Everything is so good right now I haven't even bothered to write about it. Uly is all about talking. He'll readily repeat any new word you ask him to try out, and although most of the time it isn't remotely correct he at least gets the syllables down and 100 points for actually trying. I love it!

Also new this past month or so--and I was VERY hesitant to discuss in case of jinxes--is that Uly is now following a respectable sleep schedule, more or less. He will now sleep almost 5 hours before waking up the first time, and now averages only two wake-ups a night. It's heavenly. I feel like a changed woman, and Uly seems to be in much better spirits too.

I'm really loving this age. He's so full of intent and sincerity. The other day I was trying to make dinner and he was growing increasingly agitated with the wait. He was hungry and waving a box of pasta at me trying to get me to open it so he could eat it. I explained that it was raw and needed to be cooked in the oven first. He just gave me this look like "well what the hell are you waiting for?" and then marched over to the oven (which was off), opened the door and shoved the box in. Priceless.

Summer is here, the lightening bugs are out and we are thoroughly enjoying ourselves these days. I havn't been taking pictures much because we're back to the stage where if Uly even hears the camera turn on he's after it. Most of the pictures I've been getting lately are coming off other people's cameras and I will be posting some soon.

Today's new words (so far...)

Thanks to little Ruby we now have "Ducky" and "Doggy". Thanks Ruby!

"Gammaw" also made it's first appearance this morning when I asked Uly, who was waving the phone at me, whom he wanted to call.

So many other changes have taken place for us over the past couple of weeks. Most importantly (to me, anyway) is that ULY SLEEPS!!! Naps have started earlier and are about 1/2 as long as before, and bedtime is now starting to hover consistently around 7-7:30 and lasting until about 6AM with only a few interruptions during the night instead of the previously typical 6 or 7 awakenings. HURRAY!!!!!

Behaviorly, Uly has definatly entered into a more confident/defiant phase. It will be interesting to see how these charactaristics evolve as we work with him on learning how to handle himself as he grows into a grown-up person. So far, the very swift, unemotional removal of little person from the object of misdeed has been extremely effective. The second I loose my cool it becomes a game, so I guess the same is true for adults and arguments. To me at least, NOTHING is worse than not getting a reaction...

On the Fun Front we are now able to enjoy all of the fun outdoorsy and wet places Oak Ridge and the surrounding area has to offer. We're eating tons of strawberries straight out of Judie and Bob's garden, and swimming in public pool and scouting bugs. The object I'm most excited about at the moment is my new bike trailer that I've been using to haul Uly around in. He LOVES IT. I don't think anything feels so good as to be cheered on by your kiddlet while peddling ferociously toward some destination. Win-win!

More Words

Paw, peas, pasta, tah-toe (potato), pop, cook-ck (cookie), COCKHOE (popcorn), ker-rack-ck (cracker), uh-nana (banana), beans, corn, ha-hih-kle (bicycle), ike (trike), har (hair)...

and more and more each day!

He's also trying hard to use people's names. Judie is now Ma (his version of Moe, which is our nickname for her) and I am finally, properly named "Mama" instead of just "Nana", which is Uly's equivalent of boobs. Today he worked hard on Jessica, getting the "sica" part, but still using the sound of "H" in front of most multi-syllabic words.

Let me repeat, this talking thing is SO COOL!!!

Word for Word

Uly says stuff! I don't even know where to begin I'm so dag-nab tickled pink. He'll try and say almost anything now, if you say it first--slowly. It's amazing. In two days I've heard several brand-new first time words such as "pasta", "please", "peas", "popcorn (cockhoe--)", "cookie", "cracker", "water", "ham", and the list is about to go on. he's especially fond of multiple syllable words. I've never seen anything more amazing as the development of language. Go Uly!!!

ULY TURNS TWO, HAS FIRST KISS!

It really was a perfect day. The house was swarming with children of many ages and sizes, and pizza, cupcakes and cake completed the deal. Uly was most excited about some fruit roll-ups he was gifted by an older woman (3 year-old) who obviously has a line onto what two year-old boys desire most. In her gift bag she also included an interesting assortment of little cars which Uly now insists that I take with us everywhere... I love it! At the end of the day, when the crowd was gone but there was still one lingering, lucky lady, the *real* gift commenced. Skyler *ahem* (strumpet) allowed Uly a bona fide hug and kiss--his very first from a non-related girl. Regrettably I could not get a picture of the kiss, but I did get the hug! What a great day! Thanks to everyone who helped make it such a memorable occasion!

Uly learned how to open the porch gate that leads to the driveway and the road all by himself! What a big boy! I'm SO not going to celebrate this!!!

It's been a very difficult couple of weeks--I'll post more when I have the energy for it. He's learning so many neat things right now that I'm somewhat ashamed for not noting them...