December 2010 | two little monsters

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

ONE AND A HALF

Today, Nova is 1 and a half years old.

She's 30 inches tall, and weighs just under 20 pounds. She's a wee one, but we think she's pretty special. She loves animals more than her brother ever did, and is even getting Irene to come around to letting her give hugs. The cats nearly tolerate her, and any visiting pets get very special treatment.

One of Nova's favorite things to do right now is stare out the front window of the house. Watching the world go by keeps her very busy, along with naming any and everything she she's out there.

In addition to living animals, Nova has a special place in her heart for stuffed animals. She carries one with her frequently, and they're only deserted for her true love: baby dolls. She loves her babies, and she has a little entourage now that Christmas has come and gone. She has a crib and multiple blankets and pillows that belong just to them. She carries them around saying "snuggle, snuggle" and wants nothing more than either Dave or I to put Nova & baby doll on our lap, cover everyone with a big blanket and sing a song. It's awfully sweet.

Nova sleeps better than her brother ever did, and is honestly a joy to put to sleep at night. So long as she's got an animal to cuddle, she'll give you a kiss and lay down and go to sleep. For the first time in her 18 months, she's finally sleeping through the night, and we're about to move her out of the crib and into the big-girl bed.

I can't write the list of words that Nova knows. Every word she hears she will try to say. She is our little "monkey do", especially when it comes to copying Gus. Literally anything he does, she will try. Strangely, she is still a much better eater than he is, so it goes the other way too. Nova will try new foods that Gus has spent years rejecting, and once he sees his sister like something, than he has to try it to. This has led to both of them trying and loving broccoli, pasta, and a multitude of other things that my picky little guy would never even try.

Nova no longer looks anything like a baby, and her hair is finally growing in. All the hats and static in the house means her hair often stands straight up, leading me to call her Cindy Lou Who. She's adorable and charming, and we can't believe she's already half way to her second birthday!