21 months

Autumn you are fast approaching 2! This month has been active and full of fun!
We started the month out in Maryland visiting your cousin, Aunt and Uncle! You had so much fun playing and interacting with Eric - with the toys, at the park, in the pool, at the Naval Academy, the Arboretum, and Longwood Gardens. He had a lot of fun watching you too!


We also got to go see Uncle Ryan and Aunt Liz for a couple of days in Arlington! We used all public transit and did a lot of walking - you did pretty well being content in the stroller. The one whole day we had, you and mommy walked 13 miles all over DC - at the zoo, to Georgetown and back to Arlington. At the zoo you especially like the monkeys again and the Pandas.


Back in Colorado we have spent some time in Fort Collins/Loveland and in Glenwood Springs. You really enjoy playing with all your grandparents, cousins and aunts and uncles. You know them all by name and frequently ask for them when we are away. Ella is back with us and although you enjoy doggies - you have your fill sometimes and want nothing to do with them. We've been at Zach and Marc and their puppies Cypress and Talla the last 2 weeks. The puppies like to give you kisses and steal your toys and you like to read 5 Silly Monkeys Jumping on the Bed and play Angry Birds with Marcie!

You love the park, puzzles, to dangle at the park and on things in the house, taking care of your babies, helping to cook, reading books, watching Curious George and Sesame Street and bath time. What ever we are doing, you want to be helping! At Grandma and Papa's you absolutely love playing in the outdoor play house - you have spent hours in there in the last 2 weeks. You cook, hang out the window and run in and out the door - always closing it both directions. At Nana and Papa's you like riding in the wagon, doing all the puzzles, playing with the babies and riding the scoot toy.

We spent a day at the Denver Zoo with friends and had so much fun! You napped on the way down there and lasted 6 hours walking around the whole zoo! Again the monkeys and great apes were your favorite! You also enjoyed seeing the other animals - other favorites were the elephants, frogs and alligators!
I tried to write down moments through out the month and this is what I recorded -


May 15th put your socks on independently
You have started saying sorry, sorry at mostly appropriate times. The other day you screeched and then follow it with "sorry!" It was pretty funny.
For the first time you like riding in the stroller.
You feed yourself with a fork and spoon pretty well now.
You pulled Eric's high chair down on top of you and fell out of it forward. You like to climb on every thing you can.
You are getting better at sharing - this week with your cousin Addy you took turns sharing the Hula Hoop without too much drama. (although this is when the screeching "sorry " thing happened.
You have started to put your sandals on, but they do not always end up on the correct feet
May 25th you spontaneously counted all the way to 10 at the pool.
You explained your whole thought - after you had eaten a snack you didn't see me and went to daddy and said "Daddy play, momma gone."

Your language and comprehension continue to amaze us. You talk to yourself as you play and so it is fun to hear what you are thinking. You repeat everything we say to a point that we have to be careful what we say in front of you! You're words are clear and you continue to speak in 2-5 word sentences that are getting more and more complex.

Your go get 'em attitude goes with you everywhere. You now tell us "self or Autumn do it" when you want to try something without help. When we returned from Maryland you insisted on lugging the rolling suitcase to the curb! Your have so much spunk and energy!


Time outs continue to be a fairly effective way to help teach you that screeching/screaming and touching things you are not supposed are not okay. Most of the time you are great - but there seems to be certain things like the doggy door that are just too tempting.

Autumn you are such a bright and beautiful little girl! You light up our world and bring joy and smiles where ever you are!!! We are so proud of you!!

Love,
Momma and Daddy