Rebekah Joy - 18 Months

I love this age!  Rebekah is so cute and curious and her little smile just melts my heart.  She is so excited to hear the garage door opening because she knows that brings Daddy home and she announces it to the house!  She has gotten one more bottom tooth in this month and is working on 2 more top.  She has moved into 12-18 month clothes; most solid 18 month clothes are a little big on her but they work.  Rebekah does not like glue on her hands during craft time, it is pretty funny for me but she is disgusted by it! 

Eating:
Rebekah continues to be a champion eater although you wouldn't know it by her petite little frame but she can pack away the food.  There are very few things she doesn't like and will normally clean her plate (meats are still the exception but it depends on what kind of meat it is and how she feels about it).  I continue to warm up her breakfast milk but that is all; she gets the rest of her milk cold and she still drinks it :)  She also loves water as a general rule and we've finally tasted success with leaving the sippy cup in the snack area and coming back to it when she wants a drink rather than toddling around with it in her arms.  I served lemonade for snack during our L week and Sabrina served "kid's wine" (cranberry juice and sprite) during our Passover meal and Rebekah rejected both. 
Sleeping:
The one nap continues to go well and I tend to put her down between 1:15 and 1:30.  There are days when she will simply walk to her room and point to her bed to let me know she is ready for sleep.  The teeth have caused her to wake periodically at night to cry for a minute but that is not even an every other night occurrence, which I appreciate. 
Play:
Solo play time continues to go well and she actually runs into her room when it is time for it.  Her continued enthusiasm in there depends on the toys I think but she doesn't cry and is entertaining herself, even if it is by singing to herself.  She enjoys pushing the Cornball Popper and putting the shapes into her numerous shape toys.  Books continue to be a huge favorite of hers and she loves to read them as well as be read to. 
Skills:
Rebekah has become significantly more vocal this month.  She is continually identifying an object's owner as well as pointing out every time she hears an airplane, sees a dog, and she knows the names of her friends Brock and Mackenzie.  She has also started to repeat what we say much better.  She shakes her head "yes" when I require a "yes, mama" response which is awesome!  The biggest stride for us this month has been potty training.  I've been putting her on the potty for practice for months now, usually just before bath or when Faith is on the big potty.  Multiple times this month she has walked into the potty and sat down on her own and gone after I've taken her diaper off, so I knew it was time to start.  Plus, Sabrina was ready to train Brock so we decided to do it during the same week.  I am writing this on day 3 of potty training.  It is going about as well as expected.  I am taking her at intervals of about 30-45 minutes during the day.  She has had her share of accidents certainly but that is what this week is for, so that both of us can figure out when she needs to go.  She is beginning to understand that she gets a raisin when she goes potty on the potty but not for accidents.  I usually keep her on the potty for 4 minutes each time I take her.  I am hoping that each day gets better and better.  It is helping her sleep more for her naps.  I don't understand why but potty training is exhausting for kids!
Our Schedule:0800 - Wake up, get dressed for the day, breakfast
0900 - Preschool time (pledge, calendar, weather, Bible story, craft, worship time)
1000 - Snack and outside
11ish - Sister play
1200 - Lunch, chore, freeplay
1330 - Nap
1600 - Time with Mama
1630 - Snack, dinner prep or kitchen play
1715 - Solo play
1800 - Dinner, family time
1915 - Bathtime, Bible story, bedtime o/a 2001