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.