Xandri at 18 Months

Busy. Feisty. Snuggly. Shy. Mama's girl. Baby. Big girl. Silly. Dramatic. Emotional. Jabber-y. Sassy.

Words: No. 'Es. Nice. Not nice. Buppies. Stories. This. Wha's 'is? Cookie. Cracker. Juice. Daddy. Mommy. A' done. Down. Back (to the puppies). Pease? Bi'es (bites).

Mannerisms:
Hand over the mouth- whenever she's excited, happy or sad-- any extreme emotion, she places her hands over her mouth. Her eyes react accordingly- either her eyebrows go up and her eyes shine or her face crumples as she turns away to stand in a corner.

Hands up in the air- whenever she's excited.

Shoulder shrug, hands extended, adorable beggar look- whenever she wants something and is saying, "pease?"

Growling- at puppies, at Mommy and Daddy, at anyone or anything she feels like. Also, pigs growl.

Arms flailing, running away, shouting "nonononono!"- naptime, diaper change, face & hands washed or anything else she doesn't want done.

Runs to me and buries face in my leg- whenever she's nervous about losing her place with me, uncertain about new developments or people, or hears a loud noise (i.e. thunder). The last is also accompanied with the hands over the mouth on her way to me.

Closes her eyes- reason unknown. But she does this a lot at the dinner table, I think just because she knows it gets a laugh. It always does, so she keeps doing it. Refer to Exhibit A (she was just finished crying over some unknown disappointment).

Exhibit A

Wrapping things around her neck- Now I know why they put those warning labels on cords. I don't remember Avril doing this, but it seems that Xandri will put whatever she can around her neck given half a chance. Note the scarf and belt in Exhibit B.

Exhibit B

Putting things on her head- anything that might fit on her head belongs there. This includes baskets, hats, bowls, towels, blankets, shirts, other clothes, plastic bags (happened once, hopefully never again!), etc.

Child's Pose- aptly named, what can I say. For those unfamiliar with yoga poses, to come into Child's Pose, kneel down, bend forward and extend your arms out on the floor in front of you, forehead to the floor. This she does in any moment of agitation when other responses just aren't enough.