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This spring, James planted a garden. He and Daniel have taken very good care of it, and we’re starting to be able to eat the "fruits" of their labor. He planted: corn, watermelon, cantaloupe, cucumber, zucchini, pumpkin, green beans, peas, carrots, and spinach. I’ve taken some progress shots along the way. Click "read more" to see them.

Tilling the ground, 3/24/09

Carefully planting some corn, 3/24/09

Daniel likes to help, too!

Most of the garden, 5/18/09

Side view, 5/18/09

Front angle, 5/26/09

Side view, 5/26/09 (notice how big the pumpkin is getting!)

Back view, 5/26/09

Front view, 5/26/09

Wow, look at that corn!, 6/19/09

To see some specific pictures of our harvest, check out the next po …

This is my final "months" update for Daniel as he turns 2 next month! I can’t believe how fast he is growing up. Click "read more" to find out what he’s been up to lately.

Daniel is a bundle of energy. He is always on the go, and he runs almost everywhere. He gets so excited about the littlest things — I love it!

He is very much of a people-person. He is always communicating with and making contact with people. He wakes up asking for "Daddy? Mommy? Nana? (Hannah)" When we go on walks, he will often wave to the people in cars and yell, "Hi!" as we cross the street. Sometimes when we are in the garden, he stands at our fence, pokes his head out through the hole, waves, and yells, "Hi!" to all the cars that pass by.

He loves to look after Hannah and make sure that she is taken care of. Throughout the day, he will share toys with her, try to share food with her, help us feed her, make her giggle, give her cuddles, try to pick her up, ask one of us to hold her ("Mommy, hold you, Nana?"), etc.

Daniel is very verbal. He has a huge vocabulary, and he uses it to help us understand what he wants. He still loves to learn new signs as well, but I’ve slacked off on teaching him, so he’s mainly learning new verbal words at this point. He is making three- and four-word sentences now.

He likes to count, and often I hear him saying, "Ready, 1, 2, go!" (He skips most of the numbers but likes 1 and 2 a lot.)

He loves to say "purple" for most any color.

He loves to open and shut cabinets, water bottles, boxes…anything that will open and shut.

He is fascinated with the potty. He likes to sit on the potty, flush, and wash hands after that. He still hasn’t produced anything yet, but at least he’s not scared of the potty.

He makes boy noises all the time, gets dirty almost every day, loves bugs and dirt, and loves to be outside. He has an insatiable appetite for being outside. Usually, Daddy will take Daniel outside in the evening after work. They will work in the garden or just play for a while.

He loves to play with balls. He kicks them, throws them, rolls them, and catches them (thanks to Grandma and Grandpa for teaching him how to catch a ball).

Daniel recognizes where we are in the car oftentimes. He will say "Bapa!" if we arrive at Grandpa and Grandma’s house, or "Bella" if we arrive at Isabella’s house. He will yell "Play!" if we arrive at Chik-Fil-A because he loves to play in their play place.

Other than the three of us, some of Daniel’s favorite people are: "Unka" Uncle Joel; "Auntie" Auntie Steph; "Bapa" Grandpa Gregg; "Mom-mom" Grandma Vicky; "Tentie" Kenzie; and "Bella" Isabella.

Here are some fun pictures of Daniel from the past few months:

Auntie Steph came for a visit in May!

Daniel helped us wash the cars one evening.

Come on! Let’s go!

"Bye!" (waving at cars in the parking lot after church on Mother’s Day)

I love to work in the yard with Daddy!

I love my Bapa!

I love Bella, too!

Playing with his new _Cars_ table at Grandpa and Grandma’s house.

Daniel gets so excited to go to sleep now that we let him use a pillow …

Here are a few more pictures of Daniel. Click "read more" to see them.

Washing the car is fun! Look at the bubbles!

I love to run through water! "More, please?!"

I love to read to Baby Hannah! She is my compani …