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Micah has been growing like crazy and getty smarter every day. He started taking a few tentative steps by the end of June. He had a bit of a setback with the three weeks away from home, but he's back to it now. Today he's been going a couple of yards without any help at all.

He loves to give kisses and has learned to blow kisses, too. He loves to hug us, which we love, and he hugs his soft little teddy bear to fall asleep. It's a sweet little sight.

He's also been using his sign language and waving more. We're introducing more signs as we go, nice and easy. Caleb still remembers a lot of signs that we learned when he was two years old, and he likes to show them to his little brother. Micah loves to do what Caleb is doing, or better, undo what Caleb is doing. He's also picked up a fun little trait: he pretends to pull the train whistle and makes the "hoooo!" sound that is Caleb's trademark.

He's taking an interest in books for purposes other than manducation. He also enjoys pretending to feed himself out of a bowl with a spoon.

In fact, spoons may be his favorite toy. He frequents the drawer in which pastic dishes, cups, and utensils are kept for Caleb's and, to a lesser extent, his use. He pulls out two spoons and then crawls around with them in his hands, and lately cruises/walks with them too. Don't ask me why he likes them so much, but by his shreiking reaction when you try to take them back, I can tell he does. A lot.