17 months

Two months ago, I had a baby who would occasionally say "ba" ("ball"), and today my toddler asked me, "s'dat?" ("what's that?").  She has really come a long way with communication.  Last month, she learned the signs for  "please", "more", "all done" and "thank you".  And we made one up for "star". :)  If you aren't aware, using sign language with young children has been a sort of trend lately, and one I'm really liking - they really can communicate ideas with signs long before they can say the actual words.  And if all else fails, some well-timed whining or excited wiggling usually get her point across.  She is undergoing a little language explosion, though, and can now say more words than I can keep track of.  We're learning our animals....sometimes she says the correct name, but usually it's "Moooo!!!!" or "Cockadoodledoooooo!" or something like that.  And our modes of transportation: "Aaaaiiiieeee!" (airplane) "Mo!" (motorcycle) and "Cah!" (car).  She will do the motions for her favorite songs: "The Eensy Weensy Spider", "Old MacDonald", "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" and "Patty Cake".  She's really starting to pick up on more social norms too: she has learned to put her finger to her lips and whisper "shhhh", blow kisses, and knock on doors to be let in.

Copying Daddy...who is becoming her new hero!

Someone misses the baby stage!

Little cheeser!

Getting really good at coloring

What is that disgusting thing on Daddy's upper lip?

I think she really believes she's dressing herself when she does this

Expressing some emotion

Signing "more"

We have long suspected that Jackie has the ability to walk but is holding out on us...so we tricked her into walking from a friend into my outstretched arms, at which point she took 3 steps.  Ever cautious, though, she insists on holding on to our hands while walking.  It's a real exercise in patience some days when I feel like she has the ability to be walking but is too afraid to do so....this is where accepting your child's personality comes into play.  Her "wounded spider crawl", as we like to call it, is now quite speedy, but I can tell she's growing tired of dragging her poor right leg behind her and would like to be running with the other kids.  Then our lives really will change!

This is how we spend many of our days

This has been a favorite spot (at a friend's house)

A girl and her horse

We have been extremely busy with activities with friends lately, and it's made me realize how thankful I am for the variety and number of friends God has blessed us with after being in San Antonio a little over a year.  There's nothing we like better than a playdate...and this is where one gleans all kinds of useful knowledge that mommy and daddy have been hiding - how to jump on a bed, how to push someone around who's smaller than you, and how great chocolate tastes.  Friends are the best!

Two little couch potatoes

Playdate!

My first piano student has been a sweet friend to Jackie

Checking out videos of puppies and laughing babies with Daddy