JEB: 20 Months Old!

Miss Junie B. is 20 months old! (It's crazy to think that June is the age Ellen was when I got pregnant with June ...) JEB is just the best. She is the sweetest, most lovable little person and she only gets sweeter and more lovable by the day. I know there will be many times in the future when she's not so lovable, so I hope this current phase lasts for a really long time! Here's what Junie's been up to lately:

• Talking more and more, of course. She's using longer sentences more often (e.g., "Here you go, Mommy," "Oh, there it is ...," "I love you, Daddy," and "Are you OK, Ellen?")
• Counting. June can count to 13 or 14, but for some reason poor Number 2 is often omitted.
• Showing greater understanding for where people are, where we are going/what we will do when we get there (e.g., if I tell June that we are taking Ellen to school, she'll start talking about seeing teachers, or if Ellen is at soccer with Adam and I ask June where Ellen is, she'll say "soccer ball.")
• More singing. June has mastered the Mickey's part of "Mickey's Countdown," which we listen to (way too often for sane adult ears) on CD in the car. It's hilarious to hear the perfectly timed "hot dogs," "oh boys" and "swells" from the backseat. It makes Ellen giggle uncontrollably, too. :)
• Loving waffles. June typically houses one waffle during breakfast then says, "Mo 'awful' peez?"
• Complimenting the chef. June loves to take a bite of food, then say "Mmm ... 'licious.'" (June recently tried M&Ms for the first time, which she though were especially "icious.")
• Reading. June has started to "read" her books out loud to herself.
• Having an opinion about what she wears. June has many winter hats but she will only wear her beloved mouse hat.
• Walking on tip toes ... our little ballerina
• Learning her colors. June does best identifying pink and when she's unsure of a color, she defaults to guessing blue.
• Standing on furniture. June has yet to meet a couch or chair she can resist standing on. Despite numerous tumbles and scaring Mom & Dad half to death, she has escaped mostly unscathed and, unfortunately, undeterred. 
• Loving everyone. June has been sharing more and more unsolicited "love yous" and hugs and kisses with all of us. (My favorite is when she specifically requests to "snuggle" ... it's impossible to resist!)
• Mimicking conversation. June has taken to saying, "Soooo ..." during lulls in the conversation at the dinner table, something I often do.
• Requesting diaper changes. Lately when June poops, she'll come find me and say "change." We brought out the little potty chair for practice/fun, but I know we still have a long way to go before serious toilet learning.
• Being awesome. Seriously. I'll say it again, June is at a wonderful stage that I wish would last forever!