17 months old

I could write about the glorious 70+ degree weather we've had and the tank tops, spring dresses, and flip flops that are flowing.  I could write about the illness that Jason and everyone else I know seems to have had.  Or how great it is to actually be working and seeing my own patients again.  I could write about the new house that we are buying.  Or the packing craziness that is to be had since I fly to Chicago tomorrow and then drive to Berrien Springs, Michigan for a 6 day course on spinal manipulation.  But we know that really what people want to see is Rachel.

 Rachel's favorite toys and activities these days include: sliding at the park or pool, talking on the phone, wooden puzzles, wooden animal tower, big lego and block towers, throwing/kicking/rolling balls, pushing the vacuum plug retract button over and over, wearing and adult's hats/coats/socks/shoes, dressing her stuffies in diapers or clothes, running and being chased, ring-around-the-rosy and falling down, books, her Nunu blanket, raking or shoveling in the yard, emptying anything and putting items back, 'helping' with laundry and other chores, snuggling, coloring on paper at her table, or at her new easel, or on her own body, or on other people's clothing, or on furniture.

Things that Rachel is not as interested in: saying goodbye in the morning at daycare, having Mommy or Daddy get too far away, getting dressed, sleeping in later than 5:30am, having her hair brushed or clipped back, getting into the stroller or backpack.
We finally bought an ergo baby carrier by the way.  I got a brand new one on craigslist for $85 (they are $115 in stores).  It's a great option for travel, getting Rachel to and from daycare and leaving it there, and even for cross country skiing if we didn't want to use the chariot.  And guess what?!  So far - Rachel hates it.  We'll keep trying.