Baby Got Words

Li'l Empress has recently experienced a mini-explosion of communication. You can imagine how this delights her communications-oriented Momma! Here's a sampling of some of the new words and signs she's using regularly:

• "Car" - comes out "cahh" - my New England family would be so proud! Often followed by an attempt to say "Vroom Vroom!"
• "Bear" - comes out in a tiny, sweet little voice, like she's softened it for the cuddliness of the bear she's holding.
  
• "Cookie" - one of the gals in our church taught her this, and she's delighted that the treat for saying it is so sweet and crunchy. Just in time for Christmas cookies! Now we have to work on teaching her that "Cookies" aren't for breakfast. :)
  
• "Hot" - we made up our own sign to help her stay away from the fireplace. She's transferred it to coffee and food from the microwave. She might just be a genius.
• "Cold" - she tenses up and pretends to shiver when she takes a sip of cold juice or when we mention how cold it is outside.
• "Ouch" - we also made up this one, to help her understand that the tree is poky. However, it's turned into a big, adorable game. She pokes the tree, yanks her hand back and yelps, "Owwww" in a really high-pitched girly voice. Cracks us up every single time. Can we say "backfire?!"
  
• "Fooof Fooooof" - her attempts to say what a doggy says. She has this adorable little white and pink puppy in her bed that she kisses every morning (thanks Auntie Mona!) and now she says this when she's playing with him.
  

An added bonus to this language explosion? We all now know where our ears, nose, fingers, and belly buttons are, thanks to intensive tutorials with Li'l Empress. Poor child, I think she may have permanent mental scarring after asking to see Momma's belly button. I know I do, every time I have to find it.

Finally, today's newest development: she said Baby BlueEyes' real name!! He's been home all week with strep and I think his name on her sweet little lips was just the joy-juice he needed. (Well, that an the 2 or three doses of amox he's had so far!)

Here's a sweet video of the two of them playing "Follow the Leader" earlier this morning. Just before the video was taken, she was giggling so hard she almost fell over. I love how she anticipates his movements and does them before he does. He's such a fun big brother. Enjoy the sweet giggles.