Some Choice Words

So far, we've been spared Libby dropping an F-bomb, but she has started saying "crap" every once in a while. The other day I asked her where she'd put her cup, and she said, "Crap. Where is that? I had it in my hand the whole time." Oops.

Right now my favorite Libby word is "only," which she pronounces "ozhly." I hear it a lot: "No, Emma. This is ozhly for Libby."

I almost had a new favorite word a few weeks ago when she put on these little slip-on shoes that Kelly passed on to us (thanks, Kel!). She said, "Look, Mama! I have sleepy girls." I thought a minute. "Oh, you have slippers?" "Yes, slippers." And -- alas -- she has pronounced it correctly ever since. Darn. Sleepy-girls would have been a fun one.

My two Emma favorites are "bath" and "apple." She has really started to understand how language works and how she can use it to her advantage. To this end, she likes to ask for "akkles" all the time. "Akkle! Akkle!" She loves the akkles. More specifically, she likes to chew the apple and then spit little akkle bits all over my house.

But more than that, Emma loves her "bap." Mention the mere word bath in her presence, and she starts crying, "Bap! Bap!" Emma's voice is usually adorably breathy. "Bap" is said in a voice about twice her usual decibel level. "Bap! Bap! Bap!"

Emma is to the point where she is picking up a new word or two every day. Today's word of the day was "kick." And she pulled out "stick" a few times, which was yesterday's word of the day. What can I say? The kid is smart. (And a helluva kicker already, by the way.)

Our Internet connection has been wiggedy-whack for a few weeks now. Sorry for the delay in new pictures!

A quick update on their funnier moments recently: Libby now picks up the phone and pretend phones a friend (usually Aunt Kimmy). The conversation is often: "Hi. This is me. How are you, Aunt Kimmy? You know, you really wear me out, but I love you anyway." (The last part is a quote from Olivia.)

Emma loves to "fall" these days. She lowers herself down on her belly as slow as molasses and then splays her legs and arms wide. She'll then call out, "Whoooaa."

Emma is quite the chatterbox. She loves to talk about her favorites: "ock! ock!" (sock); "water-water-water-water" (the girl loves to play in the sink, swimming lessons not so much); "goog" (Emma loves her some booby juice); and "piggy" (Kennedy got her a stuffed pig that she adores). Em's actually to the point where's she picking up words left and right and says just about anything she wants to: Mama, Daddy, eat, up (like her sis: "upppahhhh"), joosh (juice), and on and on and on. What a smartie!

For all her sweetness and cuddliness, Emma has quite a temper and a very impish nature. I think this elfin pic captures that.

Martin recently asked me what Emma looks like when she's draped over his shoulder and cuddled in tight. Here, modeled on my dad, is the answer.


Libby's no angel, but she plays one in the snow.

Going camping (or as Libby calls it "stamping") in the wilds of our living room.

Ahoy, matey!