20 and 21 Months

Dear Z-dog,

Bad Mommy didn't do a Z post last month!  I think it is because you had been sick.

So in the last 2 months, let's see... you were basically sick for a month with a hacking cough and a pouring nose, and OMG how many tissues can you use on a single tiny human being?  So many that you learned the phrase, "I need a tissue, please" and "Wipe the nose!"  You say "tissue" like a Brit: tiss+u (not like a Texan: ti+shoe).  It is super cute.

I took you to Dr. Wong for all the snot and coughing (you were over 24 lbs!) and you were trying to say "Dr. Wong", but you kept saying "Dr. Long", which was hilarious.  I've got a funny video of Daddy working with you on it.  He'd tell you to say "wa wa wa", and you would.  Then he'd have you say "water", and you would.  Then he'd tell you to say "wa wa Wong" and you'd say "la la Long", lmao!  You did finally get it, though.  And it is funny because when you do it correctly we can tell you're really thinking about it because you look so focused and you move your mouth slowly and carefully into position before you begin the word.

Along the same pronunciation lines, you still are dropping the "s" sound from the beginnings of words.  Star = tar.  Sponge = ponge.  Squid = crab.  (Ok, maybe there's more to that last one!)  Etc.  I've been working with you on that, and when you're really thinking and trying to humor me, you'll say (screwing up your mouth really tightly), "sssssssss ponge".  With a full stop between, like the "s" is a separate word.

You'd finally, I think, gotten the colors down.  We knew you knew them, but I'm wondering now if you just weren't confident.  The other morning you looked at Cal and said, "black kitty".  I was sooooo excited, because normally you don't just offer up colors.  Then you looked at me and said, "Mommy black!" and I was wearing all black (because it was Monday).  Then you looked at Grimmy and said, "Grimmy black!"  And I had to tell you no, Grimmy is brown.  But you walked up to him, pointed to the tip of his tail and said, "Tail black, Mommy."  And indeed, it is!  You are one smart cookie.

Also regarding colors, recently Daddy asked you what color his chair was.  Gaga and Papi were over and he was trying to get you to show off.  You said, "Azul".  That's right, baby.  You know your colors in Spanish, too!  You pointed at the Blue Bell carton after that and said, "Black Negro!" about the picture of the little girl and the cow, and that picture is indeed black.  We do need to work on your pronunciation of black in Spanish, negro, though.  Then Gaga gave you way too much ice cream as a reward and boy did you love that!

Later on that night, you showed off your immense coolness by asking to listen to "Catch a Wave" by the Beach Boys, and then after that asking to listen to the Beatles.  You are seriously a total badass.  (This musical badassity is all due to your Daddy's influence.)

Physically, you're really interested in trying to jump.  You can't, you end up kind of running in place, but you sure are trying, and surely it won't be long.  Also, we've been taking you swimming at least once a week.  Honestly, you are kind of annoying in the pool: we have this float thing for you, but you won't stay in it, and when we're holding you you are squirming all over the place.  I think you just want to swim, honestly, but you can't, yet, and so it is a little frustrating for you and us.  But we keep taking you because we want you to like the water and to learn to swim.  I'm hoping we can do some classes at the Y some time soon.  I'm also vaguely enamored baby gymnastics classes.  There is a gym super close to us that offers a class every Saturday that I'm thinking about, but you seem happy and healthy and I'm not rushing to spend more money. :-)

Finally, it's been a big month for our family in general, since Gaga and Papi were finally able to move here from the Farm.  This means you get to see them TONS.  Mommy and Daddy cook lunch for them every Sunday, and they're cooking dinner for us every Tuesday.  And this last week Gaga came over every morning to take you to daycare so Mommy could work 10 hour days and have Friday off.