Well, Belle is continuing to grow, grow, grow. She hasn't gotten much taller or much bigger around, but she is growing so much intellectually and developmentally. She is now an avid climber and can do the stairs all by herself. She likes to help pour in the ingredients and mix together stuff when we're baking. She greets everyone on the street with a hearty "Hello" followed almost immediately by a "Bye Bye See ya!". She is mimcking back pretty much every single syllable word we say to her, and even trying some two syllable ones, (my favorite being kapeesh which she says a-peesh). She is learning to play with other kids, and I think we're going to have to work on sharing! She understands so many things we say to her, like when we say "It's time to go for a walk." she runs to the front hall closet and gets her shoes, then sits down so someone can put them on and proceeds right to the door. She gives kisses and hugs if you ask for them, she is learning to clap rhythyms and she is never far from a pencil and piece of paper a she loves to write. This week she learned to put her finger in front of her lips and say "Shh" which almost brought Nick to tears.

A few days ago we went for a walk and she started looking up. She noticed the clouds and the birds and trees that were right above her. She was talking in the language I have yet to understand, but was so excited she nearly toppled over backwards taking it all in. She's so easy going and everyone here adores her. We are so lucky to have such a social butterfly in our family. She already loves to party, staying up until 10:00 some nights-being polite and friendly the whole time, and we have to keep an eye on her as she already sees beer as free game if it's not in your hand!

I am very excited to see her begin to interact with her new brother or sister. She seems to really adore babies. Whenever a car seat is placed on the floor she'll run to it and crouch in front of it just staring and staring. And with all the new babies in our friends lives it's often the case that a picture is on the computer screen which leads to squeals of "oooooo, baby" in a soft cute voice.

This coming weekend we're making the move to a toddler bed, and I'm sure there will be many a nights of learning a new level of patience ahead of us, but we are both so very much enjoying our baby become a big girl!