Big growth spurt!

It's tough sometimes to be a baby! Jonathan is fighting off a little cold, cutting another tooth (number nine!), and suffering the indignities of a Halloween costume - and still finds the time to pick up new skills left and right. He must have wanted to show off for Grandpa this weekend. This is a kid who knows his audience - he rightly thought that Grandpa would be thrilled with some walking. We all smile when Jonathan comes toddling across the room with a big grin on his face. He gets excited as he gets close to his target, and generally covers the last few feet by pitching forward into our arms. He can walk all the way across the living room now!

Our baby's also made some big intellectual strides this week. He remains intensely curious about the everyday objects around him. I was explaining to Dad how the baby gate worked, and showed him how to lift the latch. Sure enough, Jonathan immediately reached up and started trying to open it himself. Later, Dad was talking to Mom on the phone, and Jonathan was playing with his own toy phone. With some encouragement, he lifted the phone up to his ear so Grandpa could "talk" to him. And it seems like a sure bet that our little boy will be a climber. He was struggling to get to the remote, which was tucked away between the cushions of the sofa. Since he couldn't reach, it occured to him that he should climb on up there. He got so far as lifting one leg to put a knee on the couch, but then abandoned this for lack of upper body strength. But I'm sure he'll be up there soon enough.

The neatest stride he's made this week, though, has been with the sign language. All the nanny's hard work in carefully signing words to him seems to have paid off. Jonathan started using some signs this weekend! It is really tremendous to have him so clearly communicate what he wants. We are so excited to see more and more of his personality emerge.

Oh, you want to know what he signed? How silly of you to ask.

"Eat."