17 months

Highlights of month 17:

• Hilarious sense of humor. Rosie seems to understand how to be silly and loves to joke around with us. Some of the best times are in the mornings when she is in bed with us, rolls around giving us kisses, then tries to steamroll our heads (meaning roll right over our faces) and  does so laughing. She and DaddyO are amazing together. They make each other crack up...two peas in a pod.
• Communication. Rosie is starting to talk a little and can say: more, más, up, car, bubbles, wawa (water), mama, Ba, Vavo, and a bunch more babbling/nonsense words (Dilbert?). She continues to sign, which has been a pretty amazing way for her to let us know what she needs. Rosie is also mastering more animal impressions: cat, dog, cow, horse, monkey, sheep, goat, bear (which she just learned at the San Diego Zoo), elephant. She is understanding the majority of what we're saying. She will not pick up after herself (selectively), including throwing away things in the garbage when asked to. She also loves to now lead us around to get us to do something for her. Or, in some cases, she pulls me away so she can take my seat! Sneaky baby. The Monkey See Monkey Do is in full effect.
• Movement: Rosie is now practicing the nuances of walking, including the ever-challenging vertical motions. She LOVES to sit, usually on our front step. And the way she sits is like when she sits in our laps to read a book - she puts herself in reverse. Rosie can get herself down from the bed safely. She loves to climb.
• Social being. No surprise Rosie continues to be quite social. She loves to walk right up to someone and give a wave. She also likes to eavesdrop on others' juicy conversations. For the most part though, it is well received. Rosie loves to give kids and babies hugs and kisses, as was evident when she could not keep her hands off Cousin J the other week. She is super loving.
• Musical ear. Rosie loves songs! She has started to request specific songs using certain hand motions. For example, she move her hands like a spider for Itsy Bitsy Spider, she puts her hand on her head for Head Shoulder Knees and Toes, she points her finger for Kia Con Buom Vang, she uses one hand to rub the other for Wheels on the Bus (that's her interpretation of the round and round motion), she claps her hands for If You're Happy and You Know It. She loves to be serenaded. We can't wait until she starts singing to us!
• Eating. Rosie's favorite thing is still fruit (strawberries, oranges, apples, bananas, melons, grapes, you name it she'll devour it). She is starting to eat veggies on her own a little. The funny thing she does is refuse meat if it's cut up and prefers to hold a big piece (chicken leg, rib) instead. She does still like eggs thankfully.
• AquaBaby. Rosie still loves the water! Over the past months she's been swimming a few times and she goes crazy for it. She is really brave in the water, letting us dunk her under briefly and jumping into our arms from the ledge of the pool (which could be a little scary if she's TOO brave and not so careful). Today she was having the time of her life wading in the water in Santa Cruz. She could have spent hours in the water and sand if we'd let her.

I know I say this every month, but she really has entered an amazing stage and everyday she leaves us awestruck at how lucky we are to have her in our lives. She has such a special soul.