Happy belated Valentine’s Day, friends!  I enjoyed my first daycare V-Day party with my buddies at school (“Ell-lah,” “An-a,” and “Nee-nah”) this month, even though teething is making it difficult for me to enjoy many of my favorite foods.  My other lower canine and three final molars made their appearance recently, which hopefully means we can put teething behind us for a while (whew!).

I’m continuously adding to my vocabulary, which is about 25 words now, although I’m not known for my skill at enunciating.  Several of my words sound nearly indistinguishable … Mommy defies anyone to tell the difference between me saying hi to Daddy vs. a doggie.  Some of my newest words include night-night, book (“boo”), and “bubble” for Rubble (and by extension all members of the Paw Patrol).  I also say yellow “leh-low,” and point enthusiastically to various colors.  As far as anyone can tell I can’t actually distinguish between hues; I think everything is yellow.  I even pointed to an orange (the fruit) once and called it a “yellow.”

I’ve also learned to say Jack’s name … or at least attempt it.  Now when my brother walks into a room he’s greeted my “JI-AH, JI-AH!”  We love each other and also completely annoy each other, just like proper siblings.  I’ve developed an affinity for Jack’s Paw Patrol toys, so he’s constantly attempting to protect his carefully constructed puzzles and play scenes from being torn apart at my hands.  There are moments, however, when we completely delight each other.  Sometimes he’ll push me up and down the halls in the Cozy Coupe or we’ll sing and dance and then devolve into fits of laughter together in the car.  One trick that particularly delights my brother is teaching me animal noises.  I can currently tell you what a cow, sheep, dinosaur, horse, and snake say, and I’m learning more every day.  I’ve also learned that if you say “one” I should say “twoooooo” to help you count.

Current likes: the number “8” from my foam mat, sliding down the stairs

Current dislikes: being prevented from playing on the stairs

As I begin to round the corner towards four years old, my abilities with numbers, time, and language have really taken off.  I’ve been able to count back from 10 to 1 for some time now, but I’m also getting really good at the game “which is bigger,” and can almost always tell you which of two numbers is larger.  I also know my days of the week, although I still refer to almost everything that happened in the past as “yesterday.”  Perhaps my most remarkable development since last month is my absolute fascination with letters.  I ask the adults in my life to spell things incessantly; I can’t get enough of knowing about words!  On a typical car ride to preschool I’ll ask Mommy to spell car, car seat, road, tree, stoplight, sign, license plate, truck … it goes on like this for the entire twenty minute commute.  I’ve even begun to memorize some small words that have been spelled for me repeatedly.

I also like typing into a blank Word document on Mommy’s laptop, and I consider it a special treat when she let’s me “type letters” on her computer.  We did have a minor argument over the spelling of the word “computer,” which I insist is actually “gum-puter,” but for the most part I have a pretty good ear for the sounds various letters should make.  For example, I love listening to a Mickey Mouse & Friends audio CD in the car on the way to preschool, and I recently pointed out the fact that “Huey,” Dewey,” and “Louie” all sound like they should have a “W” in them, but only one of them does.  Even Mommy had to agree that I had a good point, and spelling is weird!  I also like to talk about how sneaky some letters can be, like the “g” in “light” and “night.”

I’m still a big Beatles fan, although my favorite songs have shifted, and are now Norwegian Wood (which I insist is “Regional Wood”) and What Goes On.  Lena is not a fan of What Goes On, and she protests mildly each time it comes on.   This has only served to enhance the song’s appeal.

Current likes: The Beatles and spelling

Current dislikes: silent letters

It’s no secret that I love my cat (if only the feeling were mutual)!  What I didn’t know before today is that there are things called “pet stores” where you can go to see and shop for other pets.  They have so many animals there – all of which I am convinced are cats of some form or another.  Here I am with some ferret “kee-kees” that the nice ladies who work there actually let me pet.  Like I said before: Greatest.  Day.  Ever.

Kee-kee!