Jael's New Year

Jael finished the holiday season with a family trip to Leavenworth, a "Bavarian" town in central Washington. We enjoyed several days with Jeff's family and Jael particularly had fun seeing her cousins (and their kittens!) and being the center of attention.

Her comprehension is growing in leaps and bounds, much faster than her vocabulary. She did learn to say "Papa" on our trip and clearly associated it with Jeff's dad, which was fun. Adding to her noises, she likes to say "Vrrrrrrrrroooom!" when she sees any car, truck, motorcycle, bicycle, or pretty much anything with wheels. She's also identifying objects with people and shouted "Dada!" as she helped me unpack our suitcase today and pulled out any of Daddy's clothes.

Today she seemed to be making believe for the first time, holding a stuffed animal and making it "talk" with her rambling chatter.

One of her favorite parts of bathtime is when Daddy washes her hair, because he lays her back in the water to rinse out the shampoo. She likes to talk and hear her voice underwater. Lately she figured out that if she covers both of her ears with her hands, it sounds a little bit like bathtime!

Jael spent her second Christmas at home. On Christmas eve, she opened one present (her blocks) and in the morning, her stocking. She was a little overwhelmed when we got to Grandma's and Grandpa's to open presents, but did like ripping paper off of packages. Her big gifts were her first baby doll from Mama and Daddy, a rocking horse from Papa, and a rolling marble/ball toy from Grandma and Grandpa.

New Year's Eve Jael got to stay up until 9PM and we spent New Year's playing games, the Wii, and going to Sabbath School in the little church in Leavenworth.

Happy New Year!