Family Names

Gwen hit a speech milestone the other day... after months of either calling everyone "Mom", or only occassionally getting a name here and there, she finally got them all.

Gwen has a little tradition after meals. When we are finished and I lift her down out of her booster seat, she dances. Just a little minute of spinning and jumping, with the joy of a full tummy. She is usually the first one to leave the table (although I try to keep her with us until we all finish!), and perhaps she sees it as a chance to perform for a captive audience.

Last weekend we were eating dinner outside on the deck. When our dinner was over and I released Gwen from her seat, she looked around the table at the rest of us, and one by one she said all of our names.

"Daddy, Set (Seth), Ma-a-lyn, Ca (Caleb), Mommy". It was deliberate and careful, and she looked at each one of us as she said our names to the best of her ability.

She was calling for our attention. She got it.

And then, with all eyes on her, she danced.

Hurray for Gwen!!