Twenty-one months three weeks

Hello world!

This week I came downstairs in the morning and there was a really big sock with toys in it on our fireplace. I took out all the toys, and then I took out an orange at the very bottom. It was so much fun to take everything out. Then I took out all the things from under the sparkly tree in the living room. My mama and dad took the paper off them. I collected all the paper and boxes and things. That was really fun too.

I got to eat two pieces of chocolate, plus some beef jerky and a cracker. For dinner I ate lots and lots of pork and vegetables and potatoes and gravy. And then I ate a huge Christmas pudding. I ate it last year too; it tastes yummy.

When it's time to eat I have a hard time sitting still long enough to finish. I have to get out and run around! My dad keeps trying to give me another bite, even when I don't want it. Sometimes when he gets me out of my chair, I run back to him for one more bite, though. Sometimes I pretend I want another bite, but then I take it out of my mouth and give it to the dog.

Love,

Franklin

Twenty-one months two weeks

Hello world!

I get so excited when my dad comes home. I follow him everywhere, upstairs and downstairs. I love my dad.

I went to the library with my mama and we read all the books there. I know where the books I like are. I pick one out and bring it to my mama and we sit down and read it. When we're done, I take it back and get another one. I like to take books home too, but I don't like giving them to the librarian.

I put my own mittens on. They have a string through my coat so I don't lose them. I like to put my thumbs in the thumb holes. I put my socks on, too. I put them on my toe and my mama pulls them up my foot.

My best word is "off." I always tell my mama and dad to turn off the light and radio before we leave the room. If my dad leaves his computer on, I remind him.

I had steak for dinner last night. I love steak! I wanted lots more, but my mama gave the rest to the doggy. It was the chewy bit, but I wanted to eat it--I got so upset I even tried to get it out of the dog dish. I can't believe my mama would give my steak to the dog!

Love,

Franklin

Twenty-one months one week

Hello world!

When it was time to take the library books back, my mama put my library book in the bag. I got so upset; I didn't want to take it back! She let me have it and I put it back on the shelf. It's the best book ever: it's called Things that Move. I especially like the cement mixer truck and the fire engine.

My mama made me a new warm cover for my stroller. It buttons up and covers my legs, and I stick my hands inside. Nice and toasty.

I still like to ride in my sling for our dog walk. My mama reminds me to stick my hands inside that, too. We see other doggies when we walk, and I say "woof" to them. Then our doggy runs past and I laugh so hard.

In the bath, I wash all by myself. My dad says "wash your neck" and I wash it. I wash my ears, eyes, tummy, chin, hair, feet, everything. After my bath I brush my own teeth, too.

Love,

Franklin

Twenty months five weeks

Hello world!

I can make sentences now. I said to my dad and mama, "woo-woo-woo all gone." I said it because the microwave finished.

I showed my dad where the dog was in the book. I took his finger and pointed with it. I like dogs and I like books. I especially like books about dogs.

I have a towel with a duck head on the hood. My dad makes it quack when he gets it out at bath time. I put my hand in it and quack too. It's funny. I do it when I help my mama wash it in the laundry.

Sometimes when it's bed time, I tell my dad I need the toilet. Sometimes I use it four or five times before I'm done. That means I get to stay up a little bit later. But then one time I forgot to use it, and once I was in bed I realized I really really needed to! I had to shout, but luckily my dad knew exactly what I needed.

Love,

Franklin

Twenty months four weeks

Hello world!

When I woke up this morning I took off half my jammies. When my mama came to get me, I had a bare chest; I wasn't too cold because I still had my woollies on my legs. I wear woollies in bed and they keep me nice and toasty.

I'm so good at using the toilet now. I hardly ever forget. When we go out, my mama takes my toilet seat so I can use it whenever I need to; if it's noisy I can't concentrate, though. I like the bathroom at baby group. I can reach the light switch myself. I sometimes remember to not pee when I wake up from my nap, even.

If I have an accident, I help my mama wash the blankets. First I put them in the washer, then I shut the door and open the drawer for the soap. When mama puts in the soap, I close the drawer. Mama shows me which button to push, then it goes whoosh. I watch it whirling around through the door. After it's done, I open the door and take everything out. Sometimes we hang it up to dry, sometimes it goes in the dryer. I like the dryer; my mama empties the lint catcher then I put it back in the dryer. I push the button to start the dryer, too.

I like talking on my phone. My dad uses my phone to turn the radio up, but I use it for talking. I walk around the house talking on it. Then I say "bye bye" and hang up.

Love,

Franklin

Twenty months three weeks

Hello world!

Today I had a huge dinner with mashed potato, vegetables, gravy, and turkey. I ate so much! It was really tasty.

