That's really the best way to summarize the latest news in Mikey's life. He's getting to be smarter every day. I don't have measurements right now (I'll have those after the 20th), but there was getting to be so much to talk about, that I figured I'd better do so since I had a rare few minutes to do so.

Sure, the past six weeks has also been a time of firsts for him. Courtesy of his "Gamma" LaVern, Mikey got his first pair of shoes, a pair of Strid Rite Velcro sneakers. It took a bit of getting used to for him, but he figured out that he has better balance in them. And it's extra fun to kick the crap out of people with them on (my shins can attest to that). He also got his first haircut. You see, the top was the first bit of hair to come in, so, of course, it got that much longer that much faster. People kept saying he had a mohawk. Miss Stacie got on us to cut his hair, promising that it would make the rest of his head fill out better. And sure enough, it did. She's so smart! (And also has spaces open at her day care....if you are in need of care, let me know, she can hook you up. She's also doing a candle-selling fund raiser through 9/24. Let me know if you want to help out)

Speaking of Miss Stacie, she taught Mikey how to use light switches correctly. She showed him how to do it once, and since then, he's been a pro at using them. If we pass one, he points and says, "Light!" We have to stop, and let him turn the light on and off a couple of times.

That's a nice segueway into discussing his ever- growing vocabulary. The newest words he uses are the previously - mentioned "light", "book", "bird", "plane", "milk", "burn" (said while pointing to the stove), "juice", "this", "pretty" (even though it comes out right now sounding more like 'birdie'), and "Lurlene" (his name for Stacie's oldest child, Brittney...she doesn't know where he got that one from any more than we do). Oh yes, and much to my chagrin, "bitch". That's right, he called me that a couple of weeks ago. We were playing the naming game, where he says, "Mama", I follow it up with, "Baby", and back and forth. "Mama"..."Baby"...."Mama"....."Baby"....."B itch". I become dumbfounded, while Nathan tries his best not to break down laughing. I was not amused (at the time, anyway....).

Ahh, yes, and "lies!". See, apparently Miss Stacie took him to the park one day, and at the park, there was a lovely little girl that Mikey had eyes only for. When Stacie told this story to Nathan, Mikey kept trying to hush her up by saying, "Bye bye" and telling Nathan to "Go". When he didn't, Mikey pointed to Stacie and said, "Liiiiiiies!"

As that illustrated, he's getting a better grasp at what is said to him, and how to respond to it. For example, he's learning how to tell us he's wanting more food, or when he's done. "Do you want another bite?" "*head nod*" "Are you sure?" "*head nod*" "Ok, here you go. Want another one?" "*Head shake* Nuh uh." "Are you sure?" "*head nod*"

Another time, something with Jeff Foxworthy was on TV. He was asking the audience, "Who here has families?" and some people clapped. Then he asked, "Who here has CRAZY families?" and everyone cheered, laughed, and clapped.....including Mikey. Silly kiddo....

He also has taken to pointing to things and saying, "That?" We tell him what it is that he's pointing to, and he tries to repeat it. Much like the airplane story from last month.

Anyway, that's about it for now (at least, all that I think someone might be relatively interested in hearing about). Leave a comment if you would, please, so I see people are still reading my drivel. New pictures are up at Ofoto; if you want access, you know the drill. After his doctor appointment next week, I'll post his latest stats.

Until then...

Heddo!