25 and 7, month by month

Big boy Reuben, at 25 months (2nd) you:

Can count to 22 in ASL apart from 21 which Mama keeps forgetting how to do

Have an ever developing and rich ASL expressive vocabularly, a wonderful English receptive vocabularly and we're working on following 2 step commands

Enjoy signing your favourite songs from school including Froggie Song (initiated by you signing "frog", Muffin Man (you'll jump all over me at this point so I'm worried about my jaw), Old McDonald (by signing "i" as in E-I-E-I-O) and Firetruck (by signing "truck"), but wo betide you'll actually sign these songs whilst at UCLA Circle Time

Make mama very happy when I have you both on my knees at Circle Time

Wave at everybody who passes you by

Still don't have your 2nd birthday photos posted because Mama's having problems cutting down and editing 1500 of them

Let everyone know you're awake by standing up in bed and thus setting off your pulsox sensor, attached to your foot

Give Mama sleepless nights about which school will be best for you at age 3

Have only be asked about you twice "What's wrong with him?" once on the way back to the UK and twice yesterday by a mother in the park

Dress yourself in your pajamas with little help

Ride your Radio Flyer Retro Rocket all over the open floor house, beautifully steering it round the furniture and operating the controls, "All systems go, Retro, you're looking good...Blast off!"

Have the patience of a saint, the mind of a scholar, the heart of a samaritan

Rascalling Callum, at 7 months (6th) you:

Can sit independently and it astounded me, the apparent simplicity of it

Enjoy yoga poses, down dog, prone, fetal, frog

Say ma-ma-ma

Roll your tongue in song, brrr, razz

Can feed yourself an organic tortilla chip which you've snatched from Mama and which you enjoy because it tastes of the sand you crunched away on at the beach after school yesterday

Roll all over the alphabet mat and look up with a big beaming smile at your accomplishments

Enjoy pulling at your brother's hair and pulling him towards you and whilst we were encouraging Reuben not to be rough with you, it's payback time for Reuben who's been way too patient with your antics these last 7 months

Have 2 little gleamers on your bottom gum which much resemble razor sharp fangs

Posture your arms and back for dressing and getting out of the car seat

Stand supporting yourself against furniture

Let everybody know you're awake with an "aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa"