Things to remember

17 months edition 

• ZJ calls anything crunchy or snack-like cackew (or cracker, in layman's terms). This could be tortilla chips, lo mein noodles, pretzels, they're all lumped into one category for my girl. 
• She's doing super well with utensils and prefers using the ones we use over her kiddie options. 
• Her obsession with shoes continues to grow and continues to boggle my mind! She loves men's shoes, women's shoes, other kids' shoes - doesn't matter. Its as though she's drawn to them by a magnetic force. She isn't even walking yet, but insists on putting our shoes on throughout the day. Its one of the dirtiest things she could be interested in of course, but I let her play. She gets her hands washed dozens of times a day as a result.
• She enjoys watermelon, but only eats about half of whatever amount we give her. Once she's had her fill she likes to poke holes in it and squish the pulp in her hands. Sticky. Mess.
• Her affections towards her papa increase by the week, causing him to melt more and me to fall more in love with the two of them. She loves giving him hugs, kisses and holding his hand. She asks for Papa at least twenty times a day and loves their play time after dinner before bed. They're presh. 
• Speaking of Z's hugs, kisses, and hand-holding, I'm loving all of it! She's a great hugger! She wraps one arm around the neck, one arm around the shoulder and gently pats as she hugs. Her kisses are square on the lips and much drier than in days past. Her hand-holding is incredibly special during our dinnertime prayers or when she's upset and just wants to be comforted by one of our hands. We have such a sweet, touchy, sensitive girl on our hands. 
• I have a Sesame Street Pandora station and we listen to it a few times a week to get silly and dance together. Z particularly likes "Shake Your Sillies Out" by Andy Mason and she'll sometimes stop what she's doing to do the motions that go along with the song. Pretty funny and cute!
• Last month Lianne pointed out how Z sort of mouths the words to things she knows or anticipates like the ABCs or lyrics of a nursery rhyme. I'm noticing her do that more and more and its sweet. Its like she knows what's coming next, but can't get the words out fast enough on her own. I wonder what's spinning 'round in that little brain of hers every day. Sometime soon we're all gonna be reeling from the conversations she pulls us into.