Ari

--Ari splashed around so much while drinking his blueberry-mango-strawberry-banana smoothie that it seemed as though he had purple freckles. It is difficult to describe how ineffably cute it is to see your child with purple freckles, though I imagine I wouldn't feel that way if they were permanent.

--He managed to pet the cat so that the cat wanted to stay near him--this is a big accomplishment and made him very happy.

--He relished his broccoli and ate lots of it while saying "Brocly, Brocly!" (It was loaded up with olive oil, salt, and nutritional yeast.)

--He said "Hiya papaya" with all 3 syllables (up until now he has called Auntie Papaya "Paya."

--He had his first phone conversation--with Grandpa. True, Ari's part of the conversation was, as my father said, merely, "Hello," some silence, and "Bye," but still a milestone.

--He called Grandpa "Danpa" when he got off the phone. (Up until now Grandpa has been "Dadi," which, of course, is what I call him.

--When asked what eyes were for, he said, "seeing." Ears are for "hearing." Mouth is for "eating." Legs are for "shoes."