19 months

19 month highlights:
- Words! Rosie is picking up words left and right. Before she would repeat the words most frequently used (e.g. more, please, apple) but now she is getting better at trying out new sounds as they come. this goes for signs, too. Some signs we introed only a couple times she correctly mimics days later (e.g. squirrel).
- Comprehension. Rosie understands so much of what we say. I forget this until I'm talking to someone else and she responds. So, careful what you say around this sponge/parrot!
- Longer term memory. Rosie can now recall things that are not in her sight. This might be when asking for a snack (e.g. cheese, pear) or, more recently, looking for Daddy or Ba Ngoai when they're not around. Today Uncle M showed Rosie a trick with the maple tree seeds (see previous post re: rhino nose) and then later that day she picked one up and said "nose". Pretty rad.
- Role playing. Rosie has entered a stage where she likes to take care of babies (both human, doll, and stuffed monkey). She feeds them, hugs and kisses them, and puts them down to rest. As Auntie A said, she's finally older than someone! And she is turning into quite a nurturer. With her little cousin J she wanted to hold and hug him (and kept patting the west next to her indicating we should put him back) and when she heard him cry she went rushing over to check on him.
- Food. She seems to have turned a bit of a corner with her food choices and will willingly pick out proteins and veggies on occasion. She still prefers fruit to anything though so fruit bowls have to be stashed away out of sight.
- Houdini-in-training. Rosie now loves the challenge presented by locks, seat belts, and fasteners. She can sit for a long time trying to figure something out. At the bookstore a quick favorite was one of those puzzles that each have a different locking mechanism on it. She loved it. We, on the other hand, are not sO thrilled since that means one step closer to more difficult child-proofing.
- Task-oriented. Rosie loves to be helpful and given a task. She now insists on throwing away her own diapers. Ask her to help with something else and she usually does so enthusiastically (most recently: watering Ba Ngoai's plants aka dumping water all over herself, filling a sand trench some kids built at the beach, throwing away other garbage).
- Still a music lover. She loves to be sung to. She loves to shake her booty and pump her fists. She loves to listen to Pandora. She loves to mimic musicians (her attempt to match Adele is admirable).
- Teeth. 10 still, I think. She doesn't really like us poking around in there. Understandable.
- She is still super sweet. Rosie remains pretty social, though I have to say her sweetest moments are just before bed and right after waking up (sorry folks, that's Mommy and DaddyO time!).


[I want YOU to cut me a piece of that "mimi"/watermelon ]