Today Kate said to me, “Udder room? In.. in kitsen!” She wanted me to go in the kitchen with her.

I’ve noticed she’s telling me a lot of stories now, describing things she sees and what she knows. She’ll talk about the airplane flying in the sky, or the green trees, or how the dog is barking. She also tells me thinks she wants, like cereal with milk, or to go in the car to see so-and-so. The phrases and descriptions are just flying now! It’s amazing how much more she is verbally communicating.

She can sing along with us with Twinkle Twinkle and the ABCs. She’s now singing most of the words – not all correct, but she’s got a lot of it down!

She is singing the notes to her piano. It has 8 notes (as numbers 1-8), one octave. She now understands that each note gets progressively higher pitched and now she’s trying to emulate it. I love that she is learning some music skills!

At playgroup on Friday we did some dancing and movement to kids songs. Last year Kate didn’t really follow much, she just did her own thing. This time she was totally into it and was wholeheartedly hopping like a bunny, shaking her bum, whatever the leader did she did too – with gusto! She was cracking everyone up with her enthusiasm. I’m thinking it’s time to try a structured class or two!

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Meanwhile, Ember is turning into a big little baby. She’s still smiling and happy, and she’s generally pretty quiet. At a family BBQ family was again asking me, “Does she ever cry??” She was passed around to the grandmas, carried around and sat on laps and only complained when she was hungry. She really enjoying being around people and watching everything.

She seems more cuddly than she was the first couple months, a fact I am very appreciative of! She still doesn’t care to be facing in trapped against my chest, but now that she can lift her head and look around she doesn’t immediately freak out about it either. Facing in or out I sneak in a lot of kisses and she lets me. :)

Reclining is no longer an option for this kid. Bouncer? Limited. She wants to be sitting up in our lap or held upright or standing in the exersaucer. I already took out the pillow behind her! She has enough trunk control that she is fine standing, and I notice she is actually standing up, not just sitting there. If I provide stability so she doesn’t fall over she can and does stand on her own. It’s looking like she’s going to be another early walker like Kate was – Kate was showing the same standing preferences.

She does still love the swing, however. She’s discovered the mirror above her in the mobile and she is ridiculously adorable as she coos and smiles and kicks her legs excitedly as she talks to her reflection. It still works for naps, too – if she’s tired she’ll fall asleep. I let her nap in it for the morning nap and the evening nap, but for the mid-day nap I’ve been putting her to bed in our bedroom at the same time that Kate takes her nap. The quiet allows both kids to get a pretty good sleep! I’m nursing Ember to sleep on our bed, but she’s easy to then move or just get up and leave. Even if her eyes are open watching me, if she’s sleepy enough she’ll just get comfortable and fall asleep.