Dear Anastasia, 17 months

Beautiful Anastasia, your tiny little 21-pound-17-month-old self is pure Delight. Your easy, happy grin reveals the little gap in your teeth and is often accompanied by the cutest nose-wrinkle ever. That smile appears for any number of reasons, from seeing your big sister, to greeting me after your nap. Yours is truly a smile that lights up a room!

Your serious face comes out when you know you are scolded, even ever-so-gently. A look of remorse with downcast eyes and a pouty lip emerges after your temper takes over and Mama intervenes before someone gets hurt! As you are SO dramatic, big crocodile tears occasionally appear rolling down your cheeks if the offense was serious enough to get Mama's stern face.

Always on the lookout, you have no problem finding your share of mischief. Especially if mischief is located high up! Though you've had your share of tumbles you are never deterred from always reaching new heights. Mama is very thankful that you are so short for your age, as at least that can keep you limited! You want to touch everything, hold everything, and to experiment with the bounce potential of just about whatever you've take possession. The biggest problem with your mischief, my Little Love, is that all-too-appealing smile that debuts on your face the moment you are spotted, challenging Mama so much to stay focused on the issue at hand, instead of gobbling up those cheeks.

You seem to believe that anything that does not cooperate with you can be dealt with by pure force. A cap that won't come off? Pull harder. A door that won't open? Bang repeatedly and yell loudly, ordering it to obey your command. A sister that isn't doing what you want? Well, you're learning about that, too. Speaking of which, you are getting very good at reprimanding yourself. You run to the step and fold your arms dutifully, waiting for the go ahead to go say sorry. Your apologies are one of the cutest things ever to witness, as you lean your head against the object of your temper and throw your arms as wide as you can reach. You are quick to play nicely, as you'd much rather be enjoying people's company than stranded by yourself.

If mimicking is indeed the greatest form of flattery, everyone in the family should be honored. You rock your babies like Big Sister, you vacuum the floor like Mama, and you took interest in the play lawnmower only after you saw how Daddy uses his. That being said, I would never misname you as a little shadow - you wouldn't allow the limelight stolen for that long. Any chance you get you'll make sure someone is watching you play ring-around-the-rosy or make animal sounds.

As I drink up these last few weeks of you being The Baby, I cherish all your little antics. You are growing up fast as if to show me you are ready to be a Big Sister, too. However, your sweet snuggles when you first wake up, your pleas for a few moments in the rocking chair, the way you will RUN to sit on an unoccupied lap all allow me to breathe in your baby-ness. You are still little, my Little Love, and no matter how busy or distracted Mama might seem these days, I am enjoying every second with you.