Just so cute!

Autumn had on her jeans today - she looks like such a big girl when she wears them. I was trying to get photos of her "big girl look" but instead we got adorable photos of Autumn being herself - her silly, adorable self! She loves her learn and play dog from Aunt Phyllis and dances when the music plays.

No, no!

Jim got Autumn a toy box for her birthday but it wasn't until now that we had a place to put it (no dog crate or Christmas tree). Autumn liked trying to get her toys out of it for a few minutes and then tried to get in it!

Crayons!

Autumn opened her crayons and "My Friends Tigger and Pooh" giant coloring book today. She got these for Christmas but we've been slowly cycling in all the new toys so she has some "new things" for a while. She actually held the crayons with her right hand so maybe she will be right-handed? I think she enjoyed taking the crayons in and out of the box more than coloring but she did try out almost every crayon.

I forgot that I can't rotate the video like I can a picture so just turn your head side-ways (sorry!).

Her Words

A lot of people have been asking what she says, so here's the list of things that I remember that have come out so far:

*Maaaa - that's me especially when she wants something. It's not a sweet "Mama" but a demanding grunt
*Da or Dada is Daddy
*Bea - that's bear without the "r"
*Abbi - though only once
*Here - when she hands me something, especially a speck of dirt she's found on the ground
*In there - she likes to tell me where things are or where they go (or where Pooh Bear lives)
*Bow - her hair bows
*Bye
*Hi
*Mow - for "meow"
*WooWoo - for woof woof - which she says every time she hears any of the neighborhood dogs barking.
*Ssss - which is the sound a snake makes, or if she puts her pointer finger up her nose while doing it and then she whispers, it's "Shhh"
*Night - for good night. Last night she said it happily and Daddy put her to bed and there wasn't a cry out of her. Guess she really did mean good night!
*Namen - for Amen
*Me - she point to herself after pointing to something of hers so I think it means "mine", though if you point to a picture of her and ask "who's that cute girl" she says "me", too.
*Num - means "yum"
*Ana - yesterday she came up with this for banana, her favorite fruit

Update 1/27:
We were listening to "There were 10 in the bed and the little one said roll-over" and at the very end of the song they say "good night". I was amazed when she repeated "night" - I didn't even know she listened that closely! She's also started saying "night-night" when she lays down on the floor since that's what we tell her when we lay her down to sleep. It just amazes me how much she's picking up on things right now.

Where Does Pooh Live?

Daddy asked Autumn where Pooh Bear lives and she ran up to the TV and pointed to it and said "in there" repeatedly. I guess the animated Pooh Bear is more exciting than her stuffed one that doesn't talk or solve mysteries. She knows she only gets to watch Pooh during bottle time (now sippy cup time but we still call it her bottle) so she then climbed onto Daddy's lap and pointed to her empty bottle and the TV. I love to see how her logic skills have developed. It's hard to believe that only a few months ago she wasn't capable of telling us what she wanted - now she's very sure to make sure we know what she wants!

Should we be worried?

Jim took this photo and then asked if we should be worried about her college days? I, on the other hand, was excited since Autumn finally decided she can hold the sippy cup for herself. She's been using the sippy for a few months now but refused to hold it before. Now with her growing more independent every day, I guess it was time!

Now I like you!

Aunt Judy and Uncle Kevin got Autumn a bear for Christmas. He plays music and moves to it. Autumn was scared of him at first but after we told her to feed him a carrot today, she warmed up to him. Feeding people (or bears) is such a relationship-building experience! Now she loves him and carries him around and hugs him.

Namen!

Autumn always talks at the end of our prayer but since I'm praying I can never figure out what she said. So while saying grace before lunch I listened for her to talk when I say "in Jesus' name". I repeated my prayer and listened more closely. The little stinker says "Namen" as soon as she hears the end of the prayer coming. Guess she must be hungry and just want to start to eat! When Grammy was here visiting we said a prayer that Daddy would get home safely and as I was closing she said it again. Funny how she knows "in Jesus' name" means it's almost time to say "Amen".

Snowy Monday

We had such an exciting day today. I set up the new stove she got from her Great-grandmother. It's really cute and well made - the perfect size for Autumn. It came with a few wooden pots and pans and some food. She made lots of carrot and mushroom soup which was "nummy". She's good at stirring her soup and giving out tastes! She likes to pretend which I love! She also discovered that the mushrooms roll so she'd roll them on the floor, gently kick them, etc. and see how they'd spin and roll. Grammy and Grampy stopped by and she fed them and ran all around - she loves being able to have the area to herself now that Milo isn't here. She tired herself out and took a 3 HOUR afternoon nap!

More!

We were at Jim's parents today. Autumn was having some food and she actually signed "more" very clearly. We've only been working on that for months now - grunts and pointing and making a fuss usually win out to waiting for her to sign.

Harper Christmas

Christmas with the Harpers was delayed because of illness, so with everybody well, we finally got to celebrate. Autumn had a fun time opening everybody's presents. She didn't quite have the hang of unwrapping presents on Christmas Day but she gets it now!
She didn't really need any presents since she was most entertained by a box of foil covered candies and some Hershey Kisses in a dish. She just kept taking them out and putting them back in. I was amazed at how occupied she kept herself with these. Later, when the puppy puppet (aka Daddy) tried to take the box away from her, she got very mad. It was very cute!

Mesmerized!

Autumn was sitting in between my legs watching "My Friends Tigger and Pooh" after her bottle. Think she's into it?

What are you doing?

Autumn's latest "naughtiness" is trying to stick things in her ear. Yesterday was the first offense with cheesy pasta shells and today it was cheerios. With a family history of food getting stuck in body cavities, I know it's just a matter of time!

Update: 1/19/08
I was cleaning her up and noticed that her right ear lobe was dirty. Upon further examination, I determined it was some pea puree (yes, we're back to pureed vegetables for now), and goldfish slime (she sucks on them and then takes them out and tries to put them in her ear). I'm glad she's been wearing a hat with ear flaps when we go out or people may think she has some kind of ear fungus!

Autumn's First New Word for the New Year!

We miss Abbi! Autumn had such a good time playing with her cousin. Every time she eats she points at the photo of Abbi that's on the fridge. We were on the phone with Grammy talking about Abbi and she actually said "Abbi" - it came out almost like ET would be saying it AAAaaa-BEEEeeee. It was clear as day, though! Abbi should feel honored since she said her name before saying her own name (though "Autumn" is more of a mouth full for a 14 month old).