This month has brought so many new developments. We feel like Penny has made a huge leap in what she knows and understands. We keep saying "she's getting so smart!".
Here's what's been going on with Penelope Sue:
She knows how to turn the faucet in Gabe's bathroom on and off when we wash her hands.
When she is doing something that we don't want her to do, like opening the door to the entertainment system and letting it slam we say "Penny please don't do that". She'll eventually stop and walk away while shaking her head and saying "No,no no, no, no".
She also says "No, no, no, no" when she is frustrated with something. Like maybe she can't open something or reach a toy in her toy bin. It elevates in volume and frustration. We are trying to teach her to be a bit more patient. We are trying :).
In fact "no" has become the word of choice these days. No means no, no means yes, no means I'm hungry. No means pick me up. No means put me down. "Are you going to eat those grapes?" "No"… as she puts them in her mouth. I think you get the point :).
Some other new words, less used, of course:
• wa wa (water)
• cookie
• Doo wa (Dora). Usually said as a question, while handing me the remote control, or trying to wedge it into my hand. From Dora she now knows the words map, backpack (bapbap) and boots.
• meat bow (meatball)
• nana (banana)
• lamb. She's started with the "L" sounds and they are adorable.
• waffle. We placed one in front of her for breakfast and she said "waffle". Normally we have to ask "Can you say [insert word here]".
• Whoa way or Boa bay (Ro-jhay [french Roger Rabbit], her stuffed rabbit)
She is also stringing words together, such as "Hi Dada" and "Bye-bye Doo wa" (when she turns off the video she watches on the DS in the car), "Bye-bye Ana", "Bye-bye Mimi".
Also says "baby kitty". There is a kitten picture in one of her books so I explained it is a baby kitty. She repeated me and now says it quite often.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaXYgaX2Lzs?rel=0&w=640&h=360&rel=0]
Also notice how good she's gotten with that spoon. Yogurt? That's impressive.
She can repeat the whole alphabet.
Penny is grasping the concept of numbers a bit more. She knows she has 2 eyes, feet, ears, but can't yet count.
She likes to sing. She will sing along with
Row Your Boat and our made up
Nina, Nina, Doh song. The words are a bit off sometimes but she gets very close with the tune. I think she's got some musical bones in that adorable body.
I asked her what she wanted for dessert one evening and she said "peetsa". "You want pizza for dessert?" I asked. "Yah". She's her dad's kid for sure.
We play a game when I am trying to change her called "Where's the Diaper Go". I'll put the diaper on my head and ask "Does the diaper go here?" "No." she answers. Or I put it on my chest, and ask again "Does the diaper go here?" "No.". Or on her head…. "No.". "No?" I ask, "where's the diaper go?" "Heeya" she answers and pats her privates :). Glad I have her to help me.
Penny has started taking some of her baths solo. She seems like such a big girl in there all by herself.
She has a fake laugh that she does to repeat us sometimes. I'm telling you, this kid's sense of humor is blooming. She has a little whisenheimer in her too. She likes to "share" food with me while she's eating. She'll hold out a blueberry, for instance, and when I go to take it with my mouth she pulls it away. Over and over. I keep saying I feel like Charlie Brown with Lucy and the football.
Fancy Penelope loves her "beedz" (also a new word) and wears them often.
I got what I think was my first unsolicited "I love you" on Tuesday morning, sitting on the stairs putting her socks and shoes on. She said "I wha woo". At the very least it's the first time I've heard her say in on her own rather that repeating when we ask, "Can you say I love you?"
She gives us kisses when we ask for a "mwah". She will accompany it with a 'mwah' sound, which melts your heart.
The other day she handed my her DS that she watches videos on in the car to fix and said "day doo" (her new version of thank you, used to be ta ta). She was thanking me for fixing it for her! Sweet polite girl :).
We feel so lucky to have this wonderful girl as ours and to watch her learn and grow everyday. Her genuine happy disposition is a blessing and she makes everyone around her smile. She is our sweet baby girl. We love you, Penelope Sue!
