[Mars]

Firstly, I apologize for being so bad with updates.

Amara's growing beautifully but too fast. She's already 18 months and has a very wide vocabulary. She knows her entire alphabet, counts to 20 (she misses 13 and 15 sometimes) and can spell her name. In addition to all that, she creates sentences and sings a whole bunch of songs. All in all, she's a very chatty little girl.

We had her 18 month check-up on Tuesday and she's 22lbs and 33 inches tall. She had a vaccination which gave her a slight fever for 1 day but that's all cleared up and she's back to her usual self.

She's going to preschool from September which is exciting and scary at the same time. I've enrolled her to go for 1/2 day from Monday to Friday and once she settles in, I'll send her full time. Her preschool gallery Photo Gallery | Feels Like Home Preschool News & Resource Center for those who are interested. They're quite a few pics so I suggest viewing in thumbnails and not by slideshow.

A few pics I just downloaded from one camera. I have better ones on the other camera but have no idea where the cable is.





A few older ones (from a wedding) for those who don't have FB.

[~Caroline~]

She's so cute and she looks very happy.

[CandaceDianne]

wow, she is a smart little girl and super cute!

[♥Ashley♥]

Wow! She is so smart Mari!!! I cant believe she can count to 20, say the alphabet, AND spell her name! That is crazy to me! She is SO cute and growing up so fast!

I dont know if youve ever mentioned before, but do you and DH want more kids? Anytime soon?

[soImarriedAnerd]

OMG how CUTE is she!

[ShannonMVT]

She is so cute! Sounds like her vocabulary is really awesome!

[*krista*]

omg she is BEAUTIFUL! Just gorgeous. She's looking more like you, don't you think? And she is such a smart girl!

Thank you for posting an update, you really don't post enough about yourself and Amara for those of us who don't have fb. How are you doing? Anything new going on with you?

[Resi]

What a smart little cookie! She is a pretty girl.

[ScottishBrit]

I dont think she could get any cuter!!! Seriously! I just love her....And what a super smart cookie! WOW, thats great!! Good job mommy!!

[JediRach]

She is adorable. I just love her hair. No matter what you do with it, it looks amazing.

[Mars]

Thanks ladies.

Ashley, we're not "planning" on having more at this point but we're open to another if it should happen.

Krista, not much is going on with me. I did a summer course and am preparing for the exam. After that I'm off to Jamaica for a week for work. DH and Amara are going too.

Amara is like a sponge, she just soaks up everything. You literally can't say anything you don't want repeated around her. My ILs do a great job with her during the days and we do a lot of activities when she's home as well. She likes to be involved in almost everything you're doing.

Thanks Rach. It takes me about 2 hours to braid and I can only do it when she's sleeping. I let her wear it open sometimes but it keeps her really hot.

[*krista*]

Can I come to Jamaica with you???! You lucky thing. Then again you live in Barbados, how much better does it get than that? *jealous* I have beaches near me but the water is so gross it looks more like a river bed.

I agree, Amara does have gorgeous hair. Do you do anything specific to make it so cute other than braiding it? I love both her braided and open looks. I need to start taking curly hair notes! I don't know how curly Charlotte's hair is going to be, but my hair is straight and boring so I have no idea what I'm doing.

[**Jenn**]

Oh my goodness, she is so super cute!!! And smart too! Seriously, Amara is really beautiful. We definitely need more pics of her!!!

[Mars]

Thanks Jenn.

Krista, I don't think Charlotte's hair will be as curly as Amara. I think it will probably have big curls not curls as small as Amara.

I don't do much with her hair to be honest. I wash it, put olive oil on it and then I braid it when she falls asleep because it's easier than having to style it everyday before I take her to my ILs. She doesn't stay still to get it done not even to get it in a single ponytail. Now that it's longer and her curls don't shrink as much and they fall better around her head, I will leave it open if we're going out and it's not too hot.

[~*sierra*~]

Originally Posted by Mars

Thanks Rach. It takes me about 2 hours to braid and I can only do it when she's sleeping. I let her wear it open sometimes but it keeps her really hot.

I was totally wondering how long it would take to braid her hair! how convenient that she doesnt wake up when shes getting it braided too, must make life so much easier! she is soooooo adorable! and sounds like she is going to be the smartest kid in preschool!

[Mars]

She does wake up sometimes, then it takes me about 3 hours if she settles quickly, sometimes longer if she doesn't.