Natalese 2.3

"That's a loud hickolay!" Natalie gleefully exclaimed one day as Rob hoisted her into the air from where we were sitting on the couch. She has said "hickolay" one or two more times, always in the context of horsing around, and we haven't been able to parse it yet. It's her word. I can only guess it has something to do with fun.

She's off and talking in sentences these days, and her cute little toddlerisms are fading fast, so I'd better write a few more down:

Phrases we hear all the time:

"No my blankie/sippy cup/dolly!"... etc. This means "don't touch my..." and she's usually saying it to Rachel, whether or not Rachel has even noticed the item in question.

"Mommy/Daddy do it!" (I don't want to/can't do it, I want you to do it for me)

"Openin it!"
"Runninin!" (-in seems to be her command suffix. This means, "Run, Mommy!", when I'm pushing the jogging stroller.)

"I need my Piper!" (her best friend)

"Mommy got purple toes!" (Mommy has purple toenails.)

"I'm okay," when she falls down and doesn't get upset.

"I'm scared!!!" when she is scared, pretty often this week for some reason.

Some unique ones:

"Mommy get down me, please!" (phrasal verbs are tough, obviously)

"I an elephant!" She said this she held a foam letter I in her mouth, pretending it was a trunk. I thought it was very imaginative.

She's even deeper into pretend play now, acting like an ant, fox, doggie, or pretending to ride a giraffe or monkey (riding on the 30-pack of toilet paper). She still babies her stuffed animals and dolls and even blankets. She says "You okay, baby? Sorry 'bout that!" if one of her toys falls down.

I think I've said it before, but it bears repeating: I love this age! I'll take the whining, tantrums and other frustrations, because the cool parts are so incredibly cool.

5 Minute Update

Rachel is crawling and saying "Mama!"

Natalie is much happier and getting over the bout of heightened anxiety that Mother's Day Out brought on. She has a new haircut and looks so grown up, it's a little bittersweet.

My in-laws are in town. They are staying at the hotel at the top of the street, and walking down to visit during the days. Rob can't take a day off at the new job yet, so it's mostly just them and me and the girls.

Things were really, really hard for a while, most of September, but seem to be easier lately. The cooler weather is a huge help.

And we got a new car! How could I forget to mention that?