We got a great idea for a new toy from all the homemade toys at our baby group this past week. I took a 32 oz. yogurt container, cut an opening in the top, and gathered up all the Pom Tea lids I've been saving (4). I gave this to L and it was/is a huge hit. He'll sit and put the lids in over and over again (I do have to pop off the top to retrieve the lids for him). The one he really liked at our friend's house was a taller cylinder w/ a hole cut in the top to fit clothes pegs.

As usual, books are still getting the bulk of the attentions. Puzzles are getting up there. We broke out another of the Christmas puzzles and he's having fun w/ them all. These three in particular each include a piece with a cat - very nice for L, as he has cats, and has shown us he knows that these all relate to each other. He has added quack to his list of sounds he can make.

We tried one of our "fun toddler activities" - took a large bowl, added a box of cornstarch and some water to mush it all up in. It makes a neat "mud" that slides through your fingers. Fun, but gets all over at this age. Next time - outside, or when I have a chance to mop the kitchen floor after.

I've added a few more pics to January 2007. I'm wondering if maybe I should limit all these photos to be viewed only by specific people, instead of the whole internet. I'm really not sure.

This weekend L has been all about the berries. Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, & blackberries. Frozen ones. He ate so much various food Saturday and that night, he slept through the night! I'm not sure if it was the food or because he had gotten such a small nap or whatever else. I'm not expecting it to become a habit this early, but we'll see how tonight goes.

Saturday night I gave him a new puzzle to start working on. Now his first was a large 3 piece. This one is smaller pieces, and 9 of them. Various animals. First puzzle took just a tad over a month to figure out. This one? A matter of hours. It was fascinating to watch him figure it out. The cat & dog he could get right away, after all he knew those animals and what side was up. Butterfly and turtle took a bit more time. You could see he carried the concept from the other puzzle over - turn the piece around, wiggle it if it was close. I'm sure this is all perfectly normal - it's just so cool to watch him figure stuff out.

Bustin' Out Those Signs

L learned to sign for nursing not long after he turned one. A couple of weeks ago he picked up "more". He acquired this sign during his melon obsession. It was always more melon. More honeydew, more watermelon... you get the picture. One morning last week he woke up and signed for potty (toilet sign), and went. Now he he signs for potty, but doesn't want to be taken :) Not working how I'd hope, but it's coming along. L has now created his own sign for "telephone", as it is one of his favorite things to play with. All of this communication has been a lot of fun. It's the huge amount we don't understand from him that is his frustration.

More new things? L can meow. He sees a cat and he meows. It is just as adorable as it sounds. He also waves to the kitties any time he sees them. It's very sweet.

L is learning patty cake. Well, he's know how to clap for some time, but just recently started a "rolling" motion with his hands, so we are working on it. We are finally at a point where he is participating with the hand motions, so you guessed it - fun!

This past week we've all gotten sick. L was up and down and the first day I got sick was horrible. More accurately, the first night I got sick. The entire night was such a nightmare I still cringe thinking about it. Fever, chills, aches, and L waking frequently through the night, sick himself. Normally, this wouldn't be a big deal, but he was so uncomfortable he'd wake crying and kicking. This is my second cold this season and L's first. I hope it is the last. It's _hard_ to get well when you don't get any extra rest.

Well. that's as much update as I can stay up to do now. I'm trying to add more fun to L's days right now and I hope to add more information about that later.