Pumpkin Turns 18th Months

Yesterday, in addition to Valentine's Day, there was a birthday celebration in the Pumpkin Patch. Little Miss P turned 18 months old. We celebrated the day with a visit from Nanna, dinner from Red Lobster (courtesy of Daddy....another V-Day gift for Mamma) and ice cream cake. As the pictures will show, Pumpkin had a delightful day playing with Nanna and eating her cake. Towards the end, the cake became the newest idea in hair gels, though and (although the photos don't quite show it, she had an ice-cream covered shaft of hair sticking straight up). My father will love seeing those photos, since he's waiting for the day when she throws her food all over the floor.

Little Miss P still won't say the letter 'c' for us, no matter how we try. She is great with A and B and her puzzles and books that require her to put something back in a specific spot. Speaking of spot, she also LOVES her "Spot" musical CD's from cousins Bill and Autumn, much to my delight (liar, liar). We've now heard Old McDonald, Itsy Bitsy Spider, Buffalo Girls Won't You Come Out Tonight, ABCD..., Farmer and the Dell and the rest of the 3 CD compilation until we could chant it in our sleep. Pumpkin knows how to turn on the stereo and que the songs right up; WOO HOO for us!! I can only count the days until I get to buy a similarly fun gift for my niece and her husband when they get a baby. Hmmmmm: drums, anyone??

Leena is beginning to throw her balls and trying to learn to do somersaults (Daddy did one for her). She also knows the color blue and pink, thus far. She says "thank you" perfectly and has begun (as of February 8) saying "I love you." She is about 50-60% at feeding herself and all this week has not wanted a bottle at bedtime. She can tell you what sounds come from a dog, cat, cow, Santa, a tiger and a bear. Oh, I forgot to add bee to that list, since Nanna taught her that yesterday. When she leaves the room, or goes away from you, she blows you a kiss and waves/says "bye-bye." Her vocabulary still pretty much includes: Mamma, Dad-dah, Pap Pap, Nanna, up, down, bye-bye and thank you. She clearly comprehends questions and will respond. If you ask her to get her shoes or socks (which she takes off in the middle of the night), she does. She will help put her toys in the bucket (Frog Boon) when finished with a bath each night. If you ask where is Daddy, she points to his photo or Daddy himself or will go look for him, as she does with me. (This is a big one for the countless people who've asked me: "does she speak English?" or "does she understand you?" Of course, my own DH doesn't understand me from time to time, so what does that one really matter???)

As we edge one step closer to the terrible two's I count the days until Leena starts to talk. I can't wait to engage her in silly conversations and jsut to hear her tell me what I can only now imagine is in that little growing mind of hers. What a treat that will be.