Rye, 21m

Squirrel in search of Os in Yosemite.

With pal Jakob in Korlandia.

Rye is getting to be more "boy" than "baby!" His dexterity is increasing. He can open the tent zipper and get out. He can use tongs and he can jump using two feet. He's almost ready for the tricycle. He can stand on a scooter with someone pushing him. Rye likes climbing up to his seat in the high chair on his own, and has showed an interest in climbing in all kinds of places Mommy isn't so excited about. He loves to spin, especially in the tent with the padded floor. He even did a somersault on his own last week from a no-hands-downward-dog position, which we suspect has something to do with Grandma.

He knows the names of a lot of the colors and especially likes to say "geen," "yeh-woah" and "boo," though they don't always match with the actual color. We're not sure yet whether he's still getting it or he has inherited the color blindness from the boys on Mommy's side. He still can count quickly to six: "Un, two, SIX!" He also knows that "six" is the one that comes after "five."

He began toilet learning a couple of months ago and we have many successes through the week, and even had some success while on a car trip. He likes to read model airplane magazines while sitting on the "potty."

Rye likes to try new foods, especially asking for snack foods, wine or soda that nobody should be eating anyway. He still loves yogurt, Os, "sauce," (apple, pear or spinach puree), peanut butter toast and "Geese" toast (using pear-ginger jelly from Auntie Gisela), "taht-ters" (crackers).

Some new or favorite words and phrases: "Sirwoll" (squirrel), "'Eeed it?" (read it?), "take (me) down," "Cholula," "unbaba" (umbrella), "Yay!" "sponge," "sneeze," "eyedropper," "kazoo," "turn ups down" (upside down), "dishwasher," "amb-a-sance" (ambulance), "game," "Aunt Ce-ya-ya" (Cecilia), "Aunt Magnet" (Margaret), "Zeeeee-na," "Untle Mite" (Uncle Mike), "Tooo-la," (Tallula). He calls for Mommy or Daddy by name. When he wants you to open something impenetrable (blister packaging, a childproof lock, your jacket, anything in the store you are NOT going to buy for him), he asks, "Zip it?" to try to get you to open it. If he can't see something or find it, it's "hiding."

He also likes to say: "Ha-TOT-ter" (helicopter), "tittoe" (tickle), "tamari" (a soy sauce), "animals," "zoom zoom." He asks, "Daddy barf?" when he wants to spin around and around to the point that Daddy is ready to hurl. Daddy thinks it's curious that Rye can say "barf" with perfect clarity, but "fish" comes out as "shish."

If you're trying to sleep and Rye wants you to wake up, he may or may not poke you in the eye, while demanding: "Eyes. On?" As in: Turn them on, like the lights. When it's time to brush his teeth or change a soiled diaper, he often trots to the furthest point in the house he can think of and waits expectantly with loud giggles as he "hides" from you.

Rye likes to help clean up when it's his idea. He's not always as helpful when it's Mommy's idea or when he sees something more interesting.

Rye still enjoys drawing with crayons, painting and doing anything with his hands. He likes playing kazoo and singing Happy Birthday to You at random times. (Since Rye sometimes thinks his name is "You," Daddy figures he likes Happy Birthday because we always sing about...him.) He still is enjoying his music class with the friends we have made there. He likes to wear necklaces, especially the wooden heart from Valentine's Day.

Rye is wild for the Goodyear Blimp; he imitates the sound it makes in the sky. He also likes to track the helicopters that pass overhead and often shake the house. He's excited by trains, trucks, dump trucks, trash trucks, mini loaders, Jeeps, Beetles, "antique cars," and Hummers. He knows that Tallula rides in a Subaru wagon and Mommy drives an Xterra. He also likes squirrels, bunnies, dogs and cats.

Camping in Joshua Tree.

High five in Joshua Tree with Auntie Ranger Christie.

Story and snack time with pals Noah and Jakob and their teacher mommy in Korlandia.

Some casual shopping, old school style, on the road.

Using tongs.

Hiding in the pantry.

The Bounce House

We stopped at a local park while on vacation to give Rye a chance to stretch his legs. The park has a great toddler slide! The fall at the end is brutal — he bit his tongue — but he recovered quickly to try the swings. We're still working on holding the handrail while climbing.