15 months

I love this age. I remember it being among my favorites for Tyler, and it continues to be so fun with Allie. She is full of personality. She has different laughs for different levels of funniness, including a fake laugh to humor you. Allie is also good at letting you know when she does not like something. Tyler doesn't get away with taking her toys much these days. She will fight back. This little girl loves life. She isn't afraid to fall down or get dirty. She is a little bit too brave for Mommy - the complete opposite of her cautious big brother.

Allie also loves books. She doesn't necessarily love sitting still to read one with you every time, but she loves to look at them by herself and read them to Baby. She will open all the books in her basket and lay them down around her so that she can read a bunch of books at once. She will also choose a favorite book for the day and carry it around with her from room to room. This means she has a book in one hand and Baby in the other. Baby goes everywhere. Baby goes to bed with Allie at night. Baby goes in the car when we go away. Baby has to sit within view while Allie is in her highchair. I love that Baby is so loved. It gives me warm fuzzies to watch Allie share her water with Baby, read to Baby, give her kisses and hugs and more kisses, cover her up with a blanket, and get an ear-to-ear grin when we brush Baby's teeth too. Allie loves to brush her teeth. She gets really excited when it's time to go in the bathroom and pick up that tiny pastel pink toothbrush. She enjoys brushing by herself, rinsing with water and spitting in the sink, and smiling at herself in the mirror when she's all finished. Pretty teeth!

Allie still doesn't have much hair, but I have been able to get it into a little sprout some days. Allie quickly pulls it out and hands me the little bow that was looking so cute in her soft, red hair. I keep telling her to leave it in. I tell her how beautiful it looks. Still, she doesn't want it on her head. This is something I will have to keep working on. I love bows.

Allie is walking more often every day. She can make it from one room to another. She can also get right back up, on her own, when she falls down. She doesn't need a piece of furniture to hang onto or anything! She can just stick that cute little rear in the air and stand up. Then off she goes for a few more steps until she falls down and starts all over. It's cute. Allie has always enjoyed dancing. You could ask her to dance and she would shimmy her shoulders back and forth every time. Now that she can stand up, dancing has gone to a new level. She will stomp her feet and sing, all while still doing the shimmy with her shoulders. The cuteness just keeps escalating. She knows "yes" and "no" very well. All of Allie's words sound a lot alike. It's funny when she starts talking up a storm, with all kinds of expression and you have no clue what she's talking about. She does, though.

Tyler loves helping his sister "practice her walking." He takes the job very seriously, and she will be laughing the whole time. It's fun to watch those two.

Allie has also become quite fond of her Nana. Ever since my mom stayed with Allie for a week while Tyler and I went to VBS, Allie is attached. I have to be careful not to say her name, because Allie will rush to the front door and look out the window for her. It makes me feel guilty for getting her all excited.

One of Todd's favorite developments, is the way Allie will pat your back while giving you a hug. We think she got this from him, but she will do it to everyone now. A good hug includes a back patting to go with it.

I have also seen a little bit of jealousy come out recently. If I'm sitting on the floor and Tyler sits in my lap, Allie will always push her way in to sit in my lap, too. I am just so loved. She also likes to copy anything she sees or hears Tyler doing, so that could have a lot to do with it.

So yes, this has been a really fun age, even with the strong opinions that don't always agree with what Mommy and Daddy have said. That sweet little face is just too hard to be mad at. I think I probably let her get away with too much already. I'm a sucker for cuteness, and Allie has a whole lot of that, just like her brother.