Language Development

Mommy:
You are 2 years and 5 months old. Lately you have been saying many more nonsense words and stringing sounds together. I thought it odd at first but then daddy noticed you were using words that people were saying in the current conversation along with your babbling. We realized you are just practicing talking at the same speed and rhythm as the adults around you. You are trying to join the conversation.

Example:
Caleb was talking about Africa and the Dutch during dinner. You spoke up something similar to, "And the Dutch [a string of phonemes that sound like words] Woody, Jessie, and Slinky Dog." You said it very matter-of-fact, as though it made perfect sense.

Christmas Ornaments

Mommy:
Nana and Papa took us shopping for some Christmas ornaments at Kohls. We were picking out ornaments. You were standing near me, like four feet away. I was putting back an ornament or trying to find one on the display hook. I heard you say, "Football!" and some other word that wasn't very clear to me. Then, I heard breaking. I looked over and you were standing shocked, looking at broken football ornament around your feet. I think the unclear word was something like "throw." Yeah, you spiked the football ornament.

Bathroom Antics

Mommy:
You happened to see daddy peeing standing up. You told him, "I hang my butt." By this you apparently meant you hang your butt in the toilet instead of standing.

The next time you finished going to the bathroom you told me, "I hung my butt."

Understanding Plurals

Mommy:
I've been keeping munchies in the car to appease my random pregnant hunger urges. This particular day I had BBQ chips. I gave you a chip. Shortly after you asked, "Can I have some chips?" I answered, "Sure, you can have a chip." To which you replied, "No, chips."

Finding Nemo

Mommy:
You are currently obsessed with Toy Story 3. You wear a cowboy hat around your neck and claim to be Jessie, not Sarah. When people try to talk to you, your obsession becomes obvious by the direction you take the conversation. You have assigned different family members their own Toy Story character. I am Slinky Dog even though I tried and tried to get you to call me Bo Peep. You call your dad Buzz Lightyear.

When you wake up in the morning you ask for breakfast and to watch Toy Story 3. I've been trying to sway you to watch something else to sort of mix-up your repertoire. You decided to watch Finding Nemo after I had recommended it a few days in a row. You had seen it a couple times when Jenna lived with us after you met Crush at Disneyland.

I quickly learned that you were now in a different stage of your understanding of movies. As soon as Nemo was taken away by the underwater diver, you burst into tears wanting to know where Nemo was and what was happening. I began watching the movie from a totally different perspective. Then the sharks show up before we know what is happening to Nemo and that also made you cry, twice (the sight of the sharks and then when Marlin is trying to escape and the underwater mines explode). When Dori was stung by the jellyfish and then lying on the turtle's shell, you cried again. You were very anxious about where all the characters were throughout the movie. At the end of the movie the teacher stingray swims away with the students on his back and this made you cry because you didn't understand where Nemo was being taken.

I snuggled on the couch with you during the movie and tried to explain what was happening. It didn't seem to help too much. When the movie ended you said, "I just like Toy Story because it is fun." I asked how Finding Nemo made you feel and you said, "Sad."

Your First Offering

DADDY:

Quite a few months ago, we bought you a little bank to earn and save money in. You earn a nickle every time you pick up your toys, make your bed, or use the toilet (you earn double if you go poopoo).

A few days ago, we gave you another bank for God, along with a raise from $.05 to $.06, and you've been giving a nickle to your bank and a penny to God's.

Today, you took your bank into Studio K at RockHarbor and gave your first offering to Jesus---$.17---Before you walked away, I asked if you wanted to pray to God. Other than that, I didn't prompt you. You said, "Dear God, thank you for the money...and for the everything."

Amen, I say.

Toy Story

DADDY:

You are in love with the TOY STORY trilogy. You started off liking Woody and wearing you Woody cowboy hat and pink cowgirl boots wherever you went. Then after watching TOY STORY 2, you were Jessie, every time.

My favorite part of your new fangirling is, now that you've seen Part 3, you are Jessie and I am Buzz Lightyear. I'm a fan of dancing with you, Latin Buzz style, and I'm more than happy being your hero, your prince, your daddy.

Shoes & Pajamas

GUFFAW:

You were driving home from Gmomo's wearing pajamas, but you had shoes on for the walk home.

You said, "I have a problem. I have shoes on with my pajamas."

Passing Gas & Ducks

Daddy:

You learned this from your Mommy--when you toot, you say, "Who brought the duck?" and giggle. Hilarious!

