I've been speaking much more recently putting words I know together to make new sentences. I still have to listen carefully though when people speak to really understand what they're saying. If they speak too quickly or use words I don't know.. I just nod my head politely or stare off into the distance thinking of the next flavor of ice cream I want to try :)
My obsessions lately:Everything princess - princess dresses, books, shoes, bracelets and even lipstick! (well, not really it's actually just mama's chapstick but I wear it proudly like a princess and even think twice about giving kisses because I don't want to smear my "lipstick"!)
Water - I love playing with water.. washing my hands, washing dishes with the sponge, brushing my teeth, washing my dolls hair... you name it!
Doing everything mama does - which lately has included washing dishes, cooking, mopping, putting on lotion and deodorant, and wearing skirts and dresses.
Books - could read one after the other all day long if I (well, mama) could :-D
Dancing and singing - of course! Since grandma bought me a ballet instruction cd, I like to dress up in my tutu and ballet shoes and do passets and sotets (sp?) And it's become a daily ritual that mama or dada put on music and I dance around our place happily like no one in the world is watching!
Play doh - I play with it every day! Usually I try to coerce mama into making Arielle the mermaid and her papa out of the play doh. I also make them blankets and pillows to sleep... and when I'm bored of that I just manipulate the play doh with my hands feeling the smooth texture and smelling its play doh smell (side note: not all play doh are NOT created equal.... the play doh made in india? doesn't smell quite as nice as in the States)
Play fighting with dada - I love "fighting" with dada!! it's so much fun and we do it almost every day! mostly it's just pillow fighting and tickling, but I love it.
New skills:~dressing myself
~undressing myself
~saying the O God Guide Me prayer (and singing along to Blessed is the Spot)
~balancing.... on furniture, on playground equipment....
~eating by myself with spoon or fork
~turning on and off the lights when I enter or exit a room and pretty much do a lot of things on my own now
~introducing myself to new people (adults and children) and making friends easily
Still working on:
~expressing my frustrations using words and not crying
~using the potty (although I'm getting closer)
~eating vegetables and fruits (mama is thoroughly frustrated by now)
I must say... I'm feeling good these days about my decision to make the switch from diapers to underwear. I was feeling really comfortable in them for a long time... but there comes a time in one's life when you just say "hey, I won't be a slave anymore to my diapers!" And not only am I more independent, mobile and overall just more grown up... but I like the fact that I'm doing my part to help the environment :) 
I was yearning for it for a long time and boy was it hard to be patient... but mama and papa said if you want something you have to work for it... hmm... what's "work"? I guess I'll figure that part out soon enough.
