Imitation

Imitation seems to be happening somewhat frequently now. Daniel was playing with his wood train set today, and saying "doo-doo!" - an imitation of the train whistle sounds he is seeing on Thomas the Tank Engine. Last night was also the second night this week when Daniel slept through the night in his crib.

Freewalkin', cont.

Daniel's "free-walking" has increased dramatically today. It is a noticeable change. Although he has already learned how to do it, he hasn't had a lot of confidence yet. I noticed that he started free-walking a lot several days ago, while we were playing with his plastic blocks one afternoon. I also noticed, at that time, that he would could along with me: I'd say, "one block!" and he'd repeat after me, "wuh," then I'd say "two" and he'd say, "do!" Three was a bridge too far. He would also repeat a color after I did: I said "purple block!" and he'd say, "pur-pur."

Job Perks

One of my favorite job perks, right now, are Daniel's unexpected outbursts of laughter. It totally makes my day when he thinks something is funny and breaks out in laughter. We were watching a live-action version of "The Jungle Book," and when some wolf-puppies came on the screen, Daniel burst in laughs.

And It Was Good...

"Good" has entered the Daniel vocabulary. When he gets something that he likes, such as juice or a squeezey astro-fruit smoothie, he approvingly declares it "guh!"

Blue Ball

Daniel said a color today, the first one that I've heard him say. We were playing with one of his wooden "turtle" balls, and first he said, "bah." Then I told him it was blue, and he said, "boo."

Can U Dig It?

Daniel was bopping along with the Wiggles today. The Aussies were singing a song about gardening, "Can You Dig It?" and Daniel was bouncing up and down and singing along, "Dig! Dig! Dig!"

Soda Spill

Mr. Grabbity learned a valuable lesson about gravity tonight. He tried to grab an open can of Diet Coke off the counter, and ended up doused from head to toe in sticky soda. He was so shocked he couldn't even cry.

As a result, Bath Night was moved up from Wednesday to Tuesday.

Big Cup

At his Mom's request, Daniel drank out of a "big boy" cup tonight at dinner (meaning: a regular cup with no top, not a sippie-cup).

He used two hands, drank slowly, and did not spill on himself. The first time.

Each time he tried to do it after that, he raised the cup too fast, and doused himself in juice.

I tried not to laugh, he was quite perplexed, but I couldn't help it.

Supermarket Crisis

Daniel got his arm stuck in the shopping cart today at Target, while he was reaching for a bag of bagels behind him. It took me several minutes to get his arm unstuck from the metal grille that he'd wedged it into. He was shrieking the whole time, terrified, and he wouldn't relax his arm, so it took even longer. At one point, I didn't know if I could get him unstuck, and I had visions of the fire department coming and having to cut open the shopping cart w/a blowtorch.

In retrospect, I should've proceeded to the Vaseline aisle and lubed up his arm. But it's hard to think clearly in those situations.

Hawp!

"Help!" has entered the Daniel lexicon. Now, when he needs something, he immediately pipes up with, "Hawp! Hawp!"