Gus at 20 Months

"Camera" he says to me and hands me the camera he scored from a table top that is clearly no longer safe. "Smile," he asks and then signs and says "more." He wants me to take another picture of him, so I oblige. "Smile," I tell him, and he screws up his face into a funny, forced pose. As soon as I take the picture he wants to see it. "Baby" he says of himself (he pretty much calls everyone under 7 a baby). "Cute."



And he's right.



He is communicating so much these days, asking for "hug" or "kiss." And he learned he can manipulate his parents with such requests... He also wants to know "what's this?" when he comes across something new.

Enjoying Peruvian food--the fried plantains were a hit.

His favorite game is a form of peek-a-boo: He covers himself with a blanket or article of clothing and asks "Mama, where are you?" which is my cue to look for him. "Gus, where are you?" And often I'll kiss him through the blanket which sends him into peals of laughter.

He runs now, up and down our hall. The sound of his little footsteps is absolutely adorable. He tries to jump and sometimes gets a little air.

Planting tomatoes with daddy.

He's also starting to learn colors and gets them right about half of the time. His favorites seem to be yellow and blue.