The View from the Woodlands: I Wonder What She's Thinking

Alyse is officially 18 months old in two days and she is just getting more and more fun! Brandon and I crack up at the things she does all the time, like today in church during Sacrament Meeting (for us it's our third, and last, hour of church where all the members of the congregation meet together...just imagine lots of little toddlers who have already been in church for two hours!). Alyse had gone to nursery for the first time where she got to play with all the other kiddos 18 months-3years old. I'm not sure if she was still hyped up from that new experience or what, but during the opening song (and mind you, it was a church song) she started shaking her booty back and forth while kneeling backwards on her chair (making faces at some people who were kind enough to oblige her silliness). She kept up the wiggles for a few minutes and just kept "dancing" more and more intensely until her chair was moving and her hair was flying back and forth. It was hilarious!

We have no idea what is running through her head, but I wish I knew. Actually, we are getting to know a little more of what she is thinking since she is getting better and better at communicating to us. Like today when we went outside to the playground while dinner was cooking. Daddy headed to the swings and started swinging on one himself, Alyse laughed at him and then headed to one herself. Once she was going she pointed to another empty swing and said "Mommy". So, for a few minutes, we all were swinging together :) When she lays down (on the floor or our bed) she often pats the space next to her and says "Mommy" or "Daddy" for us to lie next to her and cuddle, or her new favorite thing, she imitates snoring and then says "more" to let us know she wants us to pretend we are asleep. In the midst of Brandon's busy end of the quarter and preparing for his internship, and my focus on the sometimes mundane and detailed things of taking care of Alyse and our household, it is a real treat and blessing to have this little one in our lives. She helps us smile and laugh daily and reminds us that the most important things have to do with being together as a family.

We took a "trip" to the fire station down the road and got to talk to a fireman and sit in the truck! Alyse really loves to hear the sirens from our apartment and walks over to the window to be lifted up to see the trucks down on the street.