Hannah – 20 Months

20 Months – The Advent of Elmo! Hannah is smitten with the furry red monster. She asks for Sesame Street all the time. “Show? Show? Elmo!!” When it’s on, she dances to the songs (both kids love when the Count sings and stomps the number of the day) and gets excited when Elmo comes on the screen. In fact, if anyone else turns a different show on, she goes up to the TV and says, “No. No. Elmo? Elmo!”

We’re learning that not everything that is red is Elmo. My mom had a red shirt on the other day and Hannah exclaimed, “Elmo!”

Reading her children’s bible:
Hannah, pointing excitedly: “Elmo!”
Me: “That’s Jesus wearing a red robe.”

Drum roll – at 20 months – Hannah is finally talking!! Each day she is acquiring more words, and she is retaining and using them with frequency.

Here she is busy studying, and practicing her newest word, apple.

She has learned the word ‘No’ and uses it with great frequency. She knows the meaning of the word and uses it in correct context. Her signature way of saying it is twice in a row – “No. No.” – and she says it with an accent. We sometimes ask her if she’s learning English or Mandarin. The best is when she says it very matter-of-factly and sounds like a mini adult.

Me: “Hannah it’s time for bed!”
Hannah: “No.”

Me: “Please hand me the wash cloth Hannah.”
Hannah: “No.”

We love her development of language and the ability to better understand her thoughts and opinions that comes with it. And yes, we’re still working on getting rid of the pacis! She’s getting better about leaving them in her crib when asked, and she doesn’t have a pacifier at school anymore.

A final notable thing about 20 months is how much she loves bedtime stories! Sitting in the rocker and reading a few stories is now an established part of her bedtime routine. Her favorite books right now are any with Elmo in them and a compilation of vintage Eloise Wilkins stories, particularly Baby Listens and Baby Hears.