Dear Zoë,

As I told your brother in his latest letter, you will come to learn that your mother often believes she is capable of doing it all and..well sadly I am only human and I often run out of time.  So, here I sit 3 days after you have turned 14-months-old trying to cram two months of your amazingness into one letter at nearly midnight. 

You have grown and changed so much over the last two monts.  Shortly after your first birthday you began walking.  It took about 10 days for walking to become your preferred method of transportation–since then you haven’t stopped going.  It has been amazing seeing you grow and change. 

You follow your brother around like a little puppy and try to do everything he does.  He jumps off the couch–you are pretty sure that you can jump off of the couch too.  You are fearless and nothing stops you.  It is fun to watch and a little scary.  You are growing more independent–you decided that you no longer care to be fed.  You must use the fork or spoon yourself–it is quite messy and ineffective as your motor skills are not quite what they need to be to feed yourself.  There are times when you don’t object to being fed and I enjoy being allowed to feed you. 

Your first Thanksgiving–okay well not your first thanksgiving–but your first Thanksgiving with us and the first one you got to participate in–as Ethiopia obviously doesn’t celebrate Thanksgiving.  You ate and had a good time.  It was certainly one more thing your father and I are thankful for. 

Your personality continues to emerge and I have to say that you are a pretty funny little girl.  You are also a little needier than Noah was.  Not that I am complaining–you like to be held more and you are a bit more of a snuggler.  It’s really nice.  You are beginning to talk and have words for banana (manna) which is currently your favorite food.  Every time I walk you past the fruit bowl you reach out for one.  You can also sign “more” when asked and you are attempting to say more (mar).  You are good with the “m” sound but have yet to say daddy or any thing relatively close. 

You are a ray of sunshine–and an awesome sleeper–who smiles that wonderful scrunchy face smile and makes me giggle.  I look so forward to what will come next with you.  Keep growing.  Keep changing and keep smiling. 

Love you baby girl,

Mommy