helping me get them to look, Charlize know's she can roam free when that hunk of black is in my face.

I had to share this last picture. Bummer it is out of focus, but o how this child makes us laugh! What a personality! She looks like a little soldier marching. Aunt Eleanore said she looks like the munchkin soliders on "Wizard of Oz" with that flower looking like a little hat. Either way, I hope you get a chuckle out of it too. ;)