Last week while Jordi was out of town we went to the zoo with some of our favorite neighbors. While chasing three very fast and mobile kids around the zoo prevented the camera from coming out at the actual zoo, the ride home was a great nap inducer and we got all three of them to pass out in the back seat on the way home. We traded turns sitting in the car with them and getting actual stuff done in our house!

While the Stone zoo isn’t exactly a shining example of modern zoo’s, if you do go, make sure to catch the birds in flight show (11am, 1, 3). It’s a lot of fun and Zach and Josie really loved the birds flying so close. It was really easy for them to see the animals, as opposed to the jaguar and such sleeping way back in their exhibits not moving.

Took Josie to the doc today for those of you all concerned, she has an ear infection. Should be cleared up relatively easily with some antibiotics. She perked up a lot today already. Yah not contagious!

Today Josie spent the day on my lap or being carried around. She nursed and slept her way through the entire day. She spit up on me three times. She just sat there and cried if I put her down. Pretty much she acted the way she did exactly a year ago, but today unfortunately it was because she was sick and had a high fever.

Thankfully it looks like it’s lightening up, she perked up a little and actually ate something solid for dinner, and hopefully will be gone tomorrow, but it was a nice break from chasing her around all day for me. I got way caught up on TV and reading while she slept on my lap.

Josie put two words together this morning. “Bye bye mama”. And then she shut the door in my face. Greaaaat.

Josie found something else to stack up, and this way she gets a fluffy audience.

Whenever we can handle the mess, we give Josie utensils to help her learn how to use them. I’ve found that greek yogurt, being very thick and sticky, is a great food to use while practicing with the spoon. It’s also great because it has a ton of fat and protein. In fact, Josie really won’t let me feed her with the spoon so this is the only way she’s getting the food in at all. Sometimes she’ll let me load up the spoon and she’ll put it in her mouth herself. It’s not a food for when we’re in a hurry or I don’t want to do a total wardrobe change!

Last weekend we went to IKEA and picked up a tunnel now that Josie actually crawls. I think the one’s that love the tunnel the most though are the cats. They go crazy for it at night and love to hide and stalk each other through it. When Josie has friends over it’s very popular as well.

The last few days Josie has started to make more sounds that actually seem to be words. She’s also enjoying making funny sounds and movements with her tongue (as seen in the video). This morning she was especially cute when I was getting a little more shut-eye and she took Jordi to my bedroom door, did her ‘i want’ sign, and then actually said ‘mama’ outloud. We have also heard the words: hot, Ezzy, Nina (girl across the street), book, dog, dada. My hearing isn’t as keen with the spanish words probably so I’m guessing she’s working on those too but I’m not picking them up.

Josie has learned how to make it very clear that it is time to leave. She goes to the exit, points, does her ‘i want’ sign, and waves goodbye to the place. There is no convincing her otherwise, she’s ready and that’s it. Alternatively, getting her to leave a place she’s happy with is a trial in persuasiveness. Here’s a video of her getting her point across at Don Pan, our favorite bakery down in Florida.