21 Months

Can you believe we have an almost-two-year-old?  That is just crazy to me!  Time is flying by and I am just loving watching Eliana grow up.  This has proved to be such a fun stage for her, despite dealing with tantrums and extreme passion.  I love seeing her figure things out and become more and more interactive.  I am amazed at God's creation through Eliana!

Eliana is up to 22 pounds (3%) and 32.25 inches (30%) which is pretty much on track for how she's been.  She has been eating okay and some days eats a lot and others hardly at all.  She still really doesn't enjoy meat that much and is a fruit lover.  She definitely likes her afternoon snack and loves her some milk.  Don't come between this girl and her milk or it will get ugly!  We also give her vitamin juice each morning (grape juice and water with her vitamin mixed in) which is a big hit.  The girl loves her sweets too and has learned that every time we go to our favorite restaurant in town the girls there will give her a cookie.  She loves that place!

Eliana has really come to love her routines so you'd better be careful when you do something because it is likely to stick.  For instance, one morning a few weeks ago Drew put her bunny she sleeps with in the windowsill while we were eating breakfast.  Well, every day since then bunny has had to sit there.  If we forget Eliana will say "Uh-oh, uh-oh" until we figure out bunny is missing and put her in her place.  She loves to help me out and will put away dishes for me and help put things on the table.  She also notices when things are out of place and it drives her crazy.  The other day she frantically took me to her room to show me I'd left a clean shirt on top of her dresser instead of putting it in her wardrobe.  Once it was in its place she was okay!

Eliana really loves her outerwear and likes to wear her shoes and jacket inside, even though shoes inside here are technically off-limits.  I think she'll be really disappointed when it's warm and she can't wear her accessories any more.  She loves going outside and as soon as I say we're going out heads to her room to get her clothes for outside.  She also got this little kitty that sits in a purse from our friend, Mirka, when we were in the US and she carries it with her whenever she leaves the house.  She and kitty are inseparable!

Eliana is generally quite affectionate and likes to give kisses and hugs pretty freely.  One thing that is really sweet now is that sometimes when you are holding her before her nap she'll squeeze your shoulders to hug you tighter.  It is so sweet!  She also has started having us hold bunny's hands when we pray too.  Everyone needs to be included!

Eliana is running and attempting to jump.  She does a good job going up stairs and is getting better going down them.  She climbs well and seems to be where she should be physically.  Her vocabulary is growing all the time.  I can't keep up with all the words.  She is also starting to be able to say some words when I point at them, like eyes and ball.  It's been really fun seeing her language growth since we've recently also learned a new language.  She still really only says one word in Tajik but is starting to recognize her body parts and seems to still understand a whole lot.  I'm not pushing her but am excited to see how she keeps moving forward.

Eliana is quite a passionate little one and we have been working hard the past month on her tantrums and hitting and screaming.  She is doing much better these days and we are so thankful.  Time-out has actually proved to be very effective for our little extrovert.  I know there are still many discipline issues to face but it's been great to see movement in the right direction.

Once again we feel so amazingly blessed to have Eliana in our lives.  She brings such joy and I am so grateful for her, even on days when I don't know what to do with her and wonder if I am doing what I should as her mom.  I just am so thankful God has given her to us.  What an amazing, amazing gift!