Here's where we started tracking the beginning of the one we came to lovingly call "Speck".
Most recently it's been complete answers to questions I ask:
Me - Where does DaDa go ? Speck - DaDa go Office (sounds like Ophice)
Me - would u like (insert the name of something here) Speck - Yesh Pease
Me - Ask nicely. Speck - Peeeeeeease OR Yessssss Peeeeeas
Speck's newest deal is struggling to put on her pants, shorts, pajamas (all bottoms). It's hilarious to watch and of course the frustration level is high when we end up with both legs in the same place. She's definitely determined to get it right and of course refuses any help. Infact tonight while i was getting her ready for bed, she actually pushed me away as I offered to help. Video to follow......
Speck has been chatting it up for a while now but what's most interesting is that now she's started putting 2 words together.
For eg:
Nana Peep peep (her nana's car)
Dada Buh bye
Mama Night Night
More please
thank you ( that's technically one word but she says Taa Tee) (it's so adorable)
More Ice
More Aveeya (more junk food)
More Bice (more rice)
Doe Doe NO (her way of telling Tweeter NO!)
Yessss Peeeeeeas
She also asks the dogs if they want more food.
Doe Doe Mum mum ??
Paypa Mum Mum ??
Meow Mum Mum ??
She also calls herself "Peck" (good P and K pronunciation)
(obviously peck is short for Speck)
She is breathtaking.
While cousin Lauren and Zak were visiting we all went to Zoo. This was Speck's first time to the Houston Zoo, actually any zoo for that matter. She enjoyed the Elephant (which her favorite animal), monkeys, giraffes, and the petting zoo. Being her first time she was a little apprehensive but cousin Zak made her very comfortable. She even got to ride the carousel for the first time with none other than Zak. After the zoo, we went shopping at zoo souvenir shop.
Speck is not even two yet and is already starting the process of becoming a world traveler. Step 1 - Get passport. Big day for us all. 
It was a brand new yogurt and she fed herself from start to finish!!! Mommy is so proud.
Speck's vocabulary has been growing rapidly for the past few months. It's amazing to watch her learn and repeat words that we just take for granted.
She calls Pepper - Pa pa
Tweeter has been named - Doe Doe
She still uses sounds for a number of other animals:
Dog - arf arf
Cat - meow (both our cats are called that)
Horse - Neigh
Sheep - Baa Baa
Cow - it used to me Mmmmm now it's Moooo
Lion - Argh (sounds more like the clearing of her throat)
Tiger - same as above
Juice - Jews (i swear that's what it sounds like)
This and that - these days everything is This or that. (it's all those options we give her I guess)
Snack (any kind) - Aveeya. ( I have no idea where she got this from)
Elmo - Sounds like Um Ma
Greeting - HIYA
Night night - sounds like Nigh Nigh
See ya - Eee Ya
Her friend MJ is - Emm
At first she started calling all babies/toddlers - Ta Ta but has since graduated to calling them all Bee Bee.
Yogurt - Ta Ta and now Bee Bee (her yogurt has a pic of a baby on there, i am guessing that is where she got it from)
Shoes - Ties (that's what it sounds like. This is one of the first words she made up on her own and it's stuck with her. Yes people she calls her shoes TIES. don't ask)
Socks are called - Tox (that's what it sounds like)
Button - Butt
Trees and leaves are all - Tea
Thank you - Taa Tea
Please - Peeeeeease (we've taught her to drag it out for obvious reasons)
Body Parts- Speck has been learning body parts for a while now:
Head - Head
Hair - Hay
Toes (does quite say the word)
Nose - Noe
Knees - Nee
Eyes - Eyezz
Eyebrow - eyebow
Ears - EeeAhh
Cheek - no word for it yet, but she knows where it is
Chin - Cheeee
Hands - no word for it yet
Rice for some reason has turned into - Bice
Ice - Ice (come on that's pretty simple)
Water - Waa Waa
Nuggets - Nugg nugg
On Dec 10th 2007, Speck turned 18 months old. She's gone from a little baby into an energetic little Toddler. I call her my little person. She's turned our lives upside down and inside out and it's all in the best way possible. Her laughter, whining (yes she does that from time to time), smiles, frowns, giggles, sulks, and all other expressions make my heart melt. She takes my breath away. Could she be any cuter ?!?!?!
