Words are exploding out of her lately. It seems like every day she says something new, because she's been quiet for so long that now she wants to learn things as quickly as possible to make up for lost time. Now in addition to telling us what a horse, cow, bird, duck, cat and dog all say (which we knew she could do) she's started pointing out apples, saying "Ashes" when she wants to play Ring Around the Rosies, and calling Isaac "Baby."A couple weeks ago Jay got me a Sprite from the gas station, and when he handed it to me in the car Kami reached her hands out for it and said, "Wah wah." We didn't know she could say that, and we didn't teach it to her consiously. And that's how it goes. She says more words everyday, and is even getting better at sentences.
It's been fun getting to hear a little bit about what she thinks, and the other night, what she dreams. Kami has nightmares, and has for awhile, but the other night she was able to let us know a little bit about it. She said, "Ma," which is one of her Grandmas, I don't know which (not me because she STILL calls me Daddy.) She also said "House" and "Oh gosh! What do I do?" With her hands on both sides of her head. It was sad to see because she was so upset, but interesting to have an idea of what she dreams about. And, luckily for us, the phrase "Oh gosh" has replaced the other, less tasteful phrase she had picked up from me before. 
Kami loves to color and frequently fills up any paper she can find with spirals that she draws. I wouldn't be surprised if she goes on to be quite a little artist like her aunts and uncles and Grandma. I know she didn't get the drawing gene from me!
Easter is a blast every year, because the way my mom sets it up is something you can't grow out of. This year the Grandkids got candy in the playroom that they got to collect on their own, and Kami got it this year. She filled up her basket with that candy, and then when the race started for the rest of us, Kami followed behind, still holding her basket and grabbed all the big candy bars out of the dining room. After that she followed me into the front room and helped me grab candy and put it in my basket. We didn't plan it, but it couldn't have worked any better even if we had.
There was a day when I went to a scrapbook expo with Jay and Danae and the babies, and while we were driving it started to snow. I was wearing thin little ankle socks which got really wet, and by the time we got back to my mom's house I took off my socks and shoes hoping I would warm up faster. I don't remember saying anything to my mom about how cold I was, but while I was lying on her bed she came and put some thick, warm socks on me. It was a little gesture, but I was so grateful for it because I was so cold, and ever since then it's been an example to me of the kind of mom I want to be for you.I really hope that I can raise you right and you can grow into a beautiful girl that knows how important and priceless you are. I hope that I can help you when you need me, and sometimes anticipate what you might need even if you can't tell me. I'm so proud of you, and I can't wait to watch as you learn more. I know you're going to be a great big sister, and you enrich my life in a way that I doubt I could ever explain, but am so grateful for. I love you, big girl.
We were sitting down to eat dinner one night and you were sitting in your highchair. You pointed at your dad and said "Daddy" but then looked and pointed at me and said "Daddy." You'd point to him, "Daddy" and then when you'd point to me and say it you'd start laughing, like you knew it was wrong and it was cracking you up. So often you make your daddy and me look at each other and laugh, you're so fun to be around and full of surprises.
You love dancing so much that we have started taking you to a dance class on Thursday mornings. It's for kids 12-36 months, and is taught by our friend Amanda (YEAH!) You love being with the other kids, and since it's hard to teach kids that young to dance, we usually just run around. Anytime you do dance, though, you get the other parents and kids watching you. Today we went and Amanda was having us run around pretending to be airplanes, and then we would crash. You were running around and were cracking up when everyone crashed, and then finally after all the rest of us were on the floor you laid down on the floor on your stomach, but you couldn't stop laughing. There was only one other girl in the class today, and by the end you guys were hugging each other. There's another girl in the class named Eltey, and even though she's older than you, probably 4, she follows you around and when we were leaving a couple weeks ago she asked when she could see you again. She said, "I like her, she's a crazypants."
This month you're getting another tooth on the bottom right, and I think you have the cutest smile ever. You're still getting better at eating, but the problem you run into now is that you like the taste of things so much you stuff a lot in your mouth, and then have to spit it out because it's more than you can swallow. You're so smart, you meow when you see a cat, and bark when you see pictures of dogs. If you hear a dog barking outside you'll point to where you heard the noise come from and bark. You love butterflies, and you love putting on your socks and shoes. Anytime we get them on you you look at your feet and say, "Walk walk walk." You love walking and like to hold both my and your dad's hand when walking down the street. You also LOVE chocolate, and know where to find it. The other day you got up on the table and crawled over to the cookie jar, knowing that's where we keep the kisses.
Everyday when I come home from work when I walk in the door you say, "HI!" in a sweet, high voice, and then I come and hold you and you hug me so tight and laugh. We're best friends, you always snuggle with me and your dad. You're also started to be a big helper, anytime I'm putting clothes from the washer into the dryer I put them on the door and you love to push them in, and then when I tell you to you love to shut the dryer. It's so fun that you're old enough to start little rituals like that. You're so smart it amazes me. 
