just a few randoms...

i figured a few random photos would suffice until i get aroudn to taking real pictures again.

these are all sucky phone pictures but still pretty cute :)

but first a few penny updates.

she is in the middle of a language explosion lately.  talks ALL the time and some of it is starting to make sense.  she is very into identifying people, and things and what things people to what people.

so naturually - everything is "mine" or "penny's"

first she'll tell you what the item is, then that it belongs to her.  "mommy" "penny's mommy"; "paci" "penny's paci" - you get the idea.

almost making a lot more phrases and sentences and repeating stuff you may say just once like "penny's heavy" or "i'm cold" "i have itch"  she is also really using pronouns accurately, but like any toddler does a lot of talking in the third person.

the other big thing we are noticing is that she has some VERY strong opinions about who does what, when they do it and where they do it.  if we play cars she'll tell you if you can have the red or the black car (she can pretty well identify red, black and blue colors).  she'll tell where to play with it and how to play with it.  she also gets a big kick out of us all "sitting" together.  she doenst like when you lay down.  she likes us all to sit next to each other on the bed or the floor.  legs all the way out, hands by your side. penny in the middle.  and she will physically do all in her power to make it happen.  if you lay she'll try and push you up.  if that doesnt work she usually grabs you by your ear, hair (mommy) or nose (daddy).  then manuevers you into the position she wants.  it's pretty awesome.

along with these opinions are the tantrums.  with such strong opinions comes strong anger when things dont go her way.  we say that "her world ends" at least 3 times a day.  she can dissolve into hysteria and tears at the drop of the hat.  best way to handle is usually ignore.  or simple distraction still works.  most of her tantrums have lost a little of their prevoious staying power.  I think general curiousity wins out and she moves on to something else.

my favorite new development is her ability for conversation.  we talk the whole car ride home.  most of it is still fairly one sided but she can really answer questions now.  and answer them completely and clearly.  dinner for example.

two weeks ago if asked, "penny do you want a banana"  

she would answer a simple "no" and shake her head.

now she answers, "penny no banana mama. no banana"

i can't wait to see how much more she develops in the next few months!

she is still a little momma, as evidenced by this elmo book that she put "night night"  with a paci, bottle and a loaned puppy (she took the paci and puppy back pretty quickly)

 and she is getting even better at feeding herself. she suddenly is a pro with a spoon.  especially when she is dipping that spoon in fro yo :)

it's amazing to watch the daily changes and discoveries this age brings.  with all it's challenges and opinions, it's still my favorite age so far.  i love the way she exerts her independance and has become such a little person. she's my little buddy and helper and most of the time (save the occasional tantrum) she is fun to take out places.

love you penners :)