Annabel is 18 months old

Annabel turned 18 months old today.  She had her check-up and her stats are:

   23 lbs 6 oz        (30th percentile)
   32.5 inches       (75th percentile)

She is very healthy.  In the last three or four weeks, she has started saying many more words.  She also knows the sounds dogs, cats, ducks, cows, and horses make.  She seems to understand almost anything that we say and is quick with an "uh-uh" and vigorous head shake if it is anything she disagrees with (bedtime, getting out of the bath, etc).  She still moves at full speed all the time.  She loves dropping Madison off and picking her up at preschool.  She will insist on carrying the backpack or lunch box in.  When we pick her up, Annabel walks right into the classroom and gathers Maddie's stuff up.  She will love it when she gets to go next year.

She is such a blessing to our family.

I was thinking back to last year at this time.  Tomorrow will be the one year anniversary of her surgery.  So thankful that this seems like such a distant memory most of the time.  If you are not familiar with her surgery, you can see

http://jmacdonaldfamily.blogspot.com/2010/11/annabels-surgery.html

and

http://jmacdonaldfamily.blogspot.com/2010/12/post-surgery-head-decor.html

We are still so thankful for the great doctors involved, from our pediatrician to the neurosurgeon and his whole team, the wonderful nurses who took care of her during and after surgery, and our friends and family who prayed, took care of Madison, stayed with us, and brought us meals after coming home.  Most of all, we praise God for taking care of our little girl and our whole family.