I feel so lucky to have you around. The more I get to know you, the more I love you which is weird, because I loved you with my whole heart the first time I saw you. Being with you reminds me of a quote from Lost In Translation when Bill Murray is talking about his kids, and he talks about how "the day the first one is born is the scariest day of your life. You're life as you know it is gone. But then they learn to walk and they learn to talk and they turn out to be the most amazing people. You want to be with them." That's how I feel, lucky to have such a smart, happy daughter that I love to be around.
There is quite a long list of words you say that I can understand. Possibly your most recently acquired word is actually a name, "Isaac," which when you say it sounds more like "Isee." You love your cousin so much you call out for him sometimes when you first wake up, and you've changed Mr. Quackers name to Isaac as well. You say his name so sweetly, in a high pitched, excited voice when he's actually around, and while we were in Veags you entertained all of us by kissing him over and over, holding both sides of his face so that you could kiss him right on the mouth. 
Other words you proudly say are the substitutes for "Grandma," "Butterfly," "Keys!" - which you always call for anytime we're walking out the door - and a recent favorite, "Thank you" which is actually more "Dank Doo." Even when you don't know how to say it, you are a master at getting your point across with different sounds and facial expressions. One night in Vegas we went to a Japanese restaurant that was a lot like Tapenyaki, and as the chef did our show you would coo, squeal and clap. For me, it was as entertaining to watch you as it was to watch him.
At 16 months you've decided that you're a big girl and would like to be treated that way. You will scream and kick if we put you in a highchair in a restaruant, but then are easilly appeased if we put you in a chair with a booster seat. The one thing that you haven't moved on from is your bottle, which you still love and call for. We've tried to switch you to a sippy cup but haven't yet, mostly because your will is stronger than ours. I think we'll need to get our resolve up soon, but you're enjoying it in the meantime.
You love cats. Also, to my despair, you love dogs and will make a barking sound anytime you see or hear one. At Grandma's house you love to be close to the cats, sometimes touching them but mostly just following them around saying "Hi Kitty!" You squeal anytime you see one, and upon hearing the squeal all of the other cats run outside or under the bed. Nothing deters you're love for animals, though, and I bet that will stay with you as you get older.
You're such a sweet girl. You love your family and you're always giving kisses, sometimes going around a group several times before wanting to stop. You hum the "M" sound, that's the cue that you want a kiss, and sometimes when I bring you into bed with me you wake me up by kissing me and stoking my hair and face. I hope someday you know just how incredible it is to be woken up that way by your son or daughter, because words can't even describe how amazing it feels. You light everything up for me. You're still constantly teaching me, but as I watch you get older and learn more, I can't help but just be more proud of you. 
I'm starting to think that you're 15 months going on 12 years. This month you've given me a glimpse into my life years from now when you're a teenager, and I'm happy to report that at least we have 13 years before that point, and honey, there's no rush. I say this because almost mysteriously your favorite thing to do has been to pretend to talk on the phone. You walk around with our cell phone (which doesn't work, luckilly) talking and laughing. You love to push the buttons on the real phone, and your favorite person to talk to is that one that will come on if you just wait long enough. You're best friend: "If you'd like to make a call..." You talk to her intently, and then the beeping starts that would tell anyone else that the phone was off the hook, but you know better. It's a punchline to an awesome joke, and when you hear it you bust up laughing.
You've gotten better at eating, and I'm happy to report that you've gotten better at swallowing the food you put in your mouth. Your favorite food right now is cheese, any kind of cheese, and you'll sit contentedly and eat all the cheese we'll give you. We also let you have ice cream the other day while visiting Chelsee, and we broke down and had her fill a small cup of whipped cream for you, and you easilly could've died happy. You are so good at using both a spoon and a fork, and you will happily play with them even when you're done eating. I get so proud of all the progress you've made, and now we just need to work on going from a bottle to a sippy cup. This might get ugly.
Lately you have become the master of imitation. There was one day that I was carrying you and two garbage bags out to the dumpster, and as we were coming back I said, "Wow, that was kinda hard because those were heavy, and you're getting so heavy!" But then I flexed with my other arm and made the grunting, "I'm so strong" sound, and you did it right after me! You honestly crack me up. You'll copy me with almost anything, though, trying to imitate what I do and the sounds I make. I think you're so amazingly cute and so smart!
This month you've really showed us how big your heart is and how much you love your cousin Isaac. We were over at Gary and Danae's house playing and Isaac was sleeping upstairs. When he woke up he started to cry, and you looked around for him but couldn't see him, and you started BAWLING, so concerned that he was upset and you couldn't help. Even after Gary went upstairs and got him, you wouldn't stop crying until you SAW him, just to make sure he was okay.
Kami girl, I love you so much. I'm so proud of all that you're learning and how smart and fun you are. You seem to be both very independant and also such a lover, and I think you have the sweetest spirit. I can never do you justice in these blogs, and today is no exception, but know that I think you're amazing, and I hope you keep dancing and living and loving the way that you do now.
