Another Cold and an Abby Progress Report

I have a cold again. I have gotten sick more times this past year than any other time I can remember! Anyway, a few days ago when my cold began, I startled Abby when I blew my nose the first few times. But she soon got used to all the sneezing and nose-blowing. This morning after getting Abby from her crib and nursing her in bed, we were cuddling for awhile and she watched me grab a kleenex from my stack on Kevin's pillow (he's gone tuna fishing for several days) and blow my nose. I then relaxed for awhile and closed my eyes as she crawled all over me, postponing getting completely up as long as I could. But then I felt something on my face and opened my eyes to see Abby placing another kleenex from the stack on my nose! So cute! I am amazed at how quickly she is picking up what's going on around her.

Speaking of which, Abby has been growing in leaps and bounds in her understanding and communication. To catch you up (and before I forget), I will jot some of them down quickly. Yesterday, we visited Kevin's Grandma for her 90th birthday (I'll try to put up a picture soon) and Abby saw a small flashlight on her coffeetable and picked it up. She seemed to know that it was a flashlight and was not at all surprised when someone turned it on for her (Kevin often turns on our flashlight for her to play with - she loves to shine it on the ceiling and walls). Although the flashlight was similar size, it was rubbery (ours it metal) and a different color, so I was surprised that Abby was able to recognize it as the same object. Also, for a little while now, Abby has know there is some connection between the remote and the TV and looks right at the TV when she picks up the remote (and this is in a home where we have no cable and watch only an occasional movie!). Today, my mom said to to me right before she left our house, "Well, I'm going to get going now," and Abby immediately stopped playing with a toy and crawled over to my mom wanting a hug. Coincidence? I don't think so. Abby understands so much now! I can tell her to "Come here" and she'll crawl to me (if she wants to and doesn't get distracted, of course! =). And over the last few days she's been trying out lots of new words (kitty, dog, all done, more, bye, hi). Several times when she's heard a dog barking outside, she's said, "dog," without even seeing the dog! Amazing! When we passed our family picture in the hallway tonight she said, "Da-da" and pointed right at Kevin. Which reminds me, she LOVES to point now! She also waves hello and goodbye. And she occasionally signs "all done" in addition to the "milk" sign that she's been doing for weeks.

Now, please excuse me as I go blow my red, chapped nose AGAIN....