I went on a walk with my mama and dad and dog. I scrunched the leaves on the ground with my feet. I saw a big digger digging; I have a book about diggers. My mama picked me a berry to eat, then my dad carried me home because my legs got tired. It was a fun walk.

This week I want to be awake even when I'm sleepy. There's so many interesting things to do that it's hard to get to sleep. Sometimes I go in bed and just sing and talk. I throw out all my blankets and pull my kitty's tail so it plays a quiet song. I pull it a lot. If I don't sleep when it's nap time, I have quiet time instead. That's when I go in my bed for an hour and don't scream.

Love,

Franklin

Twenty months two weeks

Hello world!

I made a funny face for the camera. When I see the camera, I tell my mama to take a picture of me, and I like to watch videos of myself. There's a cute picture of me on my mama's keys. I look at it and saw "awww."

I have a new coat. It's really big and warm. My dad gave me a scarf and now I look just like him. I like to wear a scarf or a tie like my dad. I wear a hat like my dad, too.

When my dad comes home, I run over and knock on the door. Then he opens it; it's hilarious! I love my dad a lot.

I like shoes. My grandma sent me some new shoes and as soon as I saw them, I wanted to put them on. Then when I started walking, they squeaked! I run around all the time just to make them squeak. I got lots of compliments on my squeakers at baby group.

I want to do things by myself, now that I'm big. I also know where things go, and if they are in the wrong place, I move them. Like books on the blanket box, or glasses on my mama's side table.

Love,

Franklin

Twenty months one week

Hello world!

I know it's me in the mirror. I point at myself when I look, not at the mirror.

I play with other people's mamas at baby group. I played with Taylor's mama and Theo's mama. I don't get shy or scared. Not much, anyway. When it's snack time at play group, I'm the first one to sit down at the table. I wait patiently until they pass out the plates and snacks. I love snack time.

I like to turn on the radio myself. I listen to lots of music. I also turn on the lamp. I just touch it and it turns on. It's good. If my dad lifts me up, I turn off the bathroom light, too. When we leave a room, I remind my mama to turn off the light.

When I want a kiss, I stick out my bottom lip and say "mmmm." I do it when my mama says bye-bye and goes to work. I need lots of kisses before she leaves.

Love,

Franklin

Nineteen months four weeks

Hello world!

I got my hair cut again. I got hair in my mouth. That was after I had my picture taken.

Also my feet grew out of my socks. I have huge feet. My grandma sent me some boots for my feet and I splash in puddles. My feet only get a little bit wet.

I like to eat cheese. I say "cheese." And I say "leaves" when I walk under branches. When my mama goes to work, I say "bye-bye," but not till she's gone. Bye-bye means all gone, and you don't say all gone if your mama's still there.

Sometimes I get frustrated because I can't communicate what I want. I have to run and yell and sometimes throw things or fall on the floor. It's bad. My mama leaves me alone, but I need her; I have to go find her and then she gives me a big hug and I'm better.

Love,

Franklin

Nineteen months three weeks

Hello world!

When it's naptime and I'm still not asleep I sing and talk a little. This week I was really not asleep so I stood up and pushed my table away from my bed. It fell over with my lamp and clock. Then I laid down in my bed and went to sleep.

I'm always so happy to see my dad when he comes home from work. When I hear the door open, I start to laugh and run right over. Sometimes I give him a big kiss and sometimes I make him chase me first. It's so funny!

I have to wear lots of clothes when we go for our walk in the morning. I have some boots that are great for splashing in. I went for a walk with my mama and dad and dog to see the ducks, and I got to splash in all the puddles. I wore my hood because it rained. Then my dad gave bread to the ducks and to me. The ducks even came out of the water to take the bread. I like them and I like bread.

Love,

Franklin

Nineteen months two weeks

Hello world!

I like to get dressed. I hold out my arms for my shirt and coat, and my feet for my socks. I stand up and step into the legs of my undies and trousies. Also I put my feet into my shoes. My mama only helps a little. I also like my to wear my mittens. They're cool because my fingers poke out the ends and there's a special hole for my thumb. That way I can still pick up stuff when I wear them. I even wear my hat, but it's kind of small now. I used to wear it last winter. I need a big one.

One of the best things to do at my house is run around and stomp on the floor. It makes a great noise. I do it all the time. I also like to stack blocks to make really tall towers, and play with cars and trucks, or stuffed animals. I have a tiger I like a lot. I give him kisses.

When my dad comes home at night, I like to tell him "row row row" so we can row and sing the song. I learned a new verse at play group; it goes like this: "Row row row your boat, gently down the stream. If you see a crocodile, don't forget to scream. Aah!" I always like to scream at the end.

Love,

Franklin

Nineteen months one week

Hello world!

My dad got me a car. I push it and sit in it. I'm going to learn to drive.

