Thursday July 21, 2005
Neooow, Shhhhh, Shhhhs,  Buhyee. Ow, and Muhnee.

For the uninitiated, those words translate to: Meow (or cat), Fish, Shoes, Bunny, Owl, and Monkey.  Ruby’s language is developing with amazing speed.  Finally being able to converse with my daughter is stirring and wonderful.  She is delighted with herself every time she knows an object’s moniker.  She points at said object, chants its name once or twice-usually with a head bob, and then she looks to Ani or me for approval.  “That’s right Ruby, that is a ball.”  Lately, I have spent less time reading the text in her books than I once did.  Instead, we go from page to page repeating, “What’s that?  Right! You are sooooo Smart!”

My favorite among Ruby’s new words is “Hot.”  It has been averaging 103 degrees daily here in Reno, and everything is hot.  She whispers , “hahht” with her shoulders hunched sneakily, and pretends to touch whatever she thinks might scald her, then pulls her hand away in mock fear.  She realizes that coffee, the car seat after it’s been in the sun, and waffles are hot, but she also thinks that bottles of beer, computers, and digital cameras are worthy of a hushed warning. 

She uses the same word for hat.  Her legos came in a bucket, which she loves to see on anyone’s head.  She holds it out and says “hahht?” I haven’t seen anyone who could resist her cute request, even though it makes one look silly.  It is also a source of merriment when worn on Ruby’s head.  It makes for a fun game of “Where’s Ruby?   There she is!”  Of course, Ruby likes for me to tell her, “You’re a BUCKETHEAD!”  Giggles abound.

The past few days she has  been feeling a bit under the weather.  We can’t tell if she’s got a bug, or if she’s just having trouble with an incoming molar.  It can’t be anything too awful, because she still enjoys a trip to the park.

Especially the swings.
 

I hope the snotty noses and cranky evenings pass soon.  I would hate to be under the weather in this weather.