Two-zero months

 Josie and Piper are 20 months!  Last month got away from us and I didn't write a monthly update for the first time since we started this thing.  Some of the latest from the last couple of months:

• Talking: There are more new words everyday.  Josie leads the way and Piper will eventually say the same words Josie does.  Some new favorites are ewsh (shoes), pease, birbie (bird),  wa (when they want to walk), wawa (water).  Josie says more phrases than Piper, like "there you go", "all done" and "all gone". The other day, I showed her an airplane and the very next day I was changing her diaper and an airplane flew overhead.  She was so proud to say "airplane!". 
• Reading: We read a lot of books.  And by "read", I mean that they bring us a book, reverse back and plop in our lap, then we read the first two sentences and they say "all done" and go get another one.  But they really enjoy this, so we do it over and over.  We can get Piper to sit still for awhile by asking her to point out objects in the book.  It's amazing what she has picked up on.  She doesn't talk very much, but she can point out random objects like ice cream cones and bicycles.  It would make me very happy to see them love to read as much as I do. 
• Animals:  These girls love animals!  They know a lot of animal sounds, including snake, dog, cow, duck, bird, tiger, lion, frog, horse.  During our morning runs with the stroller, we try to make it over to the neighbors' house with horses in the yard.  They are captivated by them.  Then when we get home, they say "neigh!" over and over.  We also talk about all the other animals we see - the birds, the squirrels, the horses, and of course the doggies.  They were not with me when I saw a bear a few weeks ago, but that would have made Piper very happy!  Her bear has become almost as important to her as her green frog lovey. 
• Independence: Both girls would prefer to walk now than to have us hold them.  They ask to walk and then hold their little hands up for us to hold.  Cutest thing ever!  We finally ditched the wagon for walking into the Y.  It takes us awhile, but we make it inside eventually. 
• Eating: Mealtimes can really be a little unpleasant around here.  I honestly have no idea what they are going to eat from day to day.  They love something one day, and then look at it like its vomit the next day.  Piper would really like to eat rice cakes for every meal.  Half their meals end up on the ground.  Every day I find dried smoothie in different spots.  It's exhausting.  
• Buddies: These girls are turning into very different little people, but they sure love each other.  They will hold each others hands and walk around the house.  They speak the same language.  The other day, I watched an exchange where Piper pulled out her play stroller, patted the seat and grunted at Josie.  That was Josie's cue to walk over and sit in it so Piper could push her around.  They make each other giggle, and they completely torment each other.

Here's evidence: