Julia was going for a ride around the kitchen. She stopped for a moment to pose for me. Ride ’em Cowgirl, Away!

Julia made her 18 month check-up visit to the doctor. Our regular pediatrician was out due to an injury, so we saw a different doctor in our group. She was really kind and good with the girls. My favorite thing from the visit was that she involved Emily to make Julia feel comfortable. Basically all the checks that the doctor did, she did first to Emily and then to Julia. This was especially great given that both girls had a cold.

I was pleased to learn that Julia now weighs 20 lbs. At 18 months and now 20 pounds, she can now sit facing forward in the car. I have no complaints about her in the car, but I think she will really enjoy looking at where we are going. This is a 2-1/2 lbs increase since her last checkup three months ago. As far as weight goes, we are at the 3rd percentile – she is one skinny kid. She is now 30-1/4 inches long and her head and chest both measured 17-3/4 inches. Julia was agreeable for the exam and only was offended when she had to receive three shots at the end.

I love to watch the girls play. Julia was having so much fun just pulling things out of her baskets and inspecting each one. She would study them and touch them. When she was done contemplating each one she would go back for another one.

You can’t really tell from this photo, but there are fish on her dress. Fish is her new favorite word. When ever she sees fish she points at them or waves her hands in the air saying ‘ish, ish, ish’. Fun, fun, fun!!

I’m enjoying the little bit of curl her hair still has. I don’t expect her curl to last past the first haircut. It is a sweet little girl thing she has right now.

The girls have been taking swim lessons. Emily is in her own level I class and Julia and I are taking a “Mommy and Tot” class together. I was fortunate and they are teaching the two classes at the same time so we all can participate.

Emily has been doing really well. Previous to this class she would swim with water wings, so this class has been a lot of getting used to how her body feels in the water without a flotation device. She has been very willing to try new things. With the help of her teacher and a buoy she swam the length of the pool and back, she has swum under the lane divider, she will bob her face in and out of the water, and she is having a lot of fun. I asked Emily what her favorite thing to do in the pool is and she said to hold the side of the pool with her hands and feet.

Once Julia gets used to the temperature of the water she is having a good time with Mommy. We sing songs, bob in and out of the water, practice holding to the edge of the pool, throw and swim to balls, put our face into the water, and get dunked once each lesson. She hasn’t gotten fearful of the water yet and is enjoying all the water. One of her favorite things to do is to look for Emily in the next lane. This past week she actually saw Emily kicking her feet while swimming and Julia imitated the kick motion. Her other favorite thing to do in the pool is to throw and fetch a ball.

We are hoping to have a lot of opportunities to practice what we are learning this summer in the pool!

This is a classic Mommy perspective – someone asking to be picked up. There can be so many messages in these sweet arms: “I want a hug”, “help me”, “make it right”, “save me”, “I want you”, “sister did me wrong”, and sometimes “I just want your view on the world”. Mommy’s answer: “Yes honey, I will pick you up”.

While their big sisters are at Thursday School, the little ones get some playtime with their Mamas. This might have been the calmest ride in the grocery store for Julia. She is pretty use to sitting with the very active Emily. Both girls enjoyed their cookies and honking the horns. It sure is nice to have friends to hang out with, Maeve is a pretty sweet one.