Out of the Mouths of Babes

Ami: People are constantly marveling at my vocabulary. Yes, it is quite extensive for someone my age, but there is also the shock value of my mispronunciations to consider. Here is a list of some you might appreciate.

Ass - hat (OK, that was two months ago. I can say "hat" now)
Slut - slide (It's really more like "slud," but people hear what they're gonna hear)
Piss - piece (Like when I want a "piss" of "patza")
MILF - milk (I've never actually said MILF, but like I said, people hear what they hear)
Dump - I mean it as a verb, but when I bring Mommy a full potty and yell "DUMP!" (it in the toilet), for some reason she laughs.
Dick - stick (That's what I call my hockey stick. Let's just say Mommy's thrilled I can pronounce "puck.")

Elianaisms

Eliana: For the most part my parents subtly correct me if I make an error (grammatical or otherwise) in my speech. But some things I say are so cute it seems they almost encourage me to keep saying them.

Allabody - everybody

Wiper towel - paper towel

Eatmeal - oatmeal

Recently Mommy started using "itioner" (conditioner) in my hair. Sometimes I call it Uncle Itioner. (In tribute to my Uncle Izzy.)

Also, I have trouble pronouncing words that start with "s" followed by another consonant. For example:

pall - small

pot - spot

keem - scream

sand - stand

pill - spill

sicky - sticky

poon - spoon

pile - smile

When I'm in a bad mood I get upset if anyone piles at me. Especially Ami. He always seems to pile at me when I'm crying.

Nanananananana

Eliana: Sometimes when Mommy doesn't want me to do something (like when she grabs the milk away from me as I'm about to pour it myself, or when I try to give Ami something he's not allowed to have) she says "n-n-n-n-n-n-no." Today she asked me a question and my answer was "n-n-n-n-n-n-no." That sounded like a song I knew, so I stood up and started singing "na na na na na na na" and doing the chicken dance. Then I suddenly broke out into "na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na BATMAN!"

The babyproofing has officially begun

Ami: I am really crawling now! (Of course I chose the day Daddy left for South Africa to start making extra trouble for Mommy.) Daddy claims I've been crawling for about a month already. Mommy has seen me drag myself army-style across the room a couple of times but for the most part if she put me down with some toys I just stay in one spot. Today she put me down and I was off like a shot! She had to chase after me and close the doors to the bathroom and bedrooms before I got myself into trouble. She's not sure if the way I crawl is more funny or more adorable. I drag one knee behind me, as if I don't want to totally give up on being in a sitting position. (I just really started sitting myself up not long ago as well.) Who cares what it looks like? It works for me!

For the most part I am playing in this video, but there are a few good shots of me crawling. Grandma was watching me on the Webcam so you can hear her talking in the background.



I pulled myself to standing for the first time almost 2 weeks ago. I used Mommy's skirt for leverage and was very proud of myself. I have stood up in my crib a couple of times (it makes going to sleep much more difficult) but mostly I like to pull myself up and stand by the couch. Sometimes I forget that my balance isn't all there yet and I let go. Good thing there's usually an adult with their hands out just in case.

Graduation Day

Ami: Mommy finally caught me army-crawling across the room yesterday. Daddy says I've been doing it for at least a week but when Mommy puts me down I just stay in one place. Maybe it's to feed her desire to keep me from growing up too quickly. Daddy also says I sign "eat" (or at least point to my mouth when I'm hungry), but Mommy's never seen that. I know she would be happy if I signed.

Eliana: Today was my preschool graduation. First there was a processional of all four classes out to the chairs set up on the playground. (I stopped and had to be brought to the "stage" personally by one of the teachers.)

Then all the classes sang songs together and then each class got up and sang one special song. Ours was "Wheels on the Bus." I love that song. I didn't actually sing in front of the crowd, though. I know the words to all the songs; I don't feel the need to prove anything to anyone. When it was time for my class to stand up, I was shy and stayed in my seat. Mommy got up and helped me.



I had my hand in my mouth most of the time, which is what I do when I'm shy or nervous. I even sucked my thumb for part of the time, something I learned from my classmate Ezzy. I didn't want to wear my bus crown either. Eventually I put it on top of my hat.

When I got home and the pressure was off, I sang all the songs. Here I am singing some of them with Mommy at bed time:



Maybe when I'm older I'll like to stand up in front of an audience like Daddy. Or maybe I'll be shy in front of a crowd like Mommy. The important thing is that they let me be myself.

Water Baby, the Sequel

Ami: Today was my first swimming lesson. People asked whether I liked it. Daddy said "he didn't hate it." Mommy said that means I liked it.

Getting my feet wet:





Meeting the class:



Trying to eat a pool noodle:



My first "dive":



Backfloat:

If You're Happy and You Know It

Ami: I can't stop clapping my hands. Everything makes me want to clap. Even when Mommy changes my diaper in the middle of the night and I'm half asleep.