Monday, May 29, 2006

Rachel's Milestones

Rachel is at a fun stage where she seems to learn something new on a daily basis. She has never seemed to have the urgency Anna had at her age - kicking and fighting to get to her belly; wildly shaking her toys; raising her head and doing stomach crunches - but when she learns something new, she seems so happy and serene. This weekend she rolled from back to belly for the first time. She also suddenly knows how to sit on her own. She's great in the bumbo seat, but now she can sit up for several minutes at a time, playing with her toys. Something about seeing her sit up on her own just made me realize how fast she's growing. Today she also started looking for toys she has dropped and raising her hands for me when I go to pick her up. Such a busy weekend for such a small girl.

The Secret Language of Anna

Anna is quite verbal. We are hoping that someday we can learn her language. Several things she says quite clearly: Dad, Mama, Tiger, baby, yeay, tickle. Most other things she says in a funny stream of toddler-speak. She speaks to the television, to the computer, to Rachel; she says hi and then talks into the cell phone on her shoulder. She says ohhhhh when she sees something she likes and uh-oh when something is wrong. She shrieks in delight while being tickled and sometimes even babbles just to be funny when she is in a particularly silly mood.

But my favorite is when she is trying to communicate with me or Dan. Her voice drops to a whisper as she holds up her sippy cup. Tkah, she whispers to me, indicating that the straw is folded away and she needs help. She repeats that strange string of sounds in whisper when she picks some random crumb off of the carpet and hands it to me to throw out. I have no idea what she is actually saying, but she certainly has a way of making her thoughts known.

Monday, May 22, 2006

Phrases I Never Thought I'd Use Part 1

"Which one of you pooped?"

Weird Science

This morning, Anna's big poopy diaper was outweighed by Rachel's wet one. Keeping in mind that Anna outweighs Rachel by approximately 10 pounds, I am mystified. But then again science was never my best subject.