For two days this week me and my mama rode the train to see my dad in Leeds. It's really fun to ride trains. It's also really fun in Leeds. There's a museum with lots of cool toys to play with. I looked at animals; there was a bear and a tiger and other animals but they don't move. There's also a place to dig for fossils; I love digging.

I sometimes go to Leeds and then my mama goes away for a while and my dad takes me fun places. We go shopping, or look at dogs at the dog home, or go to the library and read books. My dad's fun.

I'm too big for my sleeping bag, so I have my own quilt for my bed. If I roll out from my quilt and fall asleep, somehow my quilt moves back on top of me while I'm sleeping. I don't know how. Once it didn't, though, and I got really cold and woke up. I had to get in bed with my mama and dad to warm up.

Love,

Franklin

Eighteen months five weeks

Hello world!

I like to sit on chairs my size. At play group there are chairs and tables for kids; I sit down and play with puzzles and trains and things. I also sit down for snack time. I need a chair that size at my house.

When I go out for a walk with my mama and dog, I ride in my sling for a bit, then I walk for a bit. Today I climbed a huge hill and walked all the way home. I have to hold my mama's hand when we walk on the sidewalk, even when I don't want to. When I walk with my dad and dog, I walk almost the whole way. When it's bin day, I point to all the rubbish bins along the street. I point to green bins and brown bins. And when the truck comes to empty them, I watch it.

There's a swing where we walk. If other kids are on it, I look at them. But when they get off, it's my turn, so I run over to it. If other kids are playing with toys you want, you have to wait till they're finished first. Sometimes kids don't know that rule and grab things off me. I don't mind too much though. When I'm bigger maybe I'll do the grabbing.

I sing my own songs. My best song goes like this: "be-dub, be-dub, be-dub."

Love,

Franklin

Eighteen months four weeks

Hello world!

I love to pick berries and eat them. We have some red berries on a pyracantha bush. I ate some, but then my mama made me spit them out. But it's ok--they're not poisonous. I also like to pick berries when we're walking. I pick:

• hawthorne berries: kind of yucky, but I still like to eat them;
• elderberries: they make my mouth purple;
• blackberries: super yummy;
• sloes: very sour.

I sometimes hear airplanes flying. I look up and point to them and say "vrrrrr." When they're gone I say "bye bye."

I really don't like my nails cut but I let my mama cut them if she's fast. She used to cut them only when I had milkies, otherwise I would just run away; I don't run away from milkies. She shows me the nails when she's done and I brush them away. It's best to have short nails, so I don't accidently scratch my ear.

When my mama was trimming bushes in our garden, I pulled up a carrot and ate it. I didn't need to wash it off, I just ate it like it was.

Love,

Franklin

Eighteen months three weeks

Hello world!

I know where my eyes, nose, teeth, tongue, and hair is. I also know noses are for sniffing. When my dad takes me out of the bath, I tell him "teeth" and point so I can brush my teeth.

Our dog eats dog food. I pick it up from the dish and give it to her. I eat it too.

When it's time to cook dinner I sometimes get tired. I tell my mama I'm sleepy by hanging on to her legs and whining. When I do this, my mama says, "do you want to ride with me in the sling?" and so I go get the sling. I like to ride on my mama's back because she makes a funny bounce when she puts me in. Then I relax and hang out and she cooks dinner and then I eat it.

I was relaxing in the sling and my mama sang a song about Old MacDonald. I liked that song a lot. When she finished, I sang the verse about the dog: "la la laaaaa woof woof! laaaa woof woof!"

Love,

Franklin

Eighteen months two weeks

Hello world!

I have a seed tray for sitting in. I also tried to sit in the laundry basket, but it fell over and I got a bloody nose; it was the worst thing ever.

My mama let me taste a sloe today. She bit off a little piece and then I put the rest in my mouth. I liked it so much I swallowed it and asked for more. My mama said I can only have one, though. I also tried an acorn, but it was too big and hard to chew so I just carried it. I also like green beans in our garden. If I see them, I ask my mama to pick me them.

I count up to three. I count steps and berries. If my mama forgets to count when she carries me down the stairs, I count them for her.

Love,

Franklin

Eighteen months one week

Hello world!

Even though I mostly remember to poo in the toilet, I accidently pooed on the floor the other day. It's ok, though; I got a cloth out of the laundry to wipe it up--one of the cloths my mama uses for washing dishes. If you poo on the floor you have to clean it up.

I also clean other things. I like to sweep and dust and do laundry. And I love gardening, too. I'm great at weeding, and pulling sticks out of the ground.

I saw two ducks splashing each other at the pond. Then one got so wet it just swam off with its head down. I watched the whole thing. I like ducks.

After snacktime at playgroup is singing time. We did "Row your boat." The other kids sat down and their mamas held their hands and rowed them. When I saw that, I sat right down in front of my mama and held out my hands, too.

