Miranda is 17 Months 2015

Miranda is a talking explosion. She understands a lot of what we say and follows simple commands (she ignores being told no, but will happily oblige favor requests). She gives delightful smoochy kisses, and has the most absurd mean sense of humor. Nothing cracks her up more than pretending she's going to kiss you and then BITING YOUR FACE. Hey, you've been warned.

Hanging out with my little girlfriend

Doing the Draper

She currently hates rides of all kinds- not just car rides. That's right, now i can't even take her out in the stroller.

James calls this the rollercoaster. Kevin does too but for different reasons.

Eating Greek treats at the Greek Festival

Post-bath naked run, not to be confused with pre-bath naked run

Don't worry she wasn't driving while texting. She pulled over.

Takes 1 nap, 3 hours after waking. 45-90 minutes.

Helping James wash his hair.

Pretending to go nite-nite.

This is what she does when you ask her to sit for her shoes.

She is fiercely independent in a way that didn't motivate James at this age.

Must feed herself!

Stealing her brother's lunch because she hates the baby chair and prefers his food.

And this is how she scored her own seat at the table with "big girl" food.

Brushing her own teeth.

Exploring the world. (This James did do.)

Just like her brother though she loves books with a passion. She makes us read her about a 100 books a day. Maybe this is also why she says so many words already- but as mimicry. She still actively communicates with the same words as last month. I sense an explosion coming since she understands a lot and mimics a lot right now.

Reading in James's room

Read me another Dada. Please.

In short, she is little and fierce. Just like all the women in her family.

Chilling with all her favorite women.

• James at 17 months 2012

James at 17 Months 2012

James standing in his shopping cart last week

 I love this age! James possesses some great toddler characteristics, but he's also still a little snuggly baby that lets me hold him a lot. He loves going outside, and he brings us his shoes and his hat so that we'll take him to the park.

Loving the park

His favorite things in the world are Mama, Dada, both his grandmothers, sticks, rocks, Blues Clues, climbing, running from diaper changes, playing with things that aren't toys, music and dancing, attempts at playing patty cake, and trying to make friends with other kids (sometimes unsuccessfully). He's super affectionate; I get several unsolicited hugs and kisses a day.

Surprise hug!

He's trying to say new words, he understands a lot of simple instructions. In addition to some words he said last month... :

1. "ight" = light /"loosh" = luz (Spanish for light) 
2. Diego  
3. Boos Coos = Blues Clues 
4. "ow" = used to convey painless injuries, injustices, things that make him sad (he actually cries when he's hurt) 
5. Mama 
6. Dada 
7. agua/aba = Spanish for water 
8. tete = Spanish for pacifier
9. "leche" Spanish for milk (rare)
10. Click = the camera on Dora and Diego 

.... he now also says:

1. hi / hello (he runs around waving like a Disney princess)
2. ball
3. jugo = Spanish for juice
4. ojo = Spanish for eye, but he means juice when he says it
5. car (pronounced with a Boston accent: cahh) 
6. ayu = ayuda= help when he needs me to help him climb down from something
7. up (rare)

He stopped saying:

1. "ba pa" = back pack (from Diego) 
2. arbol = Spanish for tree

I'm excited about what crazy and funny things he'll have to tell us once he can string together some thoughts.

Learning to play basketball

Loves riding on Dada's shoulders