Darkness, or Abstract Thinking in the Minivan

Daddy:

You, Jenna, and I were driving in the van. We were thinking of things, anything, to say outloud. You were coming up with things that weren't inside the van that you knew about. Jenna was saying things she could see in the van or copying your other ideas.

I suggested we change things up a bit and told you to think of things that you couldn't see. I wasn't really sure what you'd come up with.

Your first idea was "darkness."

"Yes, Sarah, you're right. I mean, you can kind of see darkness, but not really."

I love the way you think.

Make You Feel Better

Mommy:

So I'm pregnant and feeling really sick during the first trimester. I feel sad that lately I'm not as energetic or playful. You have said and done some cute things during this time though.

- You were taking a shower and I was supervising. I had to throw-up about half way through and you started singing "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." This made me feel better because it seemed like it would block out some of what was happening for you. I told you that I liked it when you sang the song because it made me feel better that it covered some of the noise. Fast forward a few weeks later and I went into the bathroom to throw-up and you followed me in. I tried to direct you away and you stood there and started singing "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star."

- You come up to my tummy and say, "I love you baby," and kiss my tummy.

- We have taught you that the baby is in my uterus which is in my tummy. When people say that I have a baby in my tummy, you correct them and say it's in my uterus.

God Will Fix It

Daddy:

You, me, and Mommy were sitting on the grass outside Taco Bell under the shade of a flagpole while we waited to go pick JJ up from respite care. You were loving your burrito, sometimes taking bites out of the fat tortilla middle where the beans start to leak out.

You found a sticker on your clothes and took it off to show me. Then you folded it up and threw it into the grass.

Mommy said, "Sarah, even though some things on Earth are pretty broken, God wants us to take care of the Earth until he comes back."

You replied, "God will fix it."

Mommy and I looked at each other. Tears began to form in my eyes. After everything going on with JJ and our family and all that we've been learning, your words were so exactly true.

"You're right," Mommy said, "God will come back and fix everything. That's why Jesus died on the cross . . . so he could come back and fix all the broken things."

Darling, please keep teaching us. We love learning from you.

"Beautiful One"

DADDY: It was bedtime, and I was lying alongside your bed. we were talking like you often ask to do at bedtime. After a long, fun chat, I started singing "Beautiful One," which is your favorite song to sing with me (we've been singing it for over a year). I stopped in the middle to ask you who the beautiful one is that we're singing to. You said God. You're right...that's what Daddy has been teaching you. I always worried you might think I chose that song because I think you're beautiful. I'm thrilled you "get it." it's one of the things that makes you my beautiful one.

Jesus Loves Me - Bible

Mommy:
In the car, you were looking at your Bible that doesn't have pictures and you said, "Remember it says, Jesus Loves Me this I know..."

Reading the Bible - Creation

Mommy:
I noticed you were sitting on the futon turning the pages in your picture Bible through the story of creation. We had read you the story a few times and they were talking about it in your class at church. You looked up and asked me, "Where's God?"

Pick It Up - Ska Style

Red Bull Helicopter

You have loved this video for a long time (like a year).

Twinkle Time

You love "Twinkle Time."

This is a group for kids led by a young lady that wears a big orange pig-tail wig.

It Turned Right

Mommy:
We were about to cross the street to get to Nana and Papa's house. They live where a street is perpendicular to the street their house is on. The street dead-ends into their house and the neighbor's. (It's like a T)

We were looking all ways to make sure it was safe and you said, "There's a car!" The car could either turn left and not be safe with where we were going to walk or it could turn right which would not affect us. I paused to see which way it was going to go and as it turned you yelled, "Aw, it turn right!" and smiled. I've never met a two-year-old that uses left and right correctly. I was amazed and once again reminded to never underestimate a baby/toddler's ability.

Joy

Mommy:
We were trying to eat dinner and you were crying and grumpy about something. I said something about you needing to go to your room to find your joy because maybe it got left back there. You walked back into your room and turned right back around and came to the dinner table with a totally different demeanor.

Go. Read the Word.

Mommy: During life group this last week you were playing and interacting with people, like normal. At one point Daddy was opening the Bible to read and discuss some verses and he explained that we were going to open the word of God now and we were going to be "Diggin' in the word of God," a phrase from the Crosspoint VBS song you love.

