We officially have a toddler

As many of you know, Chloe is officially walking completely on her own and has been for a few weeks. She started walking back and forth between me and John right around her first birthday and probably around 13 months started taking off on her own. Then she finally figured out how to push herself up without have to pull up on whatever happened to be nearby. It was all over from there! She wants to walk all on her own now and pulls her hand away when we try to hold it. She's so cute bumbling about on her sort of steady feet, and John and I absolutely love it! I love that she can walk. It makes going to the park so much fun, and she can follow me around the apartment while I do chores. She knows where her toys are and will go there to play when I direct her.

Chloe has always been very verbal but now more and more we can actually understand what she is saying, and the great thing is that SHE even knows what she is saying! Probably the cutest thing she says is "Hi Dada" as she waves her arm back and forth. She also says "Tessa" (her cousin), "Mama", "Nana"(my mom), "Bubba" (John's dad), "Papa" (my dad), "Shoes", "Wawa" (for water or milk), "Cheese", "Please", and "This". Don't worry, Grammy, we are working on your name too! Her favorite word is "Shoes", and she loves running over her shoes (or mine or John's) picking them up and telling us what they are. On Tuesday, she learned to say "Marta", which is her babysitter, and also "Minu" which is her best friend here. It's pretty amazing to us how fast she is growing and learning.

Chloe has also entered that trying but often funny toddler stage of asserting her independence and thinking the world has ended when she doesn't get her way. We haven't had any all out on the floor wailing about tantrums yet, but flailing arms and screaming have become a household norm. She is also very into her books, wants to pick out the exact ones we read, and carries them around everywhere. She's also refusing to let me turn the pages when we "read" the books, preferring to turn the books over and over in her hands, which often has me reciting them from memory to keep our nap and bedtime routines consistent!

All in all, it really is a fun time in her life, and John and I are really enjoying watching her grow and change every day!