21 months old

This past month has been one of amazing growth. Tiny and Buba, you’ve both been experimenting more with language and have recently said things that made me stop dead in my tracks, wondering when my babies became so grown up. I’d become so used to teaching you each word, helping you practice it over and over, that I was surprised to hear such things as, “Big truck all dirty!” from Buba and “Daddy coming home soon.” from Tiny. Instead of communicating with just one or two words, you are now putting together words and phrases to express what you see and hear. Buba tells me, “Birdie tweet tweet!” and “I see Mommy!” while Tiny reports, “Pokey eating dinner.” and “Doggy barking. Woof! Woof!” Some days it seems like non-stop narration from the moment you wake up until it’s time for bed.

And you’re starting to learn and point out the colors of things you see, like purple cup and green bowl. I’m not quite sure when or how this got started, but it’s now another form of entertainment when we are out and about. If you start to get fussy in the stroller I just point to something and ask what color it is. You both think this is a great new game.

I’ve also been very impressed with all the things you can do. You both continue to learn new signs (including bear and friend), and you love copying the gestures you see when we sing songs a the library (including The Itsy Bitsy Spider and If You’re Happy And You Know It). You’ve both recently become pros at working the shape sorter on the Laugh & Learn Leaning Home. This task, that had previously been very challenging and the source of great frustration, now almost appears to be too easy. And it seems you mastered this skill in just the blink of an eye. One day you couldn’t, and the next day you could. I clapped and cheered for both of you when you fit all four shapes into their rightful places, and you beamed and giggled with pride.

You are getting much better at helping, and it is so nice that I am no longer cleaning all the toys by myself. You attempt to sing the clean up song (Clean up, clean up, everybody everywhere…) when we clean up toys before mealtimes. You are best at getting your bedroom toys into the toy bin, but are getting better at putting your toys in the proper places in the room used to be our living room. And you love, love, LOVE when I let you help put the groceries away. As soon as I bring the first bags into the kitchen you both run in and Tiny starts saying and signing help. You race each other to empty the bags, and you hand me each thing you pull out so I can put it away. When the last bag is empty, you smile and shout, “All done! All done!” as you run back to the living room to play with your toys.

My dear, sweet Buba, you have grown so much in the last few weeks. You are communicating much more and much better, which means less screeching and screaming. You still love to spend quite moments playing on your own, but have also become more interested in playing with Tiny. You’ll see her doing something silly and join right in- this includes walking around with a rectangular bin on your head and laying on your back on the kitchen floor so you can bang your heels on the dishwasher.

You like to make up  your own songs (Noni, noni, ah, ah, ah) and get so excited when I sing them back to you. And I love the precious little kisses you give me when I find the time to sit down on the floor with you. They remind me why it’s necessary to put off housework every now and then.

Sweet baby girl, you watch everything I do and want to do it too. Lately, you want to clean all the time. You have your own little wash cloths and you walk around the house saying, “Mess, mess, mess!” as you wipe the cloth across cabinets and window sills.

You’re becoming more and more independent each day, and get angry with me when I try to help or do something for you. I am no longer allowed to take off your coat or hat (unless I feel like listening to you scream). And as soon as you get your own hat and coat off, you rush to help your brother. You can be a little bossy with Buba (“No, no, no Brabra!), but there is no doubt that you love him very much. When he wakes up unhappy from a nap, you rush to get his koala and give him a kiss on the cheek. You know just what he needs to feel happy again.

You love music and have recently started to sing parts of The Itsy Bitsy Spider, The ABCs, The Wheels on the Bus, and Row, Row, Row Your Boat on your own. I love to hear your sweet, little voice and know that it won’t be long before you’ve learned an entire song.

I am greatly enjoying the Christmas season this year, as you’re both watching and learning about the holiday traditions I cherish. I can’t wait to see your faces on Christmas morning.

Love you!

Mommy