Spencer-isms

Spencer at 20-months is a busy little man. Fearless, he will climb onto the blue chair in the sitting room, yell "go!" and launch. He loves to look at books and frequently finds a reader willing to show him the pictures of his many book options. This guy has a contagious belly laugh and always flashes an impish grin when he is about to do something on the naughty side. He's into everything, high or low. One of his favorite activities is to empty out a container/cabinet/basket, line up the contents, put it all back, and repeat. He loves to run, and the joy of his movement is evident by the grin on his face as his little feet pump furiously through the house. As typical of younger children, he wants to do what his sisters are doing and be where they are. He loves to color (sometimes on the paper, sometimes on the top of the lid of our new laptop). Everything is thrown, from balls to trucks to toys to forks across the table. He loves to sit next to Darwin on the dog bed, smiling through Darwin's soft growls. He drives his bus/car/truck on and all surfaces. I've given up trying to keep him off the coffee table in the living room, which is why there are Spencer-sized footprints on the top at the moment.

And he talks. And chatters. And jabbers. I finally got my name back - Mama - at least 90% of the time. Here's the fun list of his current words, verbal and non-verbal, which is probably not all inclusive:

• Morgan - Goo (we call her Morgan Magoo)
• Mallorie - Ree
• Daddy - Da-ae
• Mommy
• Nods yes, slowly and thoughtfully
• Church - turch
• Water/milk bottle - bop-bop
• Ball, car, plane
• Sheep - ba
• Sky, star
• Body parts - eye, nose, ear, arm, toes, head, neck, chin
• Bye-bye
• Stop - top
• Grandma/Grandpa - Gamma, Baba
• House, barn, work
• Book
• Up, down
• Chair
• Away - way (as in, put the toy away)
• Movie - who-whees
• Crash - Cash! Accompanied by arm movement and huge grin
• No - quietly and drawn out. It's adorable.
• Where did it go? - 'Er'd it go?

We love this boy! I am surprised daily by how different he is than both of my girls. I've heard that boys are different...and it's totally true! There's a whole new level of energy, busy-ness, and lack of listening bundled into this small, Chadwick-look-alike. He tries my patience, makes me smile, and says "top!" when I nibble on his cheeks for too long.

Twenty months and counting...what a ride!