Tiny Talk Tuesday

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The chatterbox stage is coming on! It's fun to go shopping with Esmé (21 months) and listen to all she has to say about things.

Last night after 10 p.m. we snuck into the grocery store - me furtively glancing around to make sure no one would call Child Protective Services on me for having her out so late. She was in no mood to be quiet.
On the cereal aisle, it was "Tiger - Grrrr!" as we passed Kellogg's Tony the Tiger. "Kitkat - Meow!" as we went down the pet food aisle. "Open - peez! Now!" as the snack boxes were placed in the cart - though she managed to open the cardboard just fine, only getting stuck on the inside wrapping. "Cold!" as the frozen items joined the snacks in the cart. "Balloons! Frog! Kitkat! Fish!" as we went through the checkout line. All at TOP volume...

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I love her interpretations of pictures and objects. We finally have "donkey" and "horse" straightened out. But a helicopter is definitely an "airplane." Tomatoes are "apples." And of course all ballerina dolls are "Mommy!"

And sized objects now have identities. The big measuring spoon is "Papa." And the littlest one is "Me" - and of course she has to eat something with "Me."

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Possession is also becoming extremely important. Shoes are "Papa," "Mommy," or "I", "me," "my," "Esmé." Same with other objects of clothing. And if we don't remember exactly which seat we sat in last time, Esmé helps us out by pointing to the correct chair and naming which of us belongs in it.

Sometimes she gets a little confused, though. Daddy is borrowing Uncle Jaques' watch at the moment, and it was lying on a table by the bed. She came over while he was still sleeping, woke him up, and motioned for him to put the watch on her.

"No, that's Uncle Jaques' watch. You can't wear it."

With absolute fierceness in her face, she pointed at herself with both fingers and said, "MY! Put on now!"

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Her songs are becoming more and more appropriate and understandable too. Today she pulled out her stroller, sat down on it, and started singing "walk today, walk today, walk today" - part of a song we sing in her class at church. So of course we had to go for a walk today!

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Esmé also likes to role play other objects. Like with her graham crackers - in teddy bear and bee shapes. She called me over to show me "bear, bee kiss, Mommy!"


And she's also naming objects as she draws them. We can't always understand what she's telling us, but round squiggles are often "apples," and she can draw identifiable "hands," too.

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"Thank yous" are so sweet! I cut up a burger for her the other day, and as I finished, she said "Thank you, Mommy! Thank you, Mommy! Thank you, Mommy!" over and over. She then proceeded to eat not a bite, but she sure was thankful for it...
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If you're wondering what the joke is below, she took the sock off her foot and put it on her hand. Yesterday she put one sock and shoe on a foot, and the other sock and shoe on the opposite hand, and started walking around on all fours...

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Only 5 more days til Operation Love Zimbabwe!

Home Sweet Home

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On Sunday, Mommy got her hair done and then to A’s bridle (or bridal) shower, while I stayed with Daddy. We went to Dairy Queen. I'm clapping - guess what I'm gonna eat!
Then I got to do some remodeling work with Uncle J. I am very good!
Mommy & Daddy spent lots of time looking at papers, on the computer, and on the phone this week. They are “refinancing” their house, and that is really complicated, it sounds like. So I read books and played with garbage and unpacked suitcases.

I had fun playing with my kitty, Flame, and Auntie D’s dog, Butterscotch. Auntie D rents our house since we aren’t there most of the time. I love Flame, but he doesn’t like my attention too much and swipes at me sometimes. And Thursday was very sad – Butterscotch got killed by a car in front of the house. Here's a old photo of Flamey & Butterscotch.
BTW, my ninth tooth – a BIG molar, is coming in now. Soon I will be able to eat absolutely everything! I have been working on wood, but I like eating paper better, especially napkins.

Oh, and the weather got really hot this week – up to the 100s. This is the prettiest time of year in Roseburg, when all the hills and trees are green and there are bright splashes of color from azaleas, rhodies, dogwoods, tulips, scotch brush, and more.

On Thursday I went to town with Mommy and saw lots of people at Sunrise Enterprises, where she used to work. They all remember me from when I was really little. I wasn’t shy at all. Then we had lunch with A at Stewart Park and went for a walk. Here’s a blue-eyed photo at the park, the train I saw on my walk, and a photo with A. We did some shopping later.

On Friday Daddy & I checked out Big 5. Here I am trying to decide which golf clubs to buy.
Then we went to a BBQ at E & G’s house. I played in G’s wading pool and then fell asleep in my stroller while Daddy took a little jog with me.

Here people are getting ready for a group photo. Mommy didn’t get the actual group photo on her camera, though.
I had a fun time at TurningPoint Church on Sabbath. I starting spinning in circles for the first time – it made me dizzy so I could hardly stand up straight!

Here I am after church working with G. on some of the finer points of skateboarding, with Uncle J.’s help.
After lunch a bunch of us went to River Forks Park. Here I am climbing trees.
And pinching Daddy.
And riding Uncle J’s bike.

Grandma & Grandpa

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When I woke up at my Grandpa & Grandma’s, there were lots of toys – big blocks and stuffed animals and cars and dolls to play with. It was wonderful!

My inside clock was all mixed up – I wanted to sleep in the afternoon, and then I was wide awake around midnight. But I still had lots of fun, and Grandma & Grandpa even joined me in my midnight play sessions sometimes.

I celebrated my birthday again! I got a baby doll and a ring set and an animal book! Mommy got a doll that I can look at, too.
There was lots of yummy food to eat. I decided I liked broccoli for the first time. I got to eat Cheerios again, too. Here I am eating pancakes with strawberries:

Grandma let me help clean in the kitchen:
We went shopping with Grandpa, and I got a winter coat. I really liked SOS – there were lots of toys and other kids to play with! (Mommy here: There really wasn’t anything sinister about the doll in the microwave, honest!)
Grandma sang lots of songs for me. Grandpa helped me walk around the garden/yard. I liked to laugh with them. I picked a bouquet of flowers for Mommy as an early Mother’s Day present.
I went to Sabbath School and sang songs about creation.
We went to the beach. There was so much to look at. I really like looking at little things! Daddy played with the settings on our new camera and got some interesting photos.
There was a big ferry boat in the bath tub when I took my bath.

Then on Sunday we had to say goodbye to them. I wanted to stay longer and play with the dolls some more. I miss Grandma & Grandpa.

Saturday Night

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My Mommy and Daddy are WAY COOL! When we have nothing to do Saturday night, we go to Shoprite and look at food! What fun!

At least I have a very important job to do every time we go grocery shopping. I hold the receipt and give it to the man at the door to check (think Costco) when we leave. Then I try to give it to everybody we meet in the parking lot, too.