Flumpie's Very Seekrit Diary

We're not doing a tree this year - because I worry that Charlie will knock it down and, somehow, end up squashled under it. We have a very small tree on our dining room table, but it's really not the same.

But we did think we could have the train out.

Here are some pictures of Charlie helping Emmy and Boompah set up the train:




And here they are with the track completed:


And now, several times a day, Charlie rips the train and track apart - like a pink Godzilla.

Oh! In other news, Charlie said her third word today: Sissy

So she has: Daisy (used for both our cats - even Pye - as well as all cats and dogs on TV), hi, and now Sissy. Clearly, she has no idea who I am!

Every mom needs to have a few pictures like this to use to embarrass their kids later on in life...

Yesterday we found out that your dad will not be coming home next week. He is going to have to stay in Iraq for several more months. Naturally, our first thoughts were of how much he was going to miss you. I'm pretty much the same and the house is pretty much the same - but you change every day!

After hearing this sad news, you actually seemed to crawl for a little bit - you finally figured out to put your backside up in the air and you scooted a bit.

After that, the mail lady brought a big package filled with some activity toys Emmy and I had ordered for you. You were enchanted with your pop-up piano thing and the musical zebra we added to your activity gym, and the Winnie-the-Pooh ring stacker.

And then we went to post to go to a meeting about why our soldiers aren't coming home on time. You wore your pink onesie that said, "My Daddy is a Super Hero".

We sat in front of some soldiers who had come home a few days ago and now are being sent back to Iraq. They were very sad. But they smiled and played with you. And one soldier even asked to hold you for a while.

Then, when we came home, our neighbor Tom came over to lower your crib. I'd been waiting for when your dad came home, but you're starting to figure out how to pull up to a stand and I didn't want you to flip yourself out of your crib the way your big sister did when she was a baby.

And then, today, ... I think you and I just had our first official conversation!

You were having lunch - mandarin oranges, rice, and ham. After eating a lot, you started turning your head away from the spoon.

So I said - and signed - "Are you finished?"

And you emphatically nodded "Yes" more than once. In the past, your nods have only been singular and you have stopped nodding since we came home from Seattle.

I was shocked.

So I asked - and signed - "Do you want more?" - in the same tone of voice I'd used before.

And you turned your head away.

"Are you finished?"

Emphatic multiple head nod.

You're pretty smart, sweetie!

You finally figured out how to make your walker walk! As you can tell, you're most excited!

You've learned to gnaw on your toes. It's quite amusing.

Of course, when I tried to get the picture, you were more interested in the camera: