Guess who PeePeed in the Potty?

It's an amazing time in Leo's life and our lives right now. He's doing and discovering all kinds of things. His verbal speech development has really blossomed in the last week. Here are some highlights of his newest achievements:

• When Leo first began saying words, we would often prompt him, for example by telling him to say Thank You and then him repeating the phrase. Now Leo is proactively sharing his own responses. Recently, when Rob asked him, "Would you like a piece of cheese?" Leo answered with, "Big piece!"
• Leo likes to play tricks, like turning on the light switch when he's supposed to be turning it off. It causes him tremendous amusement.
• Leo has become fixated on a minor character, "The Boo Boo Bird," in one episode of the charming children's show, Oswald. He also shares his Daddy's affinity for the naughty cereal, Boo Berry. Now he's begun fusing these 2 favorites, and repeatedly asks for "Boo Boo Berry"
• A few days ago, Rob said to Leo, "Leo, do you want a cookie?" Leo said, "No," then paused, and said, "I want TWO cookies!"
• Leo has learned 3 new expressions that he likes to say: "Hit the road!" "Pretty cool," and "PU" as in "that stinks" :)
• This week featured the first use of an indefinite article by Leo when he said "A book" in response to the question, "What is this?" during a diaper change. Previously, it was just "book."
• The other night Mommy asked Leo "What books should we read?" and he responded by looking though the books and saying, "Let's see."
• 3 days ago Leo said "I love you" to Daddy before bedtime for the first time. He's stringing together lots of 3-5 word phrases right now.
• And, last but not least, Leo has gone pee pee on the potty 2 times in the past 2 days. He has expressed interest in doing so each time. The first time was cute and special. After Leo takes a bath, he sometimes likes me to blowdry him with my red hairdryer. As I was drying him, he peed a little on the rug and I immediately explained to him that he knows better etc. As I got his diaper ready, I reiterated that he should only go peepee in his diaper or the potty. He said quickly, "Pee pee potty." I clarified, "You need to go peepee on the potty right now." "Mmmmhmmmm," he answered. So I swept his cute little naked patootie off the changing table and sat him in his blue bathroom on the froggy potty his Auntie Anne bought him. He sat there with focus and calm, made some appropriate noises (LOL), and stood up, proudly revealing a commendable quantity of peepee in the bowl. He dumped it in the toilet bowl, wiped his you know what, flushed, and finished his task with a smile. What a big boy! And yesterday, he asked again right before his nap, and repeated his achievement. Is he going to be a self-trainer? Yippee! (Yes, we did a big celebratory dance - what fun!)

And so Leo continues to grow, surprise, and amaze us.