Sounds

Lately, the English-Mason family has been taking evening strolls. It was a good move. We did it because we wanted to be more active and the evening is much cooler than the afternoon. In addition to those benefits, we also found that we have the opportunity to chat with, or at least wave at, our neighbors. Sonia is the most outgoing of our group, followed by Ezra, and loves seeing new people and smiling at them. The walks also give Alan and me a chance to chat. One of our favorite topics, of course, is Sonia. We talk about strategies for difficulties like throwing cups from her high chair (email me if you have something on this)and marvel at her little accomplishments and activities. So the other day we were just about home and talking about what she had eaten or pooped or something and suddenly we heard a little, "Uhhhh!" just after we said her name. We turned and Sonia was patting her chest. "Sonia?" we said, just to confirm. She patted her chest some more and looked at us. I could almost hear her saying, "Guys, I'm right here and I know you talking about me."

Sonia has been listening and speaking more and more. She now makes the sounds for a duck ("qa, qa k"), cow ("mmmm"), horse (blows a raspberry), and a snake ("sssss"). In addition to da and ma, she says, "Daw" (dog), "Es" (Ezra), "Baa es" (Back Ezra), "Behr" (blueberry). Her play is becoming more intricate and she focuses on things longer. Yesterday, she did the cutest thing while we were walking. We were walking into the sun, and she started placing her silky on her head so that it covered her eyes. She would then take off running the best she could and making a gurgley aaaaagghhh sound. After four or five steps, the silky would fall off. She would stop in her tracks, pick it up, then position it very deliberately on her head and over her eyes. The moment it was right, she would take off running and growling. This lasted for about 15 minutes, even after we turned around and were not in the sun any longer. By that time, it was just plain fun.

I usually try to link my narrative and my photos, but this time I am just posting some from our recent trip to Jemez Springs and at the Rio Grande Nature Center in Albuquerque. I had to dress Sunny in tie dye for Jemez Springs, as those from New Mexico will understand.

Headfirst

We took Sunny to the mountains for my cousin Stephanie's wedding and came back with a confident climber. She started by climbing out of her seat on the airplane and kept it up running down hills and stepping up rocks. Her confidence really picked up and she started venturing further away without even glancing back for reassurance. It was a little bittersweet. I miss my cuddly little infant, but I feel proud of her progress and eager to see what is next.




The plane rides could not have been better. Thanks mostly to many, many grapes and Goldfish as well as strangers entertaining her with funny faces. We had a great time visiting with my family and exploring around Estes Park. Sonia loved the river we stayed next to, but I think she appreciated the little things, like opening pinecones and peeling tree bark, just as much. It was nice to escape as a family.







Sunny continues to enjoy adorning herself with various objects. She likes necklaces, but she is flexible. If an actual necklace is not handy, she will put pretty much any clothing item around her neck or on top of her head. Including, to my embarrassment, my underwear. No pictures of the former, but here she is with one of her skirts as a hat.