Love,

Franklin

Seventeen months four weeks

Hello world!

My dad is home from work this week. He moved all my things into his computer room, then all his computer things into my room. Now my room is his room and his room is my room. My new room has the same bed, chair, dresser, rug, pictures, and curtains.

When I go to the library, I walk straight over to the kids' shelf, pull off some books, and sit down on the floor to read them. I love to read. I turn the pages myself, and when there's a picture I know, I make the noise, like dog noise or truck noise.

I love watermelon! I like other melon but watermelon is the best. Yesterday I ate two pieces and I finished my mama's piece because there was still a little bit of red on it.

I also like ice cream. I was eating ice cream and my head suddenly hurt really bad for ten seconds--I grabbed my head and nearly cried. Then it went away so I ate more ice cream.

Love,

Franklin

Seventeen months three weeks

Hello world!

I remember much better to use the toilet now. Yesterday I didn't forget once, not even when I woke up from my nap. Sometimes I have to pee when I'm in the bath, and I just tell my dad. He puts me on the toilet, and when I'm done, I make the sign for bath to let him know I want back in the tub.

I told my mama I wanted to go for a walk to see the ducks today. I said "quack." She knew what I meant.

I like to swing on the swing by myself now. My dad pushes me and I hold on. I love to run, too. I grab my dad's hand and tell him "run" and then we run. When my mama runs with me I jump at the end.

My dad made me a little wooden car. I push it around, saying "vrrrrrmmmm." When I played with my cousin Grace, she had a car for sitting on. I said "vrrrrrrmmmm" when I sat on that, and my dad pushed me.

One time me and my mama were walking on a rocky path and I was in the sling. Then suddenly we were laying on the ground and my mama was laughing. It didn't hurt, but I was really surprised: how did that happen?

Love,

Franklin

Seventeen months two weeks

Hello world!

Sometimes I'm playing with my toys and then I run over and kiss my mama and run back to my toys. I kiss her shoulder when she carries me in the sling, too.

I went to see my cousins and other family this weekend. I wore my nice shirt and waistcoat. I was very popular with the ladies. I gave them kisses, and I didn't cry at all when they picked me up. I also played with my cousin Grace. She's 2, but I'm almost as big as she is. I played outside with her.

I didn't sleep hardly at all, though. I didn't like the bed I was in, and I was just too excited from all the people and playing.

When my mama asks me what doggies say, I make every doggy noise I know: barking, howling, sniffing, panting, growling. I learned that from a book.

Love,

Franklin

Seventeen months one week

Hello world!

I remember better to pee in the toilet. I still forget sometimes, but I sometimes tell my mama I need to go. I like to play This Little Piggy when I sit on the toilet. I say "piggy" and grab my toes.

I painted a really big picture like Jackson Pollock. I'm a very active painter. It takes a lot of sitting, running, and rolling to paint like me. My picture is on our wall in the dining room now.
Love,

Franklin

Sixteen months four weeks

Hello world!

I washed our car. My mama helped. I got to spray it with the hose; I want to wash the car every day! When we were done I got to take all my clothes off.

I got a new stroller. I like sitting in it. But I also like my sling and I like walking. I can't decide which is best. Probably walking. When I walk with my mama and the dog I find sticks on the ground and poke things with them. And I don't step in dog poo. Also, my mama picks me two blackberries. They're sour but I like them.

I play with my cars. I sit down and roll them around and make car noises. At play group they sometimes have lots of cars to play with. I roll them down a ramp.

Brushing teeth is so much fun. Sometimes my dad brushes my teeth. Sometimes my mama does it. Sometimes I do it. I like toothpaste. I also like washing hands. I stick my hands in the water. Then I dry them with a towel. Anything with water is what I like. I drink out of the hose, too. Nobody taught me; I figured it out myself.

Love,

Franklin

Sixteen months three weeks

Hello world!

When me and my mama go for a walk with the dog, I ride in my sling. I sometimes ride on my mama's back, and sometimes on her front. I like it either way. Then I get down and walk too. I look for sticks to pick up. Today I saw purple berries on bushes and I helped my mama count them.

When my mama said bath to me, I made the sign to her. I know lots of signs. My best signs are "want," "milk," "no," "all gone," and "more." I also sometimes do "bye-bye," "eat," "drink," "bath," "thank you," and "excuse me" (for burping).

It's easy to get a haircut. First you sit on a chair and wiggle. Then you sit on mama's lap and wiggle. Then you get down and run around in all the hair on the floor.

Love,

Franklin

Sixteen months two weeks

Hello world!

I have two more new teeth. Now I have fourteen teeth. That's loads of teeth. I bite all kinds of things with them. I really like green beans from my garden. My mama picks them and I bite them.