Fast forward to when I was trying to put you to sleep while life group was still going on. You were doing some of your usual stalling techniques. Finally we closed the door with a child lock on it and you were crying and crying. After I figured you had tired yourself out (and I was heartbroken from your cries and imagining that feeling of being stuck or locked in), I went in to move you from away from the door and into bed. You calmed down pretty quickly after I hugged you and placed you back in bed. Then, with a wave of your outstretched hand towards the door, you said, "Go. Read the word." I followed your directions and you quietly fell asleep.

Sarah Likes:

Sarah likes to:
go to the library
read books
write

Sarah likes to eat:
popcorn
rice
vegetables
mints
tacos
oranges
corn
chicken
peaches
drinks
juice

Truph

Mommy: During Life Group tonight Daddy and I were trying to have you fall asleep in our bed. You were crying a lot and finally came out of the room. I took you back in and laid down with you. You had your arms wrapped around my neck like you didn't want me to leave and it worked because I stayed there with you. You were calm and we were just holding each other. Then, because you really don't seem to like to touch too much when falling asleep, you separated from our hug. We got into our routine position of lying on our sides facing each other with our hands under our cheeks.

We were looking at each other in the dark and you looked so cute. I started to say words of blessing over you. I said, "Do you know that God made you so beautiful?" and you shook your head yes. I then affirmed, "He made you so beautiful." I asked, "Do you know that God made you so smart?" You shook your head yes with some smile and I again affirmed that He made you so smart.

I asked, "Does God talk to you?" because I was just curious how you would answer. You shook your head yes. Still curious I asked, "What does God say to you?" Your mouth was a little squished because you were resting your cheek on your hands and I heard you say, "Truph." Using my context clues skills I had an idea of what you were saying but I was amazed at where you would have come up with that answer. For clarification I asked, "What did you say?" You sort of lifted your head away from your hands and moved your face slightly closer to me and said, "Truth." Pure and simple.

I quickly went through my mental Rolodex of phrases, comments, and songs we sing about God and I don't know where you connected the words "God" and "Truth" except for from the Holy Spirit or some random comment that has been said at church. It is the best answer though, far better than any of the things I was expecting you might say.

"Where Me Go?"

Mommy: You like to hide yourself or even just your face and declare, "Where me go?" Situations where you might say this include: when you face gets covered while you put on a shirt, when you wrap yourself in Nana and Papa's long drapes in their living room, when you have been able to sneak a wipee and place it on your face, etc. It's your version of peek-a-boo.

I Do Joy

Mommy: after your 2nd birthday party, you chose to read a book by yourself instead of take a nap. By the evening you were quite grumpy. I was changing your diaper and you calmed down for a few seconds and said, "I do joy." Your demeanor totally changed. Amazed, I asked you if you had asked Jesus for joy and you said, "Yes."

2nd Birthday Blessing

This is our blessing to you, our daughter, on this, your 2nd birthday:

Sarah, your thoughtfulness and love for others becomes more evident with every new day of your life. Your unconditional love for others inspires us to follow Jesus. You never cease to amaze us with your humor, beauty, intelligence, and growing faith. Your God the Almighty, who blesses you from the heavens above, will guide your way as you let him lead your heart. Your father and mother are proud of the girl you have already become and are thrilled for the woman you are becoming. Sarah, you are my daughter, and I love you. With you I am well pleased.

Tickle My Armpit

Mommy:
Your most requested location on your body to be tickled is your armpit. I'll be tickling your back or your leg to calm you down before bedtime and almost always you will throw your arm in the air and say, "Tickle my armpit." We just tickle softly with fingertips or fingernails and you don't laugh when we go slow. You are quite confident in directing us in where you want to be tickled as the location moves from leg, to stomach, to feet, to back, to armpit, etc..

Do It Again...Hello Caleb & Rachel!

Sarah's Shapes (23 months, 3 weeks)

Sarah's Sight Words (23 months, 3 weeks)

Sarah's Numbers (23 months, 3 weeks)

Sarah's Alphabet (23 months, 3 weeks)

My Turn!

Guffaw:
While Mommy & Daddy were on date night you and Jenna went to the Balboa Fun Zone with G-Momo and Guffaw. You rode your favorite merry-go-round several times, squealing with delight since it goes faster than most merry-go-rounds. You then watched Jenna bungee jump on the trampoline they have next to the merry-go-round. After she finished you said "my turn" but we had to explain to you the age requirement is 3 years old. You took it quite well and enjoyed looking at the cars drive onto the ferry and the ferry taking them across the bay.

The next day, Guffaw joined you at a park where you were playing with two little friends, Gracie and Hannah. As Guffaw was taking you to the car you made it clear the jumper had made an impression on you. You told Guffaw: "When I'm three I can jump!"

