21 Months

A quick apology to a certain mother of mine who I know for certain has been anxiously awaiting this months installment.  Sorry mommy!
Olivia is doing well.  Hooray!  The further we've gotten post-cath the more I notice the difference of pre and post cath Livie.  Since her cath she seems to have shot up, started gaining weight (she's been the same weight for a while now) has more energy, doesn't turn blue near as often, and is eating much better.  It's very exciting for me.  I am confident that her follow-up appointment next week will show improvement in her little hearts function.
Along with Olivia's increased energy has come increased...everything.  Screaming, sass, stubbornness.  You name it.  I'm exhausted.  Olivia has learned to stand up for herself against bossy big sister.  I am frequently breaking up fights between the two because Ella took Livie's toy or tried bossing her around and Livie going straight for the hair.  Olivia is quickly learning that bad things happen when mommy counts to three and she is not fond of time-out.
Olivia's proving to be just as stubborn as I suspected she might be.  She knows what she wants, and when she wants it, and will do just about anything to get it...except maybe learn how to talk.
Ok, Olivia has learned a few new words.  Just enough to get her point across.  Food for when she's hungry, read, "Melmo" or Pooh for when she wants to watch something, hide for when she wants to play hide and seek, play for when she wants you to play with her and of course, "deetee" and "datee" for when she wants her binky and blanky.  And while she says these things over and over and over she is tugging on your finger until you get up.  Oh, and she will say "Mon!" for come on.  Though Olivia is still refusing to talk much she is learning a few multi word phrases.  She'll say "no know" for I don't know and "yuv you too"
Olivia is definitely learning how the world works.  She's very good at making sure we pray at meal time.  Once at the table she'll start yelling "pay!" until we're all reverent.  Well, except her.  Olivia loves playing "mommy" and I recently discovered after about two weeks of constant whining from her, the whining was pretend.  It was her making her babies cry and then she'd take care of them.  She'll also have mommy be her baby and will tuck me in with a binky.  She loves reading to her babies and changing their bottoms.  I've had to start tucking diapers away because they get scattered all over the place with her many diaper changes.
Olivia had a pretty big month in other areas.  She is starting to show interest in the potty.  She has yet to actually go but will ask to try.  She also graduated from a crib to a toddler bed and no longer drinks from a bottle.
Olivia's favorites:
Saying no.  Still the cutest "no" I've ever heard.
Pooh Bear (I've watched Pooh constantly for the past two days.)
Still Elmo
Baby dolls and tea parties.
Dismantling the bookshelf and DVD racks and stacking the contents.
Reading
Pulling/playing with hair
Playing the piano/french horn/ukelele
Pickles, apples, bananas, olives, hot dogs, chocolate milk, milk, juice
Binkies, blankies, snuggles
Playing outside
Riding bikes