I helped my mama when she was gardening. I took the bucket to the lawn when she was trimming roses. There were weeds on the lawn that weren't picked up yet, so I picked them all up and put them in the bucket. My mama was so surprised when she saw them.

When it's time to leave baby group, I always wave and say bye-bye to everyone. I keep waving and saying bye-bye all the way home. I also wave bye-bye to the poo in the toilet when it flushes.

Love,

Franklin

Sixteen months one week

Hello world!

After I have dinner I'm ready for bath and bed. When my dad asks me if it's bathtime, I say "bath" and then I grab his hand and take him upstairs. We play with toys in the bath, and when I'm done I get wrapped up in a towel. Then I get jammies on and go to sleep in my big boy bed.

I remembered to do four tiny poos in the potty so far. It's tough, though. Because I don't like wet and yucky undies, I hold it for a long time. When we go out to baby group, I hold it the whole time.

I got a cool book from the library about trucks and cars. When I read it to myself I make all the truck noises. I have a dog book too; I make the dog noises when I read it. I especially like barking dog and hot dog.

This is how I dive head-first onto my mama. It's hilarious.

Love,

Franklin

Fifteen months five weeks

Hello world!

I hate having wet undies. And pooey undies is the worst! But I still forget to use the potty a lot. I'm getting my own special toilet seat to try out too. I'll have to see if I like it better.

I have a toy that plays music and blows air. I stick my face in the hole where the air blows out. I like to feel it blowing in my face and hair. I got a haircut already, but my hair is long again. Maybe I should get another one.

My mama has a push lawn mower, just like my push cart. When she pushes it, it goes round and round. I run alongside, watching it.

I got to pick strawberries again this year. I went last year but I'm not sure if I remember; strawberries are tasty, though. I sat down next to my dad and helped him push away the leaves so he could find the strawberries, then I ate them.

Love,

Franklin

Fifteen months four weeks

Hello world!

It's so hot at my house. I couldn't sleep for very long because I was too hot today. I had to play inside too, with the curtains shut. I need to play outside, otherwise I get into mischief, like pulling out all the shoes from the closet.

I'm going to wear real big boy undies now. Except at night. I still forget to use my potty, but I'm going to try harder to remember. I can sit on the potty all by myself without any help. I like to read books when I sit on it.

When I was at baby group a little girl dropped her ball. I picked it up and gave it to her. A little boy fell over and bumped his head; I was really worried about him so I went over to make sure he was all right. Then another boy's mama had crackers; I went back for seconds. I love baby group.

Love,

Franklin

Fifteen months three weeks

Hello world!

I talk all the time now. Here's some of the things I've said recently:

I was at the train station with my mama and dad. A train went by and my mama and dad waved and said "bye bye" to it; I watched them very carefully. So the next time a train went by, I waved and said "bye bye."

When I want milkies I don't grab my mama's shirt anymore. I come up to her and make the sign and say "milk." I keep saying it until I get it.

Me and my mama were in town and I got to step up every step we walked by. I love stepping up steps. Then we saw some big boys with a dog so I said "woof." And after that, a big boy burped really loudly; it was the funniest thing I ever heard!

When it's time for bed my mama says "night night little burrito; see you in the morning." My dad says it too. The other night my dad forgot to say it when he put me in my big boy bed so I reminded him by saying "burrito."

Love,

Franklin

Fifteen months two weeks

Hello world!

I went to a birthday party for my friends Evie and Sam. There were lots and lots of kids there and so many toys. I had so much fun. My dad went with me because my mama was working.

The next day my mama was still working but she should have been at home. I really needed her. I went looking for her all around the house and couldn't find her. It wasn't fair.

My favorite word to say is "milk." I say it and sign for it at the same time. Milk also means mama. When my mama wasn't here, I told my dad I wanted her by signing and saying "milk," but then he gave me milkies in a cup. It just wasn't the same.

My dad showed me how to eat mint leaves from our garden. I love them! I tried to eat foxglove leaves, but my mama wouldn't let me; I'm sure they must taste good too, though.

I help my mama do the laundry. I put it in the washing machine and then take it out. I can open the door, too. My ball needed washing so I put it in and it made lots of noise before my mama took it out.

Love,

Franklin

Fifteen months one week

Hello world!

I'm back home now, and I remember my dad. He's not at work this week, so I get to spend all my time with him.

To go home, me and my mama rode trains again. My stroller got broken at the beach. I don't know how it happened; I kind of miss it even though I like my sling lots. That meant I got to ride with my mama in my sling on all the trains home. Only when it got late I was sick of looking at mama and just wanted to lay down and sleep; it's not that easy to get to sleep in a sling.

