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Hello, 18 months!

Recently, our small person turned the big ol’ 18 months (or if you’re sleep deprived and can never work out the months like me, it’s one-and-a-half) and I can’t quite believe it! That’s halfway to three, folks!



It’s not really in terms of all the time passing that has my mind blown, because although most people would probably say, “oh, where did the time go?” I know exactly where the time went. I still feel deep in The Time. It’s been a non-stop whirlwind of tears and gummy grins and sleepless nights and making big, beautiful messes. Really it’s been just living out 547 days in their fullest, most humanly imperfect form. Whoever said, “the days are long, but the years are short,” was mighty spot on.

What is making me feel so in awe of her being the big 18 (months, that is, I’m scared for when she actually turns 18!) is who she has become in this time, as well as the people my husband and I have become to grow alongside her. She’s fiery and sweet and bold and funny and determined. She loves the beach and cats and pasta. Last night she put herself to bed and happily chatted herself to sleep for the first time ever. She’s constantly changing and surprising us, this little heart-outside-my-body that she is.

To mark this wee occasion, I figured I’d jot down a few things that are important to Miss 18 months right now. It’s probably these small, mundane details that will be swept away first as life carries on, so may this be a space to keep them safe.

- Food, how could I not begin with food? She adores everything food-related. Perhaps she’ll be a bit of a foodie when she grows up and will put our family’s love of a classic muesli to shame? She loves fruit and vegetables the most of all and during winter she was going through a minimum of five mandarins a day. It’s not just eating that has her heart though, as she also loves cooking and baking with us. Lately, I’ve started finding her with her head in the pantry and butt sticking out, getting into the flour to make her own concoctions. Master Chef 2040 potential maybe?

- Being outdoors is where she is happiest. Every garden, every stream, and every beach requires thorough exploration. And apparently it doesn’t count if you don’t manage to get your clothes wet or dirty. Long may our washing machine wash and long may her love of nature remain untethered.

- She’s really ventured into Fashionista Central lately. She loves picking her own outfits (however impractical) and dressing herself (can I just bottle up her wearing leggings as sleeves forever?). Her current favourite OOTDs include dinosaur pyjamas, a pink puffer jacket, and a collection of various bucket hats that are too small for her 98th percentile head (but not beanies for some reason; you’ll get given the evils if you try).

- DIY most definitely is in her DNA. She loves helping with all the reno’s that we get up to and Mitre10 is her second home. She knows exactly what do with a hammer, screwdriver, tape measure, and drill. Unfortunately for us however, since she has watched us rip out so much of our house, she now thinks that absolutely everything needs to go, new kitchen and all.

Anyway, I should stop rambling now because the dog has just put mud on our clean sheets and I need to clear a path to the kitchen through the ripped up lino and current furniture Tetris. Such fun!

To our toddler: thank-you for the past 18 months. You really are my favourite human. Your sticky pineapple covered hands clutching mine and rare kisses make everything worth it.

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