Time flies, seriously. I feel like I just wrote that last post, and already it's July 4th. I suppose Uly and I are having just way too much fun together this summer to take care to record every daily discovery and milestone. Talking is such a big deal. I knew it would be, but could never have anticipated the pleasure we'd both get from lengthy conversation. Uly now likes to talk about what's on his mind--past and present. Out of the blue he'll say something like "Blackberry, car, bye-bye" and I know that he wants to go pick some blackberries at Moe and Pop-pop's house. Alternately he'll say something like "Papa, 'tatos, do-lou" which translates to: let's go see Grampa Tom and feed potatoes to the dog and play with Granny Lou. He also likes to talk about the time he fell on his butt and it hurt.

Weaning is nearly complete. I waited a long time for him to be ready, and he finally is. He needed some nudging, but every bit of it kind and gentle and filled with lots of hugs and cuddles.

Happy fourth, everyone!