We had to wait for a long time in stations. There was another mama and baby my size at one station. He poked my shoulder and gave me a kiss. I'm not sure if I like that. Then his mama picked me up and said funny words to me, and I didn't even cry. Sometimes when scary people get close to me I get upset; she was ok though.

I love the ocean. But not when I'm naked.

Love,

Franklin

Fourteen months four weeks

Hello world!

I rode on a train for ages and ages. I wanted to run around on it but my mama wouldn't let me. I had to wake up from bedtime when it was still dark, just so I could ride on trains and not even play. I rode three trains altogether, and I had lots of milkies to help me sleep, but then I still didn't sleep. It was bad.

I saw my grandpa after I finally got off the train. He's ok. He gives me chocolate.

We're at a new house with lots of rooms, only I can't go in most of them. And we're at a new town with lots of people who talk funny. A little girl said "bonjour" to me.

My dad's not here. He's at work, so I only see him at bath time. Except he didn't ride on the train with me and my mama, so I didn't even see him at my bath here. I can hardly remember what he looks like.

Love,

Franklin

Fourteen months three weeks

Hello world!

I stopped using the potty for a while because I'm too busy to sit down long enough. But then I got an ouchy rash on my legs and it hurts! I poo on the potty again if I remember. If I don't remember, there's poo in my pants and I feel really yucky and tell my mama right away. My mama made me some fleecy pants and they're really soft on my bum.

I have more than one molar now: at least three. They wake me up. Also, being wet wakes me up. If I need to pee at night, I wake up, but otherwise I stay asleep.

I think maybe I like banana now. I didn't like it before when I threw up really bad, because I threw up banana. Then I didn't like it later because it was all squishy. But actually it's ok: a little bit squishy, but not too bad.

I know how to sign "thank you." It's what you do when mama gives you a cracker.

Love,

Franklin

Fourteen months two weeks

Hello world!

I went to a party at Olivia's house this weekend with my dad. There were lots of other kids my age but too many grown-ups. I liked running around outside, but inside I just wanted to be close to my dad. I got to play on a swing; it tickled my tummy. Something else that tickles my tummy: when my mama holds my hands and spins like a merry-go-round. I get so dizzy and I laugh so hard. Then I ask her to do it again.

I have a molar coming in. I never had one before. I think I'll chew lots of things with it.

The other night I was so tired but then I woke up when it was still late and I couldn't get back to sleep. It might have been my tooth, or it might have been something else. My dad tried to help me back to sleep with cuddles, then my mama tried with milkies and cuddles, but nothing worked. I had two bum changes, milkies, cuddles, rocking, and then my dad put the mattress on the floor and snuggled with me; I love that. I talked to him and poked him in the eye and laughed and crawled around him. Then I woke up next morning in my bed--how did I get there?

I played so much outside the sun turned my hair blond. It's almost white on top, but still dark blond underneath.

It's not so warm this week. I have to play with nakey bum inside instead, and it's just not the same.

Love,

Franklin

Fourteen months one week

Hello world!

I can say lots of words, but I think my first word is "dog." I say "dog" when I call to our dog, and when I see her I say it too. I also can say "daD" with the D at the end. I call for my dad that way. Another word I say sometimes is "milk." "Milk" is another word for "mama" which I can also say, but it still comes out "ah-ah."

Now that I can walk, it's all I ever want to do. I walk around the house or outside (I love to be outside). The only time I sit down is on the potty or in my high chair. If I fall over, I can sometimes get back up by myself without help. Otherwise I need something to climb back up. It's best to walk without shoes, if I can. I don't wear my shoes in my house or on my grass.

There's a swing at the park. I walk over to it and sit on it with my mama. When we swing really high I laugh: it tickles my tummy.

Love,

Franklin

Thirteen months four weeks

Hello world!

Some of my favorite things have changed. Some are still the same. Here they are:

My Favorite:

• Book: The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
• Food: Milkies, cheese, baby orange
• Color: Purple
• Animal: Dog
• Toy: Yellow train
• Dance: The Franklin dance
• Game: Chase
• Song: "Little Red Caboose"
• Music: Pictures at an Exhibition by Modest Mussorgsky
• Flower: Tulip
• Nickname: Little Burrito
• Daily activity: Nakey bum time!
• Ticklish spot: Tummy

When I walk I hold my arms up in the air.

Love,

Franklin

Thirteen months three weeks

Hello world!

It was still hot outside this week so I got to play with nakey bum every day again; it's the best! I shared a bone with the dog and kicked my ball around the lawn. I also threw toys to the dog, and hid behind the laundry hanging up.

I have new teeth again. I had six teeth for ages, now I have seven and a half. I bite pizza with my teeth, but I don't bite mama.

