A step up!

Yesterday I climbed up three steps on the ladder to the slide at the park--without any help! They are big steps with lots of space between them, so it was hard work.

I can say more and more things--or try to say them. Mama and Dada often look a bit puzzled, until I point to the item. I have become fascinated with teapots--"PaPot" I call them. Since I'm sneezing and coughing, I often ask for a "Tish-shue." I like candles, especially when they are lit. I used to call candles "Hot!" because Mommy told me they were hot when they were lit and I shouldn't touch them. Now I try to say "candle" but it sounds a bit like "kitty cat" or "can-can" to Mama for some reason. So...I have to point. I say or make a good try at: pen, bath, pepper (as in the vegetable), cluck cluck (for any white meat Mama puts on my tray, even if it isn't chicken), choo-choo, zzzzz (what the sleeping Gorilla says!), lock (goes with key!), chee[se], food, ketchup [don't ask....], shoe, sock, sofa, tree, trash can [I should have taught him "rubbish bin"!], clean, shake, cool [as in "one cool dude"], good, and lookit!

On Tuesday Mama and I rode with Dada to work so that we could have the car for the day. I get so excited when we talk about Dada's work! I make my airplane sign for them--or for anyone willing to listen! I stick my hand up in the air and make a noise like a plane taking off--"Khshhhh!" I made that sign every time I saw a plane that day--on Dada's nametag and ID badge, on the side of the building, on all the signs and pictures, on the TV monitors in the lobby [where there is a slide show of the airlines that the student graduates get hired by], and especially, when Mama took me to the fence to watch the airplanes land and take off and taxi!! I didn't want to leave! I was holding on to the fence and inching my way over to the open gate that led out to where the airplanes were. I got to the gate and started to walk through it, when Mama scooped me up and said, "Nope, we can't go out there." I was so mad. But she said that one day we could maybe go with Dada if he gets permission. I sure hope so! I love planes! [Must be genetic!]

By the way, here is a picture of one of their airplanes [a Piper Seneca] flying over Oxford University! Just under the right wing is the office of Mama's supervisor at Christ Church!

I'm learning my shapes. I can say "heart" whenever I see a heart shape in a book or the heart shaped block for my shapesorter [at right--the heart is light green]. I start "singing" and signing "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" whenever I see a star shape. I can point to those shapes and to a square and a moon shape [crescent]. I sometimes confuse triangle and rectangle because they sound so much alike!

Last night, Dada was saying and signing "I love you" and I signed "love" and "you" back to him! He was so pleased! I think his heart melted. I wonder what shape a melted heart is?