Great things come in small packages

It's taken Faith until now (2 years and almost 4 months) to say the word "No." And, I think it's so darn adorable when she says it.

She was saying "Ess" (her 'yes') since about 16 months old and she's always uttered a grunting noise and a head shake to say 'No.' But, it was only the other night- after we'd gotten back from a day with cousins- that she actually said 'No.' She was sneaking out of her room as usual, and I told her "Beeeeeeeeebster.... get back to your room.." and she stood there and emphatically told me, "NO, Momma!" I was floored since this was the first time she said it (I never get tired of firsts) and asked her to say it again and again. It's so darn cute the way she says it.

So, Maddie and I have been having so much fun hearing her say 'No' that we've been coming up with "hypothetical situations" for her. (Hearing Maddie say, 'hypothetical situations' is quite hilarious in itself). We were walking the other day and we'd ask her stuff in the format of a Karen Katz manners book: "Beebster.. if Momma says 'Jump off the cliff, what would you say?'... if Momma says 'Eat your dessert before your dinner, what would you say?' if Momma says 'Cross the street without looking, what would you say?'" And, to these, she kept responding, "No, Momma!" or "No, Dee!" It's too cute. 

It's funny because people are always commenting to me that Faith doesn't talk, and that their kids have been talking since they were a lot younger than Faith. It's annoying, but I could care less. Maddie was the same way, and both she and Faith DO talk and WE understand what they say. Faith carries conversations and talks constantly, and her family that loves her so much understand everything she says. In fact, Maddie oftentimes is the translator for her little sis when other kids can't understand her. It's really sweet. It's not only us though, because people that take the time to listen to her understand what she's saying as well. It was neat the other day we were at Donovan's because Grampa, Nene, and Aunt Lisi all understood everything Faith was saying. 

*****

I realized that I've never mentioned how Faith loves to be hypnotized. She's very sensitive to touch, and has always loved to be "hypnotized" since she was a little baby-- 4 or 5 months old. She's totally in a zone and gets transfixed when you give her a back rub or a belly rub. She'll literally put her arm in the air and wants you to rub her arm underneath. Or, she'll put her foot in the air so you can get underneath her leg. It's so funny because it's an easy way to calm her down if she's full of beans. In the last picture, Maddie was hypnotizing Faith by rubbing her foot. Faith sits very still, and just loves it!

She's also my salad afficionado. She loves salad with bleu cheese dressing-- she'll even eat the cucumbers!