Directions?

Mommy: You, I, and Lacey were driving back from picking up pizza, and I half-jokingly asked you, "Ok, Sarah, how do we get home? Do we turn right or do we turn left?"

You replied, "Turn right."

Lacey's face dropped to the floor because you were correct.

Reading

Daddy: Lately, you've been wanting to find words in my books or during our bedtime reading. You'll say, "I want find 'the'" or "I want find 'and'" or "I want find 'for.'" So we'll be reading Go, Dog, Go, and you'll be looking for all the, and, and fors in the book. It is so much fun to see how much YOU want to find the words, and how we totally aren't thrusting this reading thing upon you. You love it.

Sight Words as of 6/30/2010

As of 23 1/2 months old (June 30th, 2010), you've been enjoying the Preschool Prep DVDs enough to have learned the following sight words:

In the approximate order you mastered them...

1. a
2. I
3. and
4. for
5. the (you started out calling it "helicopter" but now you've got it)
6. play (you started out calling every word "play")
7. you
8. go
9. it
10. is
11. in
12. see
13. to


Other words you sometimes recognize:

14. my (about half the time)
15. on (you still call it "pig" because the DVD has it as a pig)
16. was
17. they
18. said
19. are
20. of

Quiet Time

Mommy: In the morning, before the ladybug light turned on (meaning it was to early to get out of your bed) you came out of your room while I was reading my Bible. You said you had to go potty. You sat down on the toilet and I was sitting near you on the big toilet and you said, "I go potty. You read your Bible." After you tried to go potty I gave you the choice to go back to bed again or to read your Bible like mommy. You choose to read your Bible. You were sitting on the futon with your backpack, journal, Bible, and ballarina teddy bear. I heard you say, "God," while you opened your Bible and you were scribbling in your journal.

A Baby?

Mommy: We were in the bathroom after you had messed your pants "like Jenna." You had no clothes on and were standing with your round belly exposed. Jenna touched your tummy and said, "Mommy, does Sarah have a baby?"

Like Jenna

Mommy: Lately you have been verbalizing how you want to do things like Jenna. You have been quite successful attempting big girl (mostly climbing) things like Jenna. You climb in the car to your seat. You climb up the stairs. You climb into your dinner chair. You sit on your knees during dinner (this is not allowed for either of you). You put lotion on. You apply chapstick.

Most recently, you tried to wear underwear like Jenna. We had been telling you that you'd get to wear underwear when you chose to go to the bathroom on the toilet all the time. Tonight, I let you wear underwear and told you that it was just for storytime before bed and then I would change you into your night-night diaper. Within 2 minutes you announced, "I peed my pants like Jenna." I had to control myself from showing too much of the humor I found in this situation. I did not realize you meant really wear the underwear like Jenna (she pees her pants a lot), I thought you just meant wear underwear.

Exerting Your Will

Papa: We were playing on the floor building houses with Tyco blocks. It came time to put away the blocks. We were working together, and you jumped up to go draw on a piece of paper.

"You're not done here yet," I said.

And you replied, "Yes, I are."

So I went over and grabbed you to "help" you back to your blocks so you could finish the job.

Prayer Time

Mommy: Tonight you asked me to lay in your bed with you during night-night time. I curled myself into the toddler bed with you. I realized that your eyes were open and you were just looking at me. I started speaking words of blessing over you like, "God made you special," "You are beautiful," "I can't wait to see what God is going to do in your life," etc. I started to talk about your day. I asked about if you liked dinner and you said, "I like ice cream," which is what you had for dessert. I mentioned going to G-momo and Guffaw's house and you talked about washing the car and playing with marbles. I explained that G-momo and Guffaw were going to be moving to a new house and pretty soon we would need to say good-bye to the house they are living in right now.

We discussed more things, including who was big and little in our family (you brought that up), and then I said that it was time to go to sleep and I got out of bed to leave. You asked, "Pray?" I figured Daddy had already prayed with you but I figured more prayer couldn't be too bad even if it was a delay tactic for going to sleep.

I started thanking God for you and saying some of my normal night-night prayer topics for you. You chimed in with people to pray for and so I would pray for them for about a sentence or two before you would say another name. At one point you said my name and so I was asking God to help me be the best mommy I could be and to give me patience and love. Instead of chiming in with another name you said, "God made you." I was caught by surprise by your comment and realized it was like you were giving me a blessing. You proceeded to say, "God made Daddy. God made me."

