I yuv you, Mommy

This summer has been such a growth time for June and her language abilities.  She's able to say HaLLie instead of Hayyie (although sometimes I think she says Hayyie as a term of endearment).  She has started to speak in full sentences nearly all the time and now she's starting to branch out and put words together in her own patterns instead of always sticking to the patterns we had her repeat.  So this self-initiated speaking is definitely endearing because most of the time she's in her own little world playing with toys when she uses some phrase that surprises me.  However, the other day, she used one that quite possibly ripped the heart out of my chest it was so winsome.  She laid her head on my shoulder and said, "I yuv you Mommy." I nearly cried.  We always tell her "I love you" at night and before we leave, etc, but have never really asked her to reciprocate.  She has repeated this delightful offense numerous times since.  This is definitely something I could get used to.

Ruben's also showing how much he loves me, but I have to say, I prefer June's way of communicating.  Every baby goes through a "Mommy Phase" where mom is the only one who will do. Ruben has been in the stage for a tad too long now.  I mostly dislike this stage at night when he will not fall asleep for Karl.  All I'm asking is one night, Ruben, where I can sleep straight through the night and Dad can get up and comfort you.  It has been 6 weeks now since I've slept through the night and I'm pretty sure I'm going to have permanent brain damage from this lack of sleep.  He slept so well from 3-6 months and ever since then, we've struggled to sleep through the night. Thankfully, there are positives in this stage as well.  I don't think anyone feels worthless or sad, when a crying baby stops crying when in your arms.  Ruben can be on the brink of hysterics and I pick him up to soothe him, and immediately he's calm (maybe a few hiccoughs left but those are pretty cute too).  I just need to remind myself, this too shall pass.

The Talkster

Ruben is the quiet baby.  He slept so much as an infant, we barely got to see his beautiful blue eyes.  Even less often, we heard him cry.  He was just that awesome second baby - the one that convinces you that you could have tons of kids.  It's not that June was a particularly tough baby, it is just that Ruben was so darn quiet.

Until now.

This kid talks all the time.  He constantly is making raspberry sounds allowing the drool to run down his front as his tongue flaps in the wind.  He augments this tongue movement by slowing it down and moving his whole lower jaw as he blurts, "Blah, gblah, gblah!" As he chases after my heels while I'm walking around, he whines, "mmmummmum, mmummmummm." Those are just the open mouth sounds.  We made the mistake of taking him with us to the John Deere Classic golf tournament where thousands of adults walk around silently for a week.  I had Ruben in the sling so I could have complete control over his movements.  Plus he's always happy when he's in the sling.  He was so happy, he was singing and humming to himself all day.  The marshalls would hold up their "quiet" paddles and Ruben would keep on singing his loud monotone, droning song.  Only one gentleman gave us the evil eye.  Everyone else just turned around and stared. The day wasn't a complete waste though - we got to ride a school bus from the parking lot to the gate.  Super fun for June!

Besides the open mouth, drooly consonants and the inner monologue that leaks through his vocal chords, Ruben loves to laugh.  And he has this beautiful wide-open-smile-laugh.  He laughs at June almost constantly.  Who knew it was hilarious to walk back and forth between the couch and Nova! He loves to play peek-a-boo, especially with Jan who always throws a washcloth over his face after he's been fed.  And of course, Dad is funny enough to jump over.  When he's caught in a fit of laughter, even his shrill cries aren't enough expression for him - he gets his whole body involved in this violent happy dance.

My current favorite is this combo heavy breathing/snorting/chortling.  This kid is hilarious!

Favorite Phrases

"Save yater"
Interpretation: I don't want this right now; don't move this toy from the spot I've put it in the middle of the living room; this is mine, don't touch; this is an important object but I don't have time to spend with it right now

"Mine friend, (Hayyee, Nana, Jan, Hah-Nah)"
Interpretation: I love you.  I want you to come over to my house

"I take that wif me"
Explanation: I say, June let's go upstairs/outside/to the car/etc.  June grabs the nearest object whether it be a water bottle, toy, scrap of paper, shoe, or food item; holds it over her head; points at it; and says "I take this wif me" because obviously she can't live without that item

"I don wan dat"
Translation: I don't want that
Usage: Used when June wants you to stop roughhousing with her (tickling, scary faces, chasing, etc)