15 Months

I'm not sure if it's just the frustration of being a toddler or that she used to be so liberal with the smiles or maybe that she's so intense (and loud) with her protests, but this sweet little thing is lucky she's so cute because man, has she been a pain lately!

The sickness has hit our house finally. Lil doesn't seem to have it too bad, but you'd think she was dying the way she screams at us in the middle of the night.

When she's in a compliant mood, I'm trying to take advantage of her independent toddler spirit to get her to learn new things--like how to empty the dishwasher or set the table. She's actually really into it. Which is a nice change of pace from the usual "scream at mom while she makes dinner" game.

She's also starting to try to dress and undress herself. She's got one pair of PJs with loose fitting pants. Every so often we'll turn around to see that she's taken them completely off. Mostly she just brings us her coat or hat or snowpants to put on her. But the other day she managed to get her jeans partially on by herself--of course she was supposed to be napping so I didn't celebrate too much.

THIS is the expression I see most often these days.

Lil has learned to sign "all done" and she's loving games where she can transfer items in and out of a container--lately a tissue box. She likes helping June make soup in her play kitchen, pulling her alligator around, and playing in the curtains.