Dear Maya

Well my grinning little chatter box, today you are 17 months old. I'm not quite sure how it's possible that you've been here this long, but when I think of all those sleepless nights you and I have shared it seems a million times longer.

I know they say you shouldn't, but it's hard not to catalogue all the ways you and your sister are different. I do this the most when you're wearing one of Abby's outfits. Your build is so much different than Abby's was at the same age. What were capris on Abby are just simply pants on you. Thank Daddy for that short inseam.

In typical second child fashion you've been slow to talk. Not that you haven't had a lot to say, just none of us can understand it, but you say it so seriously that I really wish I could. All that appears to be changing though, in the last few days your vocabulary has been growing. You can now say thank you and at appropriate times too, although it does sound more like tank too, but we'll take it. You've got Mommy and Daddy nailed down, but Abby continues to be Ahm. You do call for Papa, but most of the time you don't like him to get too close. That's largely my fault, I think. I've been a different mother with you than I was with Abby so in some ways you're not as independent as Abby was. I think your rocky start to the world and those countless sleepless nights really bonded us together in a way I wasn't expecting.

As much as it has been and can be "all Mommy, all the time" you are starting to becoming a bit of a Daddy's girl. I've been noticing that in the last few weeks it's Daddy you go toddling to first when we get home from work. Or even if you come to me first you have your arms out for Daddy not long after. You have also really been enjoying having the cat here and "kitty" is another new word that we hear a lot. We've been lucky with Zebby because you really manhandle her and she just lets you. Which isn't to say you haven't come away without your share of scratches, but they've been less than minor.

I think you've finally gotten this whole sleeping thing figured out. Touch wood. As much as I love that grin of yours I really don't need to see it at two in the morning multiple times a week. One thing I am thankful for is you go to sleep like a charm. Just put you in your crib and that's it and you're a happy baby from the minute your eyes pop open in the morning. That kind of makes up for the middle of the night stuff.

And of course those soggy open mouth kisses you give make up for everything.

I love you.
Mom XO