Well, I have a bible study post in the works, but I'm trying REALLY hard to get to bed at a decent hour so we're taking a break to talk about my princess :)
She is 20 months now (still can't bring myself to say a year and a half). This weekend we cut out naptime because she was more cranky with a nap than without (odd, I know, but that's how mommy is too). That means she's going to bed easily and early (which means early to rise, hence mommy's new bedtime).  She still has a quiet time, but she isn't a fan of it yet. What she is a fan of is taking walks around our block. :)

The first time we took a walk, it was quite by accident. Ariah took my old snoopy dog (like the one pictured below) on our walk to the mail box.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/64936902/vintage-fisher-price-little-snoopy

....but Ariah kept walking! I told her to stop and then considered that a walk wouldn't be a bad thing. We didn't have anything pressing to do at home. So, since she stopped when I first told her, I gave her the option to walk or go home. We walked :)

Since then walks have been at least a daily activity (weather permitting). There are days where we simply walk up and down the same street without turning a corner. Some days she pushes her doll in a stroller or pulls Minnie Mouse in a wagon. Other walks she leaves her hands free to collect treasures of leaves and rocks. Shoes are often opptional, but today she chose shoes.... Her shiny black dress shoes.

She was thrilled! The little tap tap of her feet made me smile :) So, off we went! Half way around the block we walk right by a mud puddle. She paid it no attention and kept walking; I of course breathed a sigh of relief. Suddenly she stopped and turned her little wagon around so she could get a better look at it. I could have stopped her, but she washes. I wanted to see what she'd do. A couple days ago I planned and encouraged her to play in the mud, but no. She was NOT interested. This mud must have been different because she didn't hestiate to dunk her hands in and her shiny shoes soon followed.

The look on her face... She had a HUGE grin and was laughing while stomping in and out of the puddle. Falling didn't even dampen her spirits. You know, it wasn't easy to let her get muddy, especially since we were going out right after our walk. But she washes (2 part peroxide and one part dawn took care of her pants and a quick rinse saved the shoes). That experience, that look on her face, was priceless. Even if the outift was ruined, I would do it again in a heart beat.