Talk this way

Tani's language is really improving. He now says 3-4 word sentences although often "Tani" is one of the words: "Tani ride in car", "Mommy drive car", "Tani cut pizza". He doesn't like it when we run the garbage disposal - he usually says "no noise" but today he said "no garbage can". He can also sit for a few minutes by himself while one of us goes out of view to get something - he understands we're coming back. Today Melissa told me that Tani sat and read a book for a while. There's a doggie book that he loves read and comment on. We went to the library today and the librarian showed us a school bus book which Tani likes a lot. He's also enjoying "Make Way for Duckling" although most of his commentary is about the cars. Also, within the last week or so when Tani is able to do a task that's a bit challenging he'll say "Tani did it!". His teachers at daycare have taught him to say "Walk away!" to the other children if one of them gets in his space instead of pushing them away. But he's said it to us a couple of times the other day when we asked him to do something he didn't want to do. He really says it with attitude too. He hasn't said it in the past couple of days - sometimes he goes through a period of a day or two when he has a favorite phrase.

I like it

Thought I would list a few of Tani's current phrases here. The top one is "I like it!" which he says for foods and activities he enjoys. He says this one the most. Today he said "no touch ears" when Mommy Malka was trying to examine a slight rash behind his ear. He can repeat many words right after he hears them and understands quite a bit.

Fun at April Hill Way

Tani and Mommy Neysa spent the day at Georgia, Marc, Emma and Colette's today. We both had a lot of fun. When we arrived, Emma was practicing piano and Tani went over to investigate. Tani pressed the high keys and then walked around the piano bench to press the low keys. He did this several times and Emma was very patient with him, pausing her practicing to let him scramble on to the bench to play some more. After a little while we all went down to the basement. Emma and Colette have a play kitchen identical to his - he thought this was great! He rode a rocking horse and examined a Barbie suitcase - mostly interested in pulling the handle up and down. But his favorite item was a "High School Musical" mat that played music when one stepped in the left corner of the mat. Lights signaled where to step on the mat to match the choreography of the dance that went with the music. But Tani just liked the music and did his own dance. We had to bring the mat upstairs to get him to go up for lunch. After lunch we all went outside. Colette had a device that would shoot a plastic ring about 25 ft or so in front of her. Tani liked this and would go retrieve the ring for her (well most of the time). He then became interested in Emma and Colette's scooters. Emma helped him ride hers up and down the driveway but he wanted more. So Mommy Neysa helped him stay balanced up and down the driveway again. But he still wanted more so Georgia guided him up and down the driveway several times riding the scooter with him - Tani would shout out "more go go!" Mommy Neysa had to run to keep up with them and Tani would exclaim "Mommy running!". Boy did he have fun! Then Georgia and Colette went to yoga and Marc came home from canvasing for Obama. Marc helped Tani play Emma's violin - move the bow across the strings and pluck a tune. Tani was very interested and enjoyed this activity. Tani and Mommy Neysa also romped around in their back yard. Tani chased the cat, played on the swing set, and tried to go into the stream behind their house. By the time we left Tani could say their names: Emma, 'Lette, George, and Marc". Overall a fun day but next time Mommy Neysa needs to take Tani home earlier for a nap.