I helped my mama weed by putting weeds in the bucket. Then I noticed the bucket had a handle so I picked it up at walked around with it. I left it in a different place but mama said, "put this one in the bucket," so I picked up the weed from the ground and took it over to where I left the bucket and put it in. I'm good at following directions.

When I want my mama and she's not nearby, I shout, "Ah ah ah!" It means: come here, mama! Sometimes I shout it for my dad, too. And one time, we were on a doggy walk, and my mama shouted to the doggy, "come here!" and so I shouted too. After we both shouted, the dog came here.

Love,

Franklin

Thirteen months two weeks

Hello world!

In my family I have three best friends. My first best friend is my mama, then my dad, and my third best friend is our dog. I play games with her and we laugh so much! I like to push my push cart into her so she jumps out of the way. I also like to chase her round and round the chair. I give her pieces of my toast, and she eats them from my hand: tickly!

My favorite food (after milkies) is baby oranges like tangerines and clementines. Sometimes I eat two at a time, I like them so much. I also love cheese, toast, and dog food. I eat pretty much anything. I don't have as much milkies as I used to; I think I have it maybe three times a day, or sometimes four. I used to drink it in my cup when my mama wasn't here but I don't need to now. I just drink water when she's not around.

I love having nakey bum. It's also fun to poo while nakey--inside or outside. We have wooden floors at our house, so I can poo all I want!

Love,

Franklin

Thirteen months one week

Hello world!

I went for a walk by myself down my street. It was really fun--I walked out of our driveway and then down the sidewalk. I was going to see the world! But then it was bathtime so I came inside with my dad.

When I go in my big boy bed at night, my dad gets me in my jammies and my sleeping bag. My curtains are shut and my radio plays quiet static for me. Then I touch the moon (it hangs from the ceiling) and my daddy lays me down. I sleep best on my front. I skootch around till it's just right (bum in air), then I place my fingers just so into my mouth, and I'm asleep.

Our dog needs to move out of my way when I'm walking. Otherwise I might step on her tail. She should know by now.

I went to a different play group for big and little kids this week. I played with lots of toys and watched lots of kids, and we even had snack time! I ate a cracker and cheese and drank juice. I sat at a table in a chair just my size, and I didn't fall off. When we were finished, I went home and had a great sleep. Playing with other kids is really awesome but tiring.

Sometimes when there's a lot of grown-ups, I get kind of bashful. I'm not shy around kids, though. If there's too many strange grown-ups, I want to stay close to my mama. But if there's kids, I want to play with them.

Love,

Franklin

Twelve months four weeks

Hello world!

I had three shots in my legs last week. It hurt really bad and made me bleed and the only thing that made me feel better was milkies. Milkies makes everything better.

This week I decided it's ok to walk without holding on. I walk around the house, no big deal. Other places, like outside, it's safer to crawl.

I got to swing with my mama. There's a swing in the fields where we walk with the doggy. I like it best when I get to ride in my sling on doggy walks, because I can see everything. I showed my mama all the leaves on the trees that we walked by, and I showed her the ducks (and how to make a duck noise). I even got down and walked, too. I found some flowers; picking flowers is nice.

When our dog is in her bed I climb in with her. Then she climbs out, so I climb out. Then she gets back in, so I do too. I like our dog.

Love,

Franklin

Twelve months, three weeks

Hello world!

For a week it was really really warm outside every day. I got to play outside with a nakey bum. It's so much fun to play outside, and even more fun with nakey bum. I want to do it all the time. I was pushing my cart around the grass, and then I needed to pee, so I did. And there was this water shooting out! I was so surprised that I stopped peeing, and the water stopped too! That's when I found out what pee looks like. I watched it finish.

I helped my mama weed the garden. She pulled up weeds, and I put them in the bucket. I'm a very helpful person. Then I saw lots of ladybugs on leaves, and I touched them all with my finger. I touch them very carefully so they don't get smooshed.

One of my favorite things to play is cooking. I don't have any cooking toys, but there's some at baby group, and also some at a museum I went to. I know how to stir and pour and mix. I made pretend tea and put the pretend cake in the teacup.

Love,

Franklin

Twelve months, two weeks

Hello world!

My gramma isn't here any more. We're great friends and I miss her. When she first came, I wasn't sure, but later I cried when she left the room--I didn't want her to go. My gramma is the best for playing games in the car.

I'm back in my own room now but I still wake up at 6AM. I think it's because my dad gets up, or maybe I'm just used to that time. I usually go to bed at about 7.30PM, but I think I might like to go to bed at about 6.30. I did it a couple times and it was pretty good.

When it's sunny I like to play outside. I walk around and crawl on the grass and pick daffodils. My mama showed me a ladybug. At first I thought it was candy so I was going to eat it, but my mama said "gently" so I just touched it with my finger after that.

Love,

Franklin

Twelve months, one week

Hello world!

