Dear Smiley ...

Today you are 15 months old. It has been a while since your last letter, and well, you have done a lot of changing and growing up in the last three months.

The most noticeable growth has come in your vocabulary. You have so many words now: dog, juice, shoes, nose, ball, this, no, duck, stuck, and my favorite "tane too" (thank you). You also sing a beautifully sweet version of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. "

You now are able to follow two commands in a row - like "pick up your doll and put her in your room." You actually do it! Awesome. A few weeks ago, I was making dinner and I gave Ava a bowl and asked her to go outside and pick some basil. I then asked you to go out and help her. Ava came back with a nice bowl of leaves. You followed right behind her, holding the entire basil plant with the roots dripping with dirt. We had a good laugh and a deliciously seasoned lasagna! Note to self: add basil to shopping list for the rest of the year.

We've started calling you our little wrecking ball. The other day, I found you standing on top of the art table in your room. You climb and jump on the couches (your dad's pet peeve) and when we tell you to sit on your bottom, you slide down to sit, then without missing a beat, are right back up jumping. Yesterday, you figured out how to climb over the baby gate that we keep in the doorways. You can climb out of your high chair and we've had to make several adjustments to your carseat. Top priority for next month for you and your sister: back to gymnastics.

You need to work on some better practical jokes. You love to open the freezer, pull out the ice packs and sneak up behind me and put it on my bare leg and yell "Wooo!" Someone has been watching her daddy a little too much.

We have yet to take your bottle away ... we know who is boss! But next week at this time, we'll be inserting the earplugs and taking deep breaths as we anticipate the return of Senya-dactyl and the total destruction of every cupboard and drawer within your little reach in search for a bottle. (If I could have had a crystal ball a year ago to know that you would not only drink from a bottle, but LOVE it, I would have certainly slept better heading back to work after maternity leave.)

Ava is still your favorite person in the world. We're going to try to get your morning ritual on video this week. Before you do anything, you point to Ava, climb up on her bed, climb on top of her and hug and kiss her nearly to death. She is pretty patient with you - considering she is a Dorny and is not a fan of waking up.

On Tuesday, you are scheduled to have your surgery to probe your tear duct and have ear tubes put in. It breaks my heart to put you through this, but I know it's the best thing. I cannot wait to see those big sparkling baby blues without the little tear that has been there since we brought you home from the hospital. And hopefully, the tubes will make your winter a little easier.

Lots of fun times in the next few months: Halloween, a visit from Opa, and the holidays. Can't wait! We love you!

Love,
Mom

O.k., so you weren't smiling big enough in the first picture. Here is a shot of you after you sampled dad's birthday cake. I think you might have like it :)