17 Months!

Okay, technically she won't be 17 months for another 6 days but I can't handle the cute squishiness that is my Sammie. Just about anyone who's ever met her will agree, she's the kind of baby you just want to squeeze and kiss all day.
Monster Sammich. (The kids were playing with this costume and as soon as there was a break in the action she brought me the costume so she could wear it. She had so much fun with it that the next morning she dug it out and tried to put it on herself. Funny.)

Gratuitous shot of a chubby baby in a high chair eating. It's her talent. She's good at eating.

First time with a sucker. Perhaps you may think (almost) 17 months is a little young for a sucker but she's the fourth kid so she might be a little young for a lot of the stuff I have her do.

She loved it. No surprise there! (She wasn't even very sticky when she was done. Impressive.)

Now that she's a fluent walker (oh yeah, she's getting so steady and fast, it makes my heart proud) she's taken to climbing. Her current favorite is to climb on the little toy box we have. She get so proud of herself for getting up there the fact that she gets stuck and can't get down seems irrelevant to her.

Doesn't she look proud?

Finally, this is my new favorite picture ever. Sammie loves to give kisses. She gives kisses to her babies, any random toy she gets her hands on, and just about anyone who asks for one. One of my most favorite things right now is when she randomly walks up to you with her kissy face waiting for a kiss. Seriously. Favorite thing. I was overjoyed to discover that I'd gotten it on camera. Because I know that, one day, Sammie will stop doing this. This picture, however, is going to be printed and framed and will live on forever. (Makes you sad that you're not here right now to kiss her, huh?)

My Sammie is getting so big. I still call her a baby (and probably will for a while) but she's fast transitioning into toddler-hood. She's speaking more, throwing minor tantrums (that hopefully won't ever get any worse), and is becoming very active and interactive. We all adore her just the way she is right now and Justin and I curse the fact that she's going to grow out of this stage at some point. Because right now, this stage, is perfect - tantrums and all. She makes us smile and laugh every single day. If I had a pause button, I'd be pushing it today.

Okay okay, one more picture. But only because she's so cute and squishy that I can't stand it.

Love you Sammie. Now stop growing please. I'm having way too much fun with you just as you are.