Halleigh's latest really fun developmental leap has been that she now carries on very elementary conversations. It is hard to blog these exchanges, because Halleigh uses sounds and gestures that we know and understand, but which are not easily translated into text. But I'm going to give it a try. Brooklynne, I'm trying to remember this one, so you can correct me if this isn't right.

HJ: Mommie, Mommie, Mommie... leaves aaaAAAaah? (with upraised hands, this is a sound that means "where did something go?")

B: They fell off. Leaves fall from the trees at this time of year.

HJ: Leaves go.

HJ: Mommie leaves. (with sad face and lamenting tone)

B: If they did not fall off, you couldn't pick them up and walk around with them.

HJ: (thinks for a minute) Mommie, leaves. (with sad face and lamenting tone again)

B: They will come back in the spring--leaves fall off in the fall and spring back in the spring.

HJ: Mommie leaves!

--------and another one---------

HJ: Daddy, daddy, daddy, daddy. Por! (pointing at Matt and Kate's dog, Porter who is chewing Kona's bone).

Me: That is Porter.

HJ: Por... Koca! Por, Koca! (strongly pointing to the bone)

Me: That's ok, Kona and share her bone.

HJ: NooOOOoo. Koca. Koca, aaaAAAaah? (again with upturned hands)

Me: Kona is in the other room.

HJ: (whistles) KOOOCAA. Daddy, Koca.

Me: KONA come.

(Kona enters the room)

HJ: Koca! (to Kona) Koca, Por! (again pointing at the bone)

(Kona sniffs Porter and leaves the room)

HJ: Koca! (snatches bone from Porter and follows Kona out of the room)