Talking Up a Storm

Hannah has definitely got the hang of the whole communication thing. She's been talking and signing like crazy lately. For example, the other day Kyle was feeding her and she wasn't wanting to eat. She kept grabbing at her bib and pulling, but the Velcro was too strong for her to get it off. Eventually she got frustrated and signed help to Kyle while also saying "elp" Then I told her that if she took her bib off then she would be finished and so she signed finished! Kyle and I just looked at each other in amazement! So, here's a rundown of all the signs she does, the ones she knows, but doesn't actually do, and all the words she can say. Signs she actually makes: eat, drink, dog, help, finished, book, more. Signs she knows, but does not do: don't touch, no, cat, diaper change, gentle touch. Words she says: mom mom, dada, Ella, Evelyn (sounds like Eva), dog, up, help, uh book. She also understands a lot of what we say to her now as well. I can ask her to go get a book and she will bring one to me. Kyle told her to put back some onesies she had taken out of a drawer and she put them back. She amazes me every single day :)

Since Hannah has been so focused on language lately she's not been very interested in walking. I haven't got her to go more than a few steps with her walker in the last week. She's been much more interested in examining absolutely everything she can find. I took her outside today and she had a blast playing with the sticks, rocks, and flowers in the yard. In fact, she had so much fun that she threw a tantrum when it was time to go inside.

Last weekend Hannah was very busy. Kyle and I did the mini marathon so Hannah had to stay with her Aunt Heather, Grandpa, and Terri. Becky was there part of the time too (thank heavens since Hannah loves Becky!). Hannah was not very happy about being left without mommy and daddy so she decided to pull a hunger strike and refused to eat her bottle and her solid feeding for any of them! She also behaved so badly that it took two people to get her pants back on after a diaper change! After Kyle and I were done with the mini we went to Tiffany's house for the twins' birthday party. Hannah had fun crawling around the yard and swinging on the swing set with daddy.

Hannah continues to enjoy her Mommy and Me swim class and has graduated to a bubble belt (see picture) to help her float. She's also been practicing blowing bubbles and she's done it twice, but mostly she just likes to drink the water when I put her face down in the water!

As Mother's Day approaches I am amazed at what a difference a year can make. This time last year I was sad, but hopeful that one day I would be a mommy (we were matched with Tiffany and Mike, but we had not heard from her in awhile). Attending church was just too painful so we skipped the service and went out to eat instead to take my mind off it. This year I am overwhelmed with the love I feel for my little girl. When she smiles at me I just melt. Just sitting here thinking about her as I write is making me tear up. My life has changed more than I ever thought that it could, but I can't imagine anything that could ever be better. For Mother's Day Hannah and I are going to go get our pictures taken together at JC Pennys and I am going to splurge and get one of those multi-image enhancements that I always drool over. It's my first Mother's Day, I figure I deserve it! :) Now I just have to decide what we will wear!


Lately Hannah has been enjoying talking to people on the phone. She especially loves to talk to her daddy at work. She will say Hi, Dad and Bye-Bye to him. It's so cute. Speaking of saying Hi, Sarah and I went shopping earlier in the week and Hannah said hi to no less than 6 different people in one store! It was quite cute. She can be very persistent with her "Hi." She may say it dozens of times to the same person just to be sure that you are paying attention to her!