Flourishing in the Midwest.

Something about being in the Midwest really jives with Evelyn because each time we've been home in the past year, she's really taken off in one area or another developmentally.

When we were home mid-December to mid-January while Dan was deployed, she got her first tooth and started sprouting more hair. That may not be what people think of when they think of developing, but it was a big deal to me. I was worried she'd never get teeth, and was losing faith in her ability to grow hair as well. She also began walking while we were home, and said her first words.

Her first actual word was "Amen". I don't like to really tell anyone that, though, because it sounds as if we are Bible thumpers (which we are not). My brother and I were sitting in the living room, getting ready to eat, and we prayed first. After we said "Amen", she echoed us. Zachary and I snapped our heads in each other's direction quickly asking, "Did you hear that...?" We both heard it, so that is what I consider to be her first word.

Prior to telling everyone who reads my blog that, I claimed her first word was banana ("nana"). Technically banana was her second word, and now the secret is out about her first word. I guess I kind of felt like admitting her first word because my friend Leah (Hi, Leah!) recently was tweeting about good finds in her baby book, and her first word was "socks". Which is uber cute, and I felt like coming clean about Evelyn's.

When we came home in September, Evelyn was saying a couple two-word phrases here and there and learning new singular words what seemed like almost every day. By the time we left, she was saying four word sentences, and even said a five word sentence. It was "Uh oh, oh no, Elmo!" or "Oh no, uh oh, Elmo!" I can't remember the word order but remember what was said. Prior to being a MomMom (what Evelyn calls me), I didn't know how exciting four or five word sentences could be. Well, it is very exciting.

It is fun to see her come up with new sentences and it has made certain parts of our lives easier. On the other hand, she has plenty of other words that she knows she's trying to say, but we have no clue. That's very irritating for her and there is a lot of guessing happening on our part, which ticks her off even more.

While shopping one day, she was watching an Elmo ABC video featuring India Arie and she pointed to the number 2 and stated simply, "Two". Since being back in Okinawa, she has been pointing to various letters on the keyboard and telling us their name.

She also began expressing an interest in musical instruments while we were home. She liked to play my Mom's piano, and her Auntie Biz's guitar. My Mom got her a harmonica at the Children's Museum of South Dakota and she really enjoyed that. Yesterday she had a blast with Jess' kazoo.

With all these changes that started to occur while we were in Minnesota, I am convinced that being in the Midwest has something to do with it. It makes me appreciate where I come from more than I did previously because the short visits home have helped our daughter flourish.