This month Xol’s vocabulary exploded. She has at least 40 words on deck and I say at least because everyday she has 2 or 3 more! She has also been making connections at a much quicker rate. She’s been doing this for about 6 months or more in a smaller capacity. For example, she has known for some time that her socks go on her feet. At 17 months she knows when it’s dark outside that it is night time and when someone gives her something, she says thank you. Or in her case, “tandeee”. She says things are hot when she sees steam. While pop was out of town, i said he was at work. The dog has been in a kennel while pop is away as well. So, after a while of asking for the god (dog) / wow wow, she asked me if he was at work too! I went with it. She also has a great memory. She will hear or observe something once and remember the name or sequence of events weeks later. She likes to climb furniture and sing her favorite songs. She learned the word Santa and baby at different times, but she hears the song Santa Baby and can put the words together when she sings. She sits in a booster seat and feeds herself. She’s dying to use a knife, but I’m not buying it. She had an official tantrum at 17 months. These last few months of telling me ‘kniiow’ (no) were just the warm up. She stiffened up her body and squirmed out of my grip and cried and screamed as loud as she could yesterday. She did this because I told her the only way I would take her back to see the “mouse” (Mickey Mouse toy ride) was if she sat in her stroller. Needless to say, we never saw that mouse again and I had to cut my shopping trip short. Granted she had a couple of days of missed naps and interrupted night sleep, so she was exhausted, but still….a tantrum. When her pop got home, she told him a mumbly story about the mouse. Connections I tell you. Oh yes, and the abuelitos Gil de Montes have officially been named. Xol calls my dad “Papo” and my mom “Dita”. She loves them to bits and vice versa. Xol brings me a book titled ‘Jungle’ and says Jungoo. She identifies elephants, monkeys, horses, cows, ducks, etc by name. She really likes to play with her toys but she enjoys her books more. She can accurately tell you what animals make what sound and even says vroom vroom for car. She calls the guitar Boom Boom for it’s sound. She’s always happy, except when she’s not. She’s warm and friendly. She’s strong willed and independent. She’s very affectionate. She’s Xol. My favorite person on the planet earth.