Language Development: Samantha's vocabulary is continually expanding and she is eager to try new words - unless we are trying to impress someone! We have also noticed she is starting to repeat words at the end of sentences. Samantha is able to understand and follow simple commands like 'Put your socks away' or 'put your shoes in the corner' without being specific about the details.

There are a couple of phrases that Samantha has adopted as her own:

- 'Mummy help' or 'Daddy help' - one morning Samantha was attempting to put her shoes on and was struggling. She said 'Mummy help' and of course, Mum was so impressed that she asked for help that she obliged. It didn't take long for Samantha to realize that if she didn't want to do something herself all she had to say was 'Mummy help' or 'Daddy help'.

- 'More ...' - 'More' on it's own would signify that she was enjoying whatever was happening at that point in time, whether it was jumping on the bed or having a nursery rhyme recited or seeing something on TV that she liked. Sometimes she was very specific about what she wanted, for example, on the LA freeways there are many bridges crossing over the top of the freeways and Samantha loved going under them, so as soon as we went under one bridge she would say 'more bridges', hoping we'd drive under some more.

Holidays: We took some time off to enjoy some off to enjoy some of California's National Parks - Yellowstone National Park & The Grand Tetons. We all enjoyed everything that was on offer from the spectular vistas of the Grand Tetons to the prolific wildlife scattered through out Yellowstone National Park. The only exception was the sulphur pools which Samantha did not like one little bit!

At Yellowstone National Park it is quite cold at this time of the year so we bought Samantha her first scarf and gloves. It didn't take Samantha very long to figure out that the gloves keep her hands warm and would ask for them as soon as we stepped outside of the cabins if didn't put them on beforehand.

Play Time: Samantha still loves the playgrounds with the slides and the stairs, as well as the sand. Although, we have tried the swing a number of times, it all seems a little too traumatic for her. On the other hand, she'll be happy enough to walk along a wall that is 2ft off the ground. The pool available to the residents has been absolutely fantastic as Samantha loves swimming and the climate in Orange County is relatively mild all year round. A recent purchase of some 'Water Wings' have given her enormous independence and she's getting very good at getting around. She still enjoys jumping from the edge of the pool into the water. The expression on her face when she surfaces is priceless.

Samantha was also given a tricycle. With some minor modifications to the pedals, she enjoyed pedalling around the many pathway near home.

General Tidbits:

We've been teaching Samantha to look right and left when crossing the road since we need to cross the road every day to get to where our car is parked in the garage. It didn't long before she'd point in one direction and say 'no' and then point in the other direction and say 'no'. At some level she realized that moving vehicles posed some danger to her and when we'd say "car coming", she would immediately come to us and stand by our feet.

Samantha continues to be aware of dangers relating to heat such as hot water, toaster etc. Whenever asked to stand back while taking something out of the oven she would obey and observe what was happening.

Samantha helps with making the coffee every morning. She already knows all the ingredients required and insists on helping with putting coffee and sugar in the cup (a bit of a hit and miss affair at times!) as well as stirring the coffee at the very end. Someone in the household must be addicted to coffee!!!

Samantha has been very good with having her hat on whenever we go outside the house. She has almost mastered the skill of putting on her hat all by herself.