During the prayer you mentioned G-momo's house which is something you say a lot during prayer. I was praying that their house would sell and that the family that moved into the house would love it, and that G-momo and Guffaw would find a new house. You said, "God bring a house." What struck me by this comment was I hadn't used that wording, "bring a house," those were your own thought up words connected.

I find some of the things you say to be so interesting and poignant in the moment.

Show Urine

Mommy: We were trying to use positive reinforcement to encourage Jenna to not wet her pants so much. We know that she loves popcorn so we made the deal that she could get popcorn during the night-night story if she hadn't wet her pants all day. To give you a way to earn popcorn we said you would get some if you went potty on the toilet at least once each day.

One night as we were getting ready for bed you ran into the bathroom. You have been doing this some nights just as a way to run away from getting your PJs on. You hadn't gone potty on the toilet yet on this particular day. You sat on the toilet and said, "Show urine." I was slightly confused by your word choice but you quickly stood up and said, "Popcorn!" and ran towards the living room where Jenna was eating her popcorn. I looked in the toilet and sure enough there was urine.

Jesus, Peace

Mommy: You were crying about something and needed to go to sleep. I was holding you and sat down in one of our blue rocking chairs. Many times daddy will say, "Pray to Jesus to come into your heart and he'll give you peace." I can't remember if he said it this time but while I was rocking you I heard you whisper, almost like a breath prayer, one word with each exhale, "Jesus, peace." You stopped crying and relaxed. It was so quiet, only I heard you say it. I thought it was beautiful. I love watching your faith journey.

Driving

Daddy & Mommy: When we got in the car after Jenna's 4th birthday party, the windshield wipers started swooshing and Mommy said, "Someone else has been driving my car." You, Sarah, promptly replied, "Me!" We chuckled. You replied, "My driving the car." Cue more laughing.

I'll Show You Jesus

Mommy: We were at Papa and Nana's HB house doing laundry. Jenna had cracker's from her sacklunch from preschool. She was taunting you saying, "Here you want one," and then eating it. I let this happen a few times and watched how you handled it. You were getting confused, frustrated, and started to whimper.

I explained to Jenna that if she was offering you a cracker she, then, must give you one because it is mean to only offer and then not share. Jenna started sharing some of her crackers. When there were only two crackers left, she once again offered and then this time slowly ate it in front of you. It was basically evil. You started crying.

I was quite angry but decided to just see if I could find any crackers to give you. I gave you two crackers and almost instantly, with tears still in your eyes, you turned and handed Jenna one of the two crackers.

tacos vs. burritos

Daddy: we were driving in the van on the way home from Pre-marital class, right around lunch time. I asked you what you wanted for lunch: tacos or hot dogs. You said, "Tacos." Then a moment later you clarified, "Actually, burritos." Yes, you said "actually" like that kid from the Little Rascals.

Running

Daddy: I love the way you try to run. You're not very fast yet, but man, you're trying. You run with glee, your shoulders scrunched against your neck, with elbows bent slightly upward and hands sort of flopping with each toddering step. You're confident with your strides until someone gets close to you, at which point you gleefully curl into a half-running, half-hiding ball and squeal. So cute.

Jenna's First Day

Daddy: You and Jenna had a fun first day, filled with playing and some fighting. You two started off pretty territorial. :) At one point, you started fighting over a doll, and your frustration spilled into tears.

That evening at the park, I asked you how you liked having Jenna at home, and you said, "Jenna."

Then I said that I noticed you got frustrated a couple of times and asked how you felt about that.

You said, "Dolly," and looked like you were thinking back.
We talked about your frustration but how you did a good job trying to love Jenna and shared with her and welcomed her into our house.

When I asked if you wanted to pray for Jenna, you bowed your head right there in the swing and closed your eyes. We prayed, and you said "Amen" at the end.

You're doing great at learning to give yourself away, and I've never been more proud of you. :)

Helc...aka helicopter!

Mommy: While driving in the car, I heard you saying "helicopter." There weren't any helicopters around that I could see. I glanced back, and you were holding your Graham cracker up. I noticed it resembled a helicopter, only without the propellers. Then you nibbled away the edges and called it a car. Then you devoured the rest.

What Was That Sarah?

Mommy: During Life Group one Monday, you were playing on the ground near where Paul was sitting. Paul was sitting on the ground with his legs bent to the side. Paul passed gas. The situation was such that we chuckled (we revert back to Jr. High often during life group) and someone asked you, "What was that Sarah?" expecting you would answer verbally.

