Vocabulary in Bloom!

It is almost spring time... meaning, it will continue to rain more than it already has here in Seattle...

Actually, it's not THAT bad. No, strike that. The weather really stinks here. Clearly, I've reset my expectations (lowered them, it's the Gravelin way!) because a few weekends ago, we had a sunny 50-something degree day and I wanted to take my sweater off and bask in the sun. Anywhere else, it would have been an average day. If I had just been visiting, I would have said, "What is so special about today? Everyone should put their shirts back on." But instead I felt that it was a beacon of light (literally) amidst a cloud-filled season.

But despite the dreariness, our dafodills are popping up and the crocuses have already bloomed. Day-light savings has made our evenings so much brighter, that I can *almost* imagine what it was like last summer when the trees were green and we had copious raspberries in our yard.

All that said, I've been adapting and coping (i.e. drinking more coffee, generally moping around the house, and supplementing with Vitamin D) and trying to be aware of other things that are blossoming in this gloomy time such as:

Sam's vocabulary!

Kyle and I made a list for fun the other day and we tallied over 150 words that Sam can correctly use in context.

Among them:
Helmet ("elmut")
Apple sauce
Guitar ("tar")
Tractor
Triangle

Now, he may not say them right, but we generally know what he means. Additionally, we have noticed an onslought of compound words and phrases. It started last weekend when I was working late. I'd left my coffee mug in his room and he pointed to it, turned to Kyle and said, "Mama, home." (Yes, my heart broke a little when I heard this while I was still at work...)

He's also using more verbs and describing his needs:
"Pick"- for Mommy pick-up this thing that I just flung onto the floor
"Want" -self-explanatory and said in the general direction of so many things
"Out!"- This is my new alarm clock. Out! Out! Still haven't found the snooze button...
"Poop."- He's been trying to alert us after he goes #2, but let me tell you, there are still many false alarms.
"Wash"- When he wants to wash his hands in the sink in addition to grabbing and causing mahem with anything in the vicinity of the sink area.

And he's been playing games:
-"Nigh-nigh" said as he collapses into his crib and "hello!" said as he pops back up are his own version of peek-a-boo
- In response to "rain, rain" he'll say "go way" (I'm sure Seattle kids know this one before they can walk.)

Anyway, this word explosion has been so awesome. Everyday Kyle and I are smiling or laughing along with whatever word-concoction Sam creates. It's such a joy during a dreary time!