Miriam "Mim" at 18 Months

I thought I should get an update post done on Miriam since the holidays are fast approaching and I just might not feel like I have time to blog. She is growing quickly and developing more & more every day and so I wanted to be sure I wrote some things down! Miriam (or Mim as I've taken to calling her often) is definitely a typical toddler. She's silly, cuddly, loving, "chatty," demanding, & easily frustrated. She's less contented than Eleanor ever was, but I think she's more typical for her age group. I remember hearing a friend complain about the 15 - 18 month stage and I guess I just never went through that with Eleanor. But, Mim is different! She lets us know immediately if there is something she doesn't like or she can't accomplish her goal (like unzipping the diaper bag for her baby doll). I describe her as "feisty" a lot.

With that said, when she is in a good mood she is hilarious! She loves to run around the dining room table screaming and pretending to be scared when Daddy is playing "Piggy & Wolf" (an old game my Dad used to play with us kids - it's essentially the "wolf" lying on the floor and trying to catch "piggies"). Miriam and Eleanor get along pretty well, but we're already starting to see the battle of the toys/activities begin. Mim often gets interested in something Eleanor has just picked up. I do expect a lot from Eleanor, but I also have to realize that she's 4 and should be allowed to play with something she just picked up vs. just giving it to her sister. So, it's a constant decision-making process for us as to what is "fair".

They can now sit (Mim usually doesn't sit for long) and watch some cartoons in the mornings - so cute! Miriam's biggest issue lately was her sleeping. She's always been a very unpredictable sleeper. Eleanor has always slept like a rock and rarely wakes. But, Miriam often wakes and sometimes doesn't want to go back to bed. It got really bad about a month ago and she was wanting to be up for 2 - 3 hours at night. We often had to let her cry it out. At 18 months this was disturbing to say the least. We did take her in to our family practice doc and he went over some tips for us, but ultimately did prescribe Zantac as he suspected she has reflux. Since getting the medicine she's only had one night of being up for hours. She still likes to get up too early for my taste, but she's been more consistent with sleeping through the night. Thank God!!

Miriam has also been slower to start talking, but has now begun to say more & more words on a daily basis. She can say many words, but isn't always quick to use them. A word will come out randomly and then she won't say it again for awhile. So, we have to pay close attention to her "jabbering." Some of her favorite things are: playing with her baby dolls, "talking" on phones, playing with her sister (sort of!), dancing, & playing with Daddy on the floor. She is a delight (most of the time!) and our family feels so complete with her in it!

When Eleanor saw me taking pictures of Miriam, she wanted in on the action. She's taken to cocking her head like this for most pictures these days. Not sure what that is about! She's a fabulous big sister and so mature for her age. We love her too!!