{23 months old}

 With everyone else occupied in the playroom this evening,  Katie and I snuck outside together for a little bubble time. Katie just discovered bubbles on Easter and is a very, very big fan. Anytime we need something to do, we can grab her bubbles and head to the porch.

Katie is wearing a new pair of pajamas this evening covered with cookies. I pulled them out of her drawer for her and she said. "Cookie. Pants. Cookie. Pants. ...... I like cookie pants!" This was the longest and clearest string of words she has ever had. Her vocabulary feels like it has doubled in the past month! It is just the coolest thing to witness- even a fourth time around. It never gets old.

Today she was crying and I asked her what was wrong. She was able to tell me "ouchie. chin." I asked her what happened and she said "Bonk. Sink." What an amazing thing to be able to communicate with your child. I think back to just a couple of months ago when she wouldn't have had words for the situation and I wouldn't have known why she was crying.

I am off to put children to bed. As I type and for the third time in about a week, we are on a Tornado Watch in St. Louis. I am a complete and total worrier about storms and really hate nights like this, especially when Ben is out of town as he is tonight. We are blessed to have a basement to retreat to for safety, but, unfortunately, it is not a finished basement, so it is not a very comfortable or pleasant place to spend much time. I am hoping our Tornado Watch does not turn into a Warning so that everyone can just stay put in their bedrooms for a nice and normal night of sleep!