"Here go, Baby!"

Lydah is imitating a lot of what we say these days. And she doesn't yet switch around her nouns to make things make sense. For example, we have always said, "Do you want me to hold you?" So now if she wants to be held she will just look at us and say, "Hold you." It's pretty cute. The other day Lydah and I were making snowmen together after a very rare March snowfall in Kentucky and she was "helping" me by picking up three or four flakes of snow in her mitten and handing them to me. In an effort to imitate one thing we often say when giving things to her ("Here you go, baby"), she handed me the snow and said, "Here go, baby." I laughed not only at the adorable thing that she said, but also at the minuscule amount of snow that she was giving me.

It made me realize what God must think when I act like I have something to contribute to the building of his magnificent kingdom.

Proudly walking her new baby in her new stroller.

A special gift for the Chinese New Year from our Malaysian neighbor.

Watching Elmo with Thomas.

Saying our prayers before supper.

A Breakthrough

Yesterday Lydah used her training potty for the first time! She went #1 in it yesterday and #2 in it today. So we threw her a little party, gave her some "kiki" (candy), and sang a little song for her consisting of the lyrics "poo poo in the potty" repeated about 25 times. We decided not to share pictures of these events with you, but here are some from her grandmother and grandpa Coates' camera taken during a visit two weeks ago. Some are from our first trip to to Chuck E Cheese's.

How To Speak Lydish

Just for the record, our daughter is now 17 months and 9 days old. And she is an excellent communicator. For those not familiar with her unique dialect we have created a brief pocket dictionary of Lydish. We grant full permission to reproduce and copy this to anyone... anyone, that is, who mails us a "gift donation" of $20 or more.

Be-pa = Grandpa
Ga-gam = Grandma
Bee-bye = Library
Maw-des = Thomas (her good friend)
Coffee = Coffee
Ah wa wu = "I love you"
Wah-wah = Water
Kan-Key = Candy (not that we ever give her any)
Pita = Pizza
Elmo = Elmo, of Sesame Street fame
Bebo = Bellybutton
Sinning = Sitting
Bush = "Push me, please"
Baff = Bath
Hello = Phone
Uh-oh = "I just threw my whole bowl of milk and cereal onto the floor. Come admire the mess with me."
Issa wah why = ??? We still have no idea what this means, but she says it regularly in various contexts.

Snow, Friends, and Bathtime

Last weekend our church took a retreat to a wooded campground outside of Bowling Green, KY. One afternoon we decided to go for a hike on some of the nearby trails. After a long time of dressing ourselves, preparing for the journey, and mounting Lydah into a baby carrier on my back, we finally set out into the forest. We hadn't hiked for five minutes, before I heard a small voice behind me say, "Aw done" (All done). Courtney and I had to laugh and informed Lydah that she'd have to wait a bit longer before going back. Needless to say, the hike was a bit shorter than we had planned, but it was still a fun time.

No, we don't actually have two children now. On the left is Isaac Rumschick, one of Lydah's younger friends.

Somehow she managed to crawl INTO her training potty. Good thing it hasn't been used yet.

Lydah's first ponytail

"That might be a bit too close to the TV, Lydah."

More time with Isaac. Admire the crazy hair that results from a day of pigtails.

Tis the Season

Lydah was a bit more active in the whole Christmas thing this year than she was last year. What a difference between 3 months old and 15 months old! She enjoyed her gifts, but of course found the wrapping paper and boxes to be much more entertaining. This year we went up to Illinois and did the normal rounds to see family, family, and more family. Lydah was the star of the show wherever she went. She entertained people with her new words ("I love you" is a favorite) and tricks (such as "being strong" and showing a "sour" face). Oh yes... and she has also learned another word: "NO!" (This has been lots of fun for Mom and Dad).

An example of the "sour" face.

Mommy and Daddy bought Lydah some new "fine jewelry" for Christmas.

Lounging around in her new chair.

Courtney and I built Lydah an elaborate playhouse with some boxes, tape, and wrapping paper.
Obviously, Lydah was very interested.

Great-grandpa Sheridan built this bassinet for Lydah.

With great-grandmother Beard.

With great-grandmother Probst.

Fun with friends Noel (left) and Elise (right) and their new window markers.

Some Thanksgiving Pictures

Lydah's vocabulary expands every day. She says "water," "juice," "I love you," "Grandpa," "Grandma," "cracker," "popcorn," and can tell you the sounds made by sheep, dogs, cows, and, of course, the screaming eagle. She enjoys blowing on Mommy's belly and making funny sounds as well as touching the belly buttons of everyone in the room -- even strangers. So if you come to visit, be warned! She has also discovered how much fun it is to spin in Daddy's office chair. She thinks it is a riot to get really dizzy and try to walk around. I must admit that Courtney and I have just as much fun watching her.

Holloween Butterfly

For Lydah's first year to dress up for Halloween (last year she was a bit young and slept through the whole evening), her mother dressed her up as a butterfly of sorts. The crazy hair had less to do with butterflyishness and more to do with it just being really, really cute.

It wasn't all just fun and games.