The first thing that I have to admit is that we've gotten even further into the part of your life I know nothing about. It may seem strange, but when I thought about having a baby I could imagine the first year or so, and I taught myself the milestones at the certain ages and I would have some sense about what was coming next. Now, I have no idea. Jay has looked to me to know what's normal and what's not, and if something surprises him he will check to see if I'm surprised, too, or if I knew it was coming all along. Now, we're to the point that he looks to me, and I have to shrug. I don't know what's coming next, I'm not sure what the "norm" is for kids your age, and the simple truth is that there are a lot of perks to having it this way. I get to completely wrap myself in your achievements more than I did before, instead of checking it off my list and waiting for the next one. Now, everything you learn and every way you grow gets to be unique.
You've gotten even more fun this last month. You're so good at walking that tonight you got down and started crawling and it threw me for a loop, it seemed like it had been so long since I had seen it. At the beginning of the month you learned another solid word, one that you have put to use well since figuring it out. You say "Ba" meaning bottle, you just dropped off the second "Ba" because only having to say it once seemed more practical. Once while we were on our trip sleeping in the trailer, you woke up in the middle of the night and when I looked over you said, "Ba" in a way that was slightly panicked, slightly pleading, and as soon as I gave it to you you settled down and went right to sleep. I mention it because it was one of the first times that you've verbally been able to tell me what you want, and it was so stange but also so endearing. I can't believe how fast you're growing.
I was worried about how you would handle our trip, especially all the time in the car, but for the most part you were patient and happy. After we got there you were so happy to walk around with all of us and also to explore things like pinecones and you would point at birds as they went by. I hope there's some part of it that you remember, but even if you don't it was more fun than it would've been without you. You kept all of us on our toes. If I could guess, I would say that your favorite part was when we went to a chuck-wagon dinner one night and listened to the Fort Hayes Wranglers afterward. I was afraid you would be put off by how loud the music was, but you LOVED IT. We have a video of you dancing, and the whole time you were laughing and clapping. And not clapping because everyone else was, though you did that too, you were clapping because you loved it so much. That was the best part.
Your Dad told me today that he can't wait for you to be an older sister, he thinks you'll be a natural. Sometimes I disagree. You like to have things your way, and you're not too keen on sharing yet. The thing that makes me think he's right is how you are with Isaac. Even still you love to play with him and kiss him. You get so excited that you squeal anytime you see him. I've also seen how concerned you get when he's over and he's crying. I wait for you to get jealous when I'm holding him and not you, but most of the time I'm pleasantly surprised by how you handle it. He really is your best friend.
You love to have fun and you love to laugh. One of my favorite things is when something will happen that strikes you as funny, something unintentional, and you will burst out laughing. We'll do things over and over to hear it. What I've noticed this last month is that you do the same thing. Anythime you do something that we laugh at, you do it over and over and laugh harder each time while watching us laugh. I love being with you, special times when we're sitting on the bed or something, and you and I will make each other laugh. You love to play and we play together a lot, and my heart delights in it every time.
Your second tooth came through on our trip. As it grows it's obvious that they're crooked, but I love it. The other morning we saw that you have a third tooth coming through on top, your top left. They still bother you, but thankfully not as badly as the first one. Your getting better at eating, and you like to use them to bite pieces off of what we give you. Now we need to work on the swallowing part, because most of the time you still suck on it until it's soft and spit it out.
As you get older you just get more and more beautiful. We still are consistantly stopped by people who tell us how cute you are, or just want to talk to you. People wave at you all the time. Lately when they talk to you you cuddle up with whoever is holding you, pretending to be shy, but we know you really like it because if they look away after you do that, you're full attention is on getting them to look at you again. I'm still astounded by what a beautiful girl you are, and I love your eyes. You have such beautiful eyes.
I love you so much. I love to be with you, and I love to play with you. I'm so lucky because there are so many times when you and I are together that you'll put your head up against mine, or hug me so tight, or kiss me, or put our noses together and just hold the position. We cuddle for awhile and it honestly breaks my heart. It's the best feeling. Being a mom, even with it's frustrations, is the best thing that has ever happened to me, and I know how lucky I am to have such an amazing daughter and husband. I love coming home to both of you.
You are so easy to love.
Some months go by and you happilly spend them perfecting what you've already learned. This last month wasn't one of those. You seemed to keep learning new things and the long awaited tooth FINALLY arrived. It gave us a lot of trouble and we didn't get a lot of sleep some nights, but now it's there, white and crooked and alone for now, and it might be the cutest thing ever. 
For your actual birthday on Sunday we went to breakfast and then we tried to take you to Tracy Avairy. You liked the zoo so much that we thought you would like the birds, but we were wrong. All you wanted to do was walk around on the grass with help from me or your dad or Aunt Chelsee. Anytime we tried to show you the birds you would glance over, take it in, and then get back to walking around, which was much more important.
I know I always end these posts telling you how much I love you, but tonight I left it up to my good friend, Dooce (because I'm SURE we could be good friends if she would ever write me back!), because she eloquently writes the thoughts I have but stumble over in trying to verbalize them. She wrote this to her daughter, Leta: