new sounds and games

Alyna's vocabulary grew considerably in the last month. She says more distinguishable words than Ryan who prefers to babble nonstop.

Here are some of Alyna's newest words:
Up
Off - she says this when a show or book is over/done as well
Mo = more, she says this any time she wants something
choos = shoes
chess = either chair or stairs depending on context
chay = train
chee = tree
te = teddy bear
do = dog... but usually she just imitates the barking sound
ner = no

Ryan babbles a couple different phrases throughout the day: yabadebedebe, and "o boyo boy o boy o boy" (...and no he's never seen the Flinstones...)

Alyna is forever playing sister/mommy's helper these days. Her newest skills involve finding things on the floor and bringing them to us or to Ryan. When it's time to put shoes or coats on, she will pick up Ryan's things and take them to him. He usually doesn't accept them right away because he knows he needs our help to put them on. This frustrates Alyna.

The other day they followed me into the bathroom (as usual) and when it was time to leave, Alyna went out the door with me. I turned, motioned with my hand, and said "Come on Ryan." Alyna walked toward him making the same "come" motion with her hand. He reached out and grabbed it, so she just started leading him out of the room. She led him by the hand all the way into the living room. I giggled, but realized that if we're not careful she could become pretty bossy. So I have tried since then to be the one to coerce him into things and not let her drag him around.

Alyna's other new game is pat-a-cake. On one of our kid's songs DVDs, the girls clap each other's hands back and forth as they sing the song. So now, Alyna will hold up both her hands (like a high-10) and I clap them and then clap my hands, repeating. She loves it. I can't wait until one day she claps her hands in the middle part as well.

They both love to do back flips out of our arms. It's fun to do, but very tiring on the parents. No more so than having two of them climb all over you though.

Some days they play so well together, and other days (like this morning) there is screaming every 2 minutes because someone is in the other's way. Life is so frustrating when you're a toddler and your only real means of expression is grunting and screaming.