Where We Are

Our life seems to be flying by and we barely have a chance to catch up, even though it also seems like we are hardly doing anything other than staying dry in the house and watching our laundry pile get bigger and bigger. Not sure what it is... maybe its the groundhog day-ish-ness that seems to be going on right now with the constant rain. Every day, rain. Its killing me. Is it too much to ask for just one day of sun?? I would gladly take the -30 if it meant I got to see that big burning ball, for real. With staying home so much, comes a lot more time spent just Maizey and I. It's been fun, we read about 40 books a day (or more like the same books over and over until we get to 40), we watch Dora, sing, play, nap, cook (and eat). Its these past few days (weeks?) that I have noticed how grown up my baby is getting. So, before I jump into a 'this is what stage we are in' spiel, I just want to say that I really could not be more thankful that I get the chance to stay home every day with my girl. Its the most amazing luxury to be able to stay home and while, yes I do get breaks and have my own time and its very much needed in order to be this present and happy mom, I do know that I am thrilled to be here and grateful that we are able to do it, financially and otherwise.
SO, with that said, here we are quickly approaching 17 months and while I know I have thought this at every stage, this one is so unbelievably fun and I am loving every thing about it. Could it really get better than this?
The things she learns every day are so surprising that we are sometimes left speechless while laughing.
We read this story called Goodnight Gorilla every day, multiple times, and have for many many months. The last page is two speech bubbles that say "Goodnight Gorilla" and "Zzzzz" . So we say goodnight gorilla and make the snoring sound. A few nights ago I was going to bed and when I went to check on Maizey on my way, she was awake. I asked her if she wanted to come to my bed for a bit, she said yes. When in my bed, she would not lay down, not stop playing, not stop looking for DADDA!!! *who was working*  and showed no sign of going to sleep anytime soon. When I was at the end of my rope I tried ignoring her. A few seconds in, she laid her head down on my pillow. Perfect, I thought. Then the fake snoring started. How am I supposed to ignore her when shes doing that, because let me tell you, my baby fake snoring is so freaking funny.
Her vocabulary is growing by the minute - she will repeat almost anything you ask her to.
She relates words with what they are. We tell her to say Leda-Lou, she says Pupppppy!!
She watches Dora a few times a week (maybe more?!) and has really started listening and paying attention. When Dora says 'Who do we ask for help when we don't know which way to go?" She answers MAP!!
She goes down for a nap with socks on, but always gets up barefoot.
She knows where we're going when we turn off the highway - 'Papa!!! Nana!!!'
Shes asks for what food she wants - 'cheese'  'eerriooosss (cheerios)' 'nanna' 'chips' 'wa-wa (water)'
We find her numerous times a day in the bathroom, getting herself 2 squares of toilet paper and sitting on her potty. No need to pee, just wipe.
I find her in crazy ways when I check on her before I go to bed. One leg out of her sleeper, one arm out, 2 legs out, no diaper on. I would love to be a fly on the wall in her room while shes in bed, supposed to be going to sleep. I just want to know what lead to these scenes.

Shes decided she likes going front-ways down the stairs. And with every stair she goes down she says JUMP with a little hop before plopping down on her butt and going to the next stair.
She also 'jumps' over anything she can, a toy, my foot, the crack between the lino of the kitchen and the laminate of the living room.
She knows who's cell phone is who's.
Anytime one of us sits down at the computer she says 'Nannie' and wants up. She thinks we are always skyping with Grannie.
We are still waiting for her to turn into a snuggler... we are starting to think its a lost cause now. She gives multiple kisses to her stuffed animals and toys, but rarely ever to us. She has always been this way, never big on the cuddling, and hugging, but I still wish!! 
I am just so often left in awe of this whole being a parent thing. I am loving watching her find her way with her friends and watching her little personality grow and form into the person she's going to be. My little passionate, attentive, laugh-loving little girl. Look out 17 months, we don't know what its going to be like, but I am betting its going to be just as fun as the rest!