I hadn't mentally processed the question, and yet noticed you walk behind Paul to where his lower back and top of his underwear were slightly exposed. You proceeded to look and pull at his underwear. I swooped in and explained about privacy, private clothing, and needing to ask before we touch people.

Paul thought it was quite funny and quickly connected it all for me that you were asked about the fart and that you went to check his pants, just like we go to check your diaper. I learned a little something about modeling behavior for treatment of private areas and that I should treat you the way we expect you to treat others.

ABCs

Mommy: It has been so fun to see your love of learning letters and numbers. We have some Preschool Prep Co. videos for letters, numbers, shapes, and now sight words. You love watching these videos. By 18 months you recognized all the letters and numbers up to 10. You are frequently stopping near signs and pointing out letters you know.

Most recently you started singing the alphabet song. You don't know all the letters in the order yet but I catch you singing up to "G" and then singing some of the middle letters and end letters. It's so cute! Usually you bust out singing this song when you are playing by yourself.

"Buckle"

Mommy: We got down to the car and I placed you in the carseat. I spotted your sweater on the seat next to you and reached for it.
As I slowly started to back out of the parking spot and noticed that you were saying, "Buckle, buckle." I looked back and you were holding the seat belt buckle latch that was between your legs unattached to any seatbelt. To my horror, I realized that in my haste, I didn't buckle you in. I looked at your daddy, who was in the passenger seat, and he said, "Good thing she let us know."
We affirmed you greatly and I praised God that I had only driven a few feet.

Night Night

Mommy: You were in the car and we were trying to get you to say "Bye bye" to Nana and Papa; instead, you were asking to go to the park. I said that we could go to the park later but you had to take a pretty long nap first...like three hours long. Instantly, you flopped your head to the side against your car seat, closed your eyes, and pretended to go to sleep. To hilarious effect! I want to go to the park, so I'm gonna start my nap right now, mommy!

One More Candy

Uncle Steve: You came into my room like you normally do and got the jar of chocolate covered sunflower seeds that were sitting on my desk and asked me for help because you couldn't unscrew the jar yet. A week or two ago when you had asked for some, your mom was here and she had let you have two of them, so I unscrewed the jar and told you to take two. You took two of the candies and ate them. A minute or two later you got the jar again and said "more." I said, "you already had two. Mommy only let you have two last time." Again you said "more." I said, "no, you already had two." Then you tried one more time with the magic word, "please." I said, "aww, ok. I'll let you have one more." You got a big smile on your face and excitedly said "one!" I unscrewed the jar and held it out for you to take your one more candy. You looked at the jar, then reached your whole hand inside, grabbed a big handful of candies, and shoved as many as you could into your mouth. I said, "hey! That's not one!" You just grinned with chocolate all over your face and kept chewing.

Forgiveness

Daddy: Tonight in the 18-24 month nursery room, there was a boy who was pushing the other kids. I was reading a book to this boy, you, and another girl, when you reached out to touch the book.

Suddenly, the boy shoved you away and tried to touch the book. You broke into an awesome squinty-faced sob moment, which left him in utter regret. When you calmed down a minute or two later, the boy was still staring dumbstruck at you. I explained to the boy that he can't push other kids because see what happens and asked him to say, "I'm sorry."

He did.

Then I asked you if you could forgive him. This is where my eyes almost watered up and I got all teary inside. You stepped to the boy and slowly wrapped your arms around him in a forgiving hug. He stood there with his hands against his sides, utterly confused as you hugged him, then you backed away slightly and planted a soft kiss on his cheek.

You then turned to me and gave me a post-teary smile that forced an "Awww" from my mouth.

Butt!

Mommy: At a Life Group party you were sitting on a chair and somehow fell off on your bottom. You said, "Butt!" while reaching for your rear and then quickly got up and moved on.

Multiple Word Phrases

Daddy: You're starting to string some words together. Here's a list:

* bless you
* thank you
* apple juice
* bye bye, tree
* Momo's car

Alphabet and Numbers by 18 Months???

Daddy: So you're pretty doggon ridiculous, little one. You started off loving sign language, and now you're loving your letters and numbers. You LOVE them. So much that with 2 days before your 18 month birthday, you already know all 10 numbers and about 2/3 of the alphabet. When we're out in public and you see letters and numbers you know, you point them out and say the letter's name. You especially love "zero" and "ess," mostly because you eat "zero" cereal (Cheerios) and you know what letter your name starts with. Mommy and daddy are so proud of you and amazed out how much you love learning!