I had a birthday and I'm one. My friends came to my house and played with me, and we ate some cake. I wore a white and gray shirt. There were balloons and toys and babies everywhere. It was so much fun, when they all went home, I had a huge nap.

My gramma is great. She makes a noise then I make it too. Then she wiggles and I squiggle. We played outside today because it was sunny. My gramma walked all around with me. She sleeps in my room and I sleep in my dad's computer room. It's not dark enough, though. I wake up when it gets light at 6 in the morning.

My finger fits exactly right in my nose.

Love,

Franklin

Fifty-one weeks six days

Hello world!

My gramma is here to visit me. I play with her when we go for a car ride; she sits next to my seat. But at home I like my parents near too. My gramma came before when I was really little. I'm not sure if I remember.

I can walk, but it's kind of scary. I like my dad or my mama there just in case. I crawl if I need to.

I watched another little boy playing on a tamborine. When he put it down I picked it up to try it. It's not so hard! I just hit it like he did and it made a great noise. Baby group changed to let bigger kids come too. There's stuff to jump and climb and ride on now. I like to play with the little kid toys and the big kid toys. It's fun to see the big kids and the little kids too.

I'm going to be one year old. Right now I'm zero years old.

Love,

Franklin

Fifty weeks four days

Hello world!

Today I walked by myself without help from my dad to my mama. I walked tons. I couldn't stop laughing, it was so much fun.

I wave hello to people if they wave to me. I also can do the "wee-wee" sign and the "milk" sign. I sort of know "eat" too. My mama shows me "walk" and "dog" I think it's funny. I know all about dogs and walking.

I play with our dog. Sometimes she comes up to me so I can pet her. Sometimes I go up to her and poke her nose. She lets me. I smile when I see dogs, especially if they're playing.

This week it was really warm outside so my mama left the door open when she washed the dishes. It was so nice I thought I might as well just go outside to play, and I nearly got out the door when my mama decided to come too. She held my hand and we walked around the garden. I saw a big worm: it was pink and slithery. And I saw some pretty flowers. I saw a frog, too. Frogs are so cool; it was in the pond and my mama touched its nose and then it swam. I watched.

Love,

Franklin

Forty-nine weeks five days

Hello world!

I have cough and snot and feel too hot again. It's no good. I get to drink a spoon of tasty juice, though. I have a white one that tastes orange and a pink one that tastes pink.

This week I climbed all the way to the top of the stairs. Usually I can't get to the stairs--the door is closed. I like to climb. I think I can climb down, but I haven't tried.

Sometimes when I walk, I hold on with one hand and hold something else in my other hand. Like an apple core or a hamster wheel or my trousies. Then I let go with the first hand and walk to where I need to go, and hold on again.

At my house, the furniture is all close together so I can walk from one to the next. My dad calls it my assault course. I went to my mama's school and walked around the chairs and coffee table there. It was an assault course, too.

When I have my bath with my mama I really like to play and drink milkies. When my dad comes in, I always drop my toys and dive straight for milkies, and when he goes away, I pick up my toys again. That's because dad means towel and towel means Out.

Love,

Franklin

Forty-eight weeks five days

Hello world!

I played with some other babies my size this week. We all got a cracker. Then Beau put hers down, and I thought I might as well finish it for her. But when I did, she pointed and yelled at me--I got so upset! My mama had to come get me, then I ate the cracker.

The next day my mama went to work and I helped my dad change the headlight on our car in the driveway. I don't get to walk outside much, so I tried to be really careful, and hold on to the car. Only I slipped and bumped my head and got scraped on my face. My dad says I have a shiner.

I try to say words. My mama says "duck duck duck" in the bath, and I say it back ("deedeedee"). My mama says "block" and I say "ba." Also when my mama says "Off!" to the doggy, I say it too. I'm really good at that one: "Oth!"

If I have a wet bum, I don't like it. I wake up and can't sleep. I try to tell people when I need a bum change. I especially hate feeling poo on my bum. That's why I try to save it for the potty. Today I did three poos on the potty. When I need to go, I sometimes kind of swallow in the back of my throat, so my mama knows to help me on.

Love,

Franklin

Forty-seven weeks four days

Hello world!

I learned how to drink from a straw. My mama showed me how; she sucked up some water into it and then put it in my mouth and I sucked it out. Then when she put it back in the glass I knew I had to suck it to get a drink.

We went to a cafe, me and mama. I sat in a chair just like she did, with straps so I didn't fall off. I ate toast. It was really fun. I think I need a chair with straps at my house, so I can sit at our table, too.

I have a toy with shapes and holes. I can put the shapes into the right holes. I do it by myself without help.

My mama has a belly button. When I poke it, she shouts, "belly button!" She says I have one too, but I've never seen it.

Love,

Franklin