A couple times a day I look at her and say, "No, Shelly, I can't pick you up. You're getting too big." And then when I look all the way down to her and see how small she is I'm amazed she can do so much. For example, one night I was reading or something, and David walked in, just getting home from work. "What are you doing up there?" I looked over, and there was Shelly STANDING on the kitchen counter! Now, Archer is a climber. He always has been. He loves to climb, and especially jump off whatever he just climbed. Shelly's more of a dancer and singer, she loves music. But she loves following Archer's example too, and I'm sure he had some influence in her learning how to arrange a kitchen chair and a stool so she'd be able to climb onto the counter and walk around up there.
When she wants something, she no longer relies on trying to tell us (well, she does, but she knows it doesn't always work), so she takes us by the hand and leads us to whatever it is she wants. And then she says please. "Peas Mama!" If I try to give her something she doesn't want, she says "No thank you." Only her way sounds more like "No dee dee Mama." And when I just don't get it, she scowls and shouts "No!" clear as can be. I'm trying to learn her language but its not so easy. "Juice" and "cheese" sound a lot alike. And they're right next to each other in the fridge, so pointing doesn't help. Milk is "oak." She doesn't tolerate Archer doing things for her as much anymore, she's ready to do it all on her own.
She's been trying for a long time to jump, she sees Archer doing it and then she bends her knees and with a big thrust up makes all the motions of a huge leap into the air. But her feet never left the ground. Sometimes just the huge effort caused her to fall down. And now, finally, I've noticed her feet actually leaving the floor! She can jump up and she's thrilled to have achieved this and come a little closer to being able to keep up with Brother Bear. Way to go Shelly!