Below is the drama that ensued at the Dr. Barry's office at her 18 months check up which happened to be on her 18 month Birthday. Just to be clear this picture was captured before the doctor showed up. We started off the visit in this fashion. I hope all future trips are not this dramatic coz at the end of the day the Doc/Nurses/Office Staff can and will only take so much before they politely ask you to leave and never come back. Health wise speck is doing great. She's in the 20th %tile for her weight and 50th %tile for her height (go figure). All in all we get a thumbs up for effort. And then come the obligatory immunizations. OH!! THE HORROR!!! (I can relate though, mommy hates needles too)
Speck now has a total of 8 visible teeth (upper and lower central incisors, upper lateral incisors and upper first molars) with 2 more on the way (lower lateral incisors).
Of late her favorite foods are Croutons (garlic flavored YUMMY!!), Cheetos of course, Goldfish, Pretzels... you get the idea. She loves anything she can gnaw on. And of course as expected she loves sharing her food with Pepper and Tweeter.
Speck went over to her Nana's house to eat Aloo Puri* today. Nana even made some miniature puris* especially for Speck. We were quite impressed that she enjoyed them thoroughly.
Eating Puris in my Nana's kitchen.
A puri or poori is a South Asian unleavened bread primarily found in Northern India made from a dough of atta (whole grain durum wheat flour), water and salt by rolling it out into discs of approximately the size of palm and deep frying it in ghee or vegetable oil. Traditionally served in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, also being served in......more here.
Well it's been a while since anything major has happened for Speck. I mean you know a tooth here and step there but yesterday was BIG!!! She finally looked right at her Daddy and said DADA!!! I think she will use that word more permanently now. We were all very excited since that's been a word I have been waiting for her to say from practically the day she was born :)
WAY TO GO SPECK!!!!
As of thisweek Speck officially has 2 front bottom teeth, and 2 top molars one on each side. Still no sight of the top two front teeth, but we have faith they will arrive when they are ready :)
That's all folks... TIme for some RED MEAT!!!!
Speck today turns 1 year, 1 month, 1 week and 1 day old.
How very very very cool...... :) (okie mommy thinks it's cool)
Speck started taking a few small steps here and there around her 1st birthday (a few before and a few more after), but several more steps were attempted from then till now. About a week ago she started taking a few more steps and before we knew it she was moving around. Till yesterday she had taken a max of 8 steps here and there... But today we began exploring the possiblity of walking from one end of the room to another and we were successfull. She's been moving around uncoaxed and with alot of confidence. We are so proud of her. She turns 13 months old tomorrow and viola she is officially a toddling little toddler. We were able to get more video, which we will put up soon.
Speck got to celebrate her 1st Birthday weekend with some very special people who came from all over the land. Pop pop RC, Mom mom Barb, Mom mom Brenda & Aunt Maria came from Philadelphia. Uncle Mitch came from Chicago & Cousin Devin came from Alta Loma (CA). Everyone had a blast and we hope they come back to see us real soon.
All of us at Dinner at Fogo De Chao on Saturday June 9th 2007.
On June 10th, 2007 we celebrated Speck's 1st birthday with a big bang. We had a number of friends and family come over and celebrate this very special day with us. Speck had a blast of course, we thank everyone for coming.
Speck's Grandpa Subhash called from India. Speck's Grandaunt Neerja, Granduncle Kamal & Uncle Nikhil called from Chandigarh, India, to wish her on her birthday. Speck's Grandaunt Nisha, Uncle Anees & soon to be Aunt Nauras called from Pune, India. Speck's Aunt Louise & Uncle Steven & Cousins, Max, Jeremy & Ian all called to sing Happy Birthday to Speck on this very Special day also.
Say it ain't so! Speck has officially turned a year old. WOW!!! It's so hard to believe that an entire YEAR has gone by already. It was just yesterday that we were at the hospital and then boom the doc said congratulations you have an adorable little daughter.
Thank you Speck for coming into our lives & bringing all the wonderful happiness with you. I (as the mommy) have been lucky enough to watch every little change and experience and it's been so amazing and phenomenal. We look forward to many more years of amazing things yet to come.
Click here for more Pics
So the pool is finally clean (Thank You Daddy for all your hard work) and of course the first thing we did was put Speck in it. She was a little apprehensive about it yesterday, but today she was a Champ, of course we have to thank Daddy and his powers of persuasion. She loved it. She played with her duckies and Uncle Dhruv was right there all the way. We'll be taking alot more pics by the pool, as Speck has always been a fan of the water.
