Checking in at almost 15 months

Hey everyone!

You haven't heard from me in a little while, but I'd better not catch you thinking that's because not much is going on with me!! Life is getting VERY exciting! I've started running from place to place. That's especially fun outside, altho my increased velocity still doesn't help me catch the birdies; and it looks very much like I'm about to tip over at every step. I love helping mommy wash the car; puddles are sooooo much fun to stomp.

Mom and dad's latest project is training me not to fling my cup on the floor and to resist sweeping all my food off my highchair tray. I sometimes pretend not to know what they are talking about, but I probably could have been trained not to do that a few months ago. It really only took one day of concentrated training & now I almost never throw anything from my highchair :o). They are also teaching me to tell them when I'm all done instead of fussing. Sometimes I'm just so tired tho; I don't feel like talking!

My vocab has exploded! Car is one of my favorite words, I make sure mommy asks a few times and then out it pops with much gusto: Car! I also say tractor, shoes, see, birdie, flower (sounds like wowah...very cute ;o), yuck (for ant hills and garbage cans outside), broom, down, night night, cheese, book, and I say my name (altho it sounds a whole lot like dada). I love learning about letters and numbers; my favorites are 3, c, t, g, ...really anything with that "ee" sound at the end :o). I can also say 'arf' like a dog and 'ooh ooh ah ah' like a monkey :o). I get very excited when anyone mentions a bath or outside. And I like to pick flowers with daddy (to give to mommy, of course).

I've started giving very good hugs and with a little more practice I'll be giving kisses. I also like to give little love squeezes when I can't give a full hug. For example, if mommy is reading to me and I don't want to turn all the way around to throw my arms around her neck, I'll just hold her forearm and give it a little squeeze to let her know I like how she's reading to me. Creative right?

I also like to put things in & out and on & off, like putting a golf ball in a measuring cup or trying to put lid back on the peanut butter (whoops! don't tell mommy!!). I have a little trouble sometimes, which often leads to loud protests on my part; it's just so frustrating when things don't cooperate with my cute little fingers. Does that ever happen to y'all?

Some of my favorite things to eat are peanut butter sandwiches, apples, bananas, peas, broccoli, green beans, cheese cubes, and crackers. My absolute favorite is pizza...I can put a hurtin' on some pizza!! I love to say "mmm mmm mmm!" when I'm eating. Mommy & daddy will usually join in for even more fun!

Okay, better go. I guess I shouldn't let so much time go by between updates... this is really long!

Gavin