You are just about to start forming some sentences. I’m kicking myself for not writing down when you started forming words but it’s been a little while now. Your first word, probably around Christmas time was “book”, pronounced “buh”, often in rapid succession “buh, buh, buh”. You love books. Following close behind was Mama and Daddy. You may have started calling our cat earlier then that, calling out kitty as “tee tee”. You really like making animal sounds. Your first animal sound was a dog, “woof-woof”. I was reading you a book and barking like that when you copied me a couple times. It took a while until you started saying woof-woof on your own. Your first animals sounds on your own were cow and sheep. Instead of moo for cow, you’d say “booooooo” and tend to go on for a few seconds. And then you started calling our cat Tigger with a meow as “meeeye”. Just last night you stopped saying “meeeye” and just said meow. I love how you do a horse sound, Mom and I say “neigh” and kind of draw it out. You try so hard to copy us, get all excited and go “eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee” at the top of your lungs. Now that it’s spring, you love going outside. You’ll stand by the door and politely ask, “siesie?”.

You do say more things now, those were some of the first. We’re about to get to the point where your vocabulary will be too big to keep track of. Mom and I hear what sound like sentences, you talk to Tigger, some toys and things outside. You have some pretty complete conversations but we don’t quite understand you yet. I’d love to know what you’re talking about.

And I love it that all your conversations are so fun for you.

Love,

Dad

Georgia will still need to follow up with the pediatric orthopedic doctor at 2 years.  Please continue to pray for Georgia that her hip is developing normally.

It’s been a really long time since I’ve written you last. There’s a bunch of snow on the ground and it’s pretty cold. Mom and I can see that you’re warm most of the time just like me. Mom’s usually cold and I’m usually warm. Looks like you’re taking my side! That’s a good thing for winter but the summer can get too hot quick.

I was in the bathroom downstairs this morning with the door open so I could still see you in the living room. You came in, shut the door behind you and then walked over to me in the dark to give me a hug. It’s as if you were telling me everything would be ok in the dark. This isn’t new. You don’t mind the dark. In fact sometimes you’ll start laughing in the dark. I think that’s great.

As I’m typing this now you’re watching Curious George. That seems to be our show. And well hey, I guess that’s your website too! Your favorite thing to watch is a dvd series called Baby Faith or Brainy Baby. Those are the two that you just keep staring at for the whole thing and then you’ll clap and laugh at certain times. Clapping and laughing usually happens when you see a cat, dog or other baby you like.

Another funny thing I noticed today is when you get a snack you like, after a few bites you start walking around and you do this little Stevie Wonder thing with you’re body and head like your doing a dance move. It’s hilarious. Mommy has a funny thing she does when she’s about to get a snack she really likes, she rubs her hands together really quick … it’s just a little woosha woosha woosha. For the longest time she didn’t even know she’d be doing it. Then I started laughing and she started noticing.

Well this is common knowledge to everyone by now but you’re favorite thing is books. You love to carry a book around and flip through the pages. Not just flip through the pages, you really study everything on the page. Lately you’ve been going up to the couch with a book, you’ll put the book on the couch then pound your hands on the couch while looking at one of us to tell us that you want to get up there to read. You do a pretty good job at sitting on the couch. Sometimes though we’ll catch you trying to stand and walk around on the couch. If you’d lose your balance and go towards the table, you’d really start hurting. So we can’t leave you on the couch for long. Or at least we make sure to sit next to you.

The last thing we tried to do lately is take some pictures of you for a Christmas card. We bought a fancy camera and I decided to try and set up some lights upstairs for taking pictures. I need to read a book on how to set up lights for photography properly, and then a book on how to really use this camera properly. We’ve got some pictures that are good, but they could be better. You certainly couldn’t have done better though, you looked like you were really having fun playing with a little Christmas tree Nani made for you and some Christmas lights.

I’ve leave you today with one of my favorite pictures from the day.

I love you Georgia,

-Dad

We arrived at the aboretum (which is 1,700 acres of land and nature) and deceided to go to the Children’s Garden first thing. They have lots of fun things for kids to see and learn about nature, plants, water, etc. There was a lot of tents outside of the garden where you could buy fall themed items or food and there were a lot of children dressed up in their halloween costumes.

You’ve been walking now for about a month and are getting around quite well. Of all of the fun things to do and people to see at the Children’s Garden, all you wanted to do was walk. You loved to walk on all of the different types of surfaces they had there: paved, gravel, soft, stone walkway, mud, and wood. You loved the inclines and at times just wanted to keep going up and down the same walkway. First you wanted to hold my hand but then you were off on your own not even looking back for mom and dad. You didn’t want to stay still to play with any toys or exhibits they had, to get your picture taken, have a drink or to even just rest. Whenever we picked you up to go to another area, you cried. When it was time to leave, you cried. (Is this the same baby who was having separation anxiety this whole week?) You just wanted to keep exploring and walking. We didn’t see much (well really nothing) at the arboretum but we let you lead us and show us what you wanted to see.

In the end, we all had a great day. Nothing would have ended the day better than a cup of hot coco or hot apple cider. You’re still a bit young for that. Maybe next year.

Papi and Grandpa joined us at Braxton Seafood Grill in Oak Brook for Father’s Day buffet brunch. You had a lot of fun seeing all the people and eating off of dad’s plate. You had some noodles, ham, eggs, watermelon and about 6 bites of key lime pie (dad said it was his day, so he could do what he wants!). You were in a great mood and as always everyone thought you were so adorable. We then took a stroll to pick out your drapery rod for your room. You were having so much fun in the stroller without being strapped in (again dad said it was his day and he would keep an eye on you). Well, you eventually fell out of the stroller but didn’t cry much and didn’t have any injuries!

We spent the rest of the afternoon at home because it was 97 degrees outside today. You are crawling more now than scooting and you have started to get up on your knees. Pretty soon you will be standing. You had fun playing with your toys, chasing Tigger and saying “da da”. Dad watched a T.V. show on building a tree house. He can’t wait until we have our own house and can build you a tree house. He is hoping you will want to help him build it!

When asked about his first Father’s Day, dad had to say “So far it is great! Georgia has been very nice to me.”

Today is Friday and I get to take care of you. Mom is at work helping people at the hospital, so it’s just the two of us today. Right now you’re on the floor playing with a block and your electric piano. You were really funny earlier today when you were sitting up looking through your toys and I was sitting behind you. You would turn your head all the way around to look at me and then you let out this big laugh. Right after you laughed and I smiled, you would immediately turn your head back like you were hiding. Then you’d do it again. We looked and laughed at each other for a few minutes. You were so cute.

Georgia I’ve really been seeing you get a unique personality these past couple of weeks. It’s more obvious that you’re making some of your own decisions now.

You’ve been crawling more the past couple of weeks too. Today I wasn’t watching you for a minute and before I know it, you’re across the room with your hand in the cat food dish. Fortunatly it’s dry cat food and you really just slammed the dish like a hammer so the food went flying everywhere. That would be gross if I had caught you eating Tigger’s food.

Speaking of Tigger, you really love that cat. I think you’re more excited to see Tigger than anyone else, including Mom or I. Since I’ve been writing this you’ve already tried to chase Tigger twice and I’ve had to pull you back to your toys. Now you’re tearing through a book of coupons. I guess we’d better play together now, you look a little bored.

Before I stop though, let’s take a picture.

I love you Georgia,

-Daddy