I don't know where my daughter gets all of her personality from, but she is definately one of a kind! She loves to explore, especially when it involves stairs of any kind. She is so considerate when she makes messes she will announce excitedly to her momma, "mess!" One of her favorite 17 month pastimes is emptying things... Bags, purses, toy boxes, diaper bags and finding gum and other trinkets to hide and save for later. She also likes to empty salt shakers and wipes containers. This little one has an oobsession with Elmo. We have watched every youtube video I can find with the little red guy in it. I can't turn on the computer without multiple requests for "Elmie!" She'll push every button she can get her sticky little fingers on until he comes on... And then when he shows up she'll sit next to me for about ten minutes then go play with her toys... But Elmo better be playing in the background! She loooves books. She likes to look at the pictures and identify everything she can: "Hat! Moose! Cow... moo! Birdie! Turtle! Ball! Kitty... Mouw!" She really likes animals. Everything she puts to her lips is either "hot" and requires her to blow on it (she sucks in air instead) or "cold" and is followed with "brrrr." She likes to dip all her food in something, be it cookies in ketchup or chips in applesauce. She still likes to perch on the back of the sofa or on top the kitchen table, and likes to make piles of things (clothes, toys, shoes, books...) She's pretty good at putting the right shapes into the right holes in her toddler toy, and her last vaccination she didn't even cry! At church she shows everyone her belly button, and usually gets to play in the nursery with either mom or dad because she doesn't like to hold still in sunday school or priesthood. She waves at the conductor during the hymns and loves to point out (very loudly) all of the babies in the congregation. She takes her afternoon nap in my arms and I will wake up in a large puddle of her sweat and need to change shirts. She enjoys and is very capable of taking her pants off, and would rather be outside than in 90% of the time. She exclaims "daddy!" with every car door that we can hear being shut, and every time we hear a lawn mower start up. She will stand on her feet and bend in half with her bottom in the air to check under a doorway to try and see if mommy or daddy is on the other side. When she recognizes we are at either grandma's house she will start to call for "nenee!" (Jenny) or "Callie!" in hopes that the puppies are there. She just woke up and turned to me. I said "I love you Clara" and she replied.... "Elmo?" ;-)
