That's what she said

Adios summer, it's been real. Lake Michigan

There is no shortage of articles and studies in the world on parenting and how one should talk to their children. I've read that if you talk in baby-talk, the child will have a harder time getting the real word right themselves. While a higher-pitched "motherese" is more interesting and garners more attention from the babes, using proper grammar is still important.

Friends, I've sort of fallen off the wagon. Now, I'm not saying I chase Sophie around asking if she wants some "wa-wa," but there are some words that she says in baby-speak that I can't pass up repeating. Allow me to divulge some of our favorite Sophie-speak:

Hummy = hungry

Muk = milk

Manno = Maddy

Sacks = snacks

I yuh you = I love you

Fooney = smoothie

Bucklebuck = buckle up

Mo = more

Mickey hou-hou-house = Mickey Mouse

Shawt, Kissit, Maset, E-it, KK = Shawn, Kristin, Mason, Ian, Kaelin

Wha Daddy doit? = What is Daddy doing?

Poopies awwww got = Mommy, thank you for changing my dirty diaper (Poopies all gone).

And folks, that's what she said.

Crayola by any other name?

Would a Crayola by any other name be just as colorful and vibrant and spark free-flowing creativity and imagination?

Sometimes I think I can literally see Sophie's brain getting bigger, new paths forming, new electrodes firing... whatever exactly happens in that sweet little head of hers. I've tried talking more, describing more, telling her what we are doing more and more - and she really gets it, or at least she looks at me like she does!

Coloring and drawing in her sketch pad are her new favorite things. I watched her stare down one of her crayons and started describing it to her. The only problem is I think I just confused her more:

It's red, it's made of wax, it's covered in paper, it's a cylinder, it makes marks, it's soft, it melts, it lives in a tidy little box with other crayons...

But where do I stop? At "it's red?" I certainly don't want to short-change her, so I guess I'll just keep talking :)

16 months!

Phew. 16 months. Really? I'm not kidding, where does the time go? And what a beautiful day to have a 16 month "birthday" here in the Carolinas.

What she's saying: Mama, Dada, ball, Maddy, doggies, outside, Bless You, bath, fish, bow, hair, brush teeth, hi/bye, sun, bear, pup-pup, and more I'm sure I can't think of right now. Today while getting ready for church she started saying "Awesome" which sounds a little like "awsh-oo" (which she learned from DJ Lance). **edited to add: "Happy Birthday, bubbles, all done." She says these alllllll the time; can't believe they skipped my mind.

What she's eating: less vegetables, more fruit. Can't wait for this phase to come full circle back to veggies!

What she's doing: Kindermusik, play dates, climbing and descending stairs, yelling, dancing, taking one solid 2-4 hour nap a day, sleeping from 7pm-7am, and just being a little ham - light of our lives!

Good fences make good neighbors

Conversely, do good bloggers make good neighbors? Working under two assumptions here: First, that I'm a good blogger and second, that we are good neighbors. Moving on... We've had some interesting happenings in the neighborhood lately, and I won't name names, but the good news is that the crazies have moved. Random doorbell rings after 11pm, police helicopters at all hours, need I say again that Papa John's won't even deliver to us?

My mommy instinct rumbles from deep inside when we're out for walks lately. An officer stopped me one morning and asked, "Have you seen a man on a bike?" Seriously, officer? We live in a self proclaimed Eco-Community (saw the crudely hand painted sign yesterday) where everyone rides bikes, walks, runs... I can't remember for the life of me if I saw a particular man on a particular bike on this particular day. Seeing room for improvement on my memory skills, I try to test myself when passing a stranger. Without turning around, I try to describe (to myself) what they were wearing, their facial features, their height, etc. (And now I stare like everyone is a suspect... which is probably strange.) Unfortunately I would be a terrible witness and NO GOOD to one of those police suspect illustrators. White male, a big-ish hat, small ears, big mouth, unshaven, small-ish nose... The sketch would wind up looking something more like Cat in the Hat.

Two new truths I've discovered today. 1. My favorite sound in the world is this inhaling-through-the-mouth (think a frog croaking) at a high pitch (more like Velociraptor) accompanied by a big gummy grin. 2. You could put ruffles on the butt of practically anything and I would swoon.