No end to new stages...

This is Niko refusing to take a nap,
then falling asleep playing with his toys.Yes, indeed. That is pee.
He's succeeded twice, if you can believe it!

Trail: shoes, pants, diaper, naked-bummed Niko!
This is him mimicking Maman & Papa's reaction to discovering him.

Yes, so proud of himself!

It seems there is no end to our stage of being in a new stage. Niko has been reaching for weeks, and it seems all of a sudden, he is tall enough to turn on and off the light switches. He also is very interested in unfastening his diaper. I thought I had outsmarted him by putting him in a onesie (snaps in the crotch). He has outsmarted me, though, and reaches up the leg of the onesie to undo his diaper. He is constantly taking his pants off and then doing the un-diapering, then walking around with his diaper hanging down to his knees until someone catches him. It seems he's telling us he's ready to start potty training. We're slowly starting. I have mixed feelings about the prospect. Sam has also discovered toilet paper. I had just been noticing how nice it was that Niko hasn’t unrolled toilet paper for a good long while now. Sam has dutifully filled the position. Sam also has a new laugh. The first time he did it, Chris had just given him a bath. Sam was cold and shivering and tried to laugh. It came out more like a chipmunk or goat bleating. The next day was Sunday and he did it throughout Church, loud enough that several people would turn and smile at me asking, “Is he for real?” It was hard not to laugh back, even during prayers. Niko has since realized what a kick everyone gets out of it and has tried copying it, too. Niko likes to do a lot that the babies do. He’ll crawl around just like them, and then sit back on his bum and wave his hands, babbling away. He likes to be “one of the babies” sometimes. I humor him occasionally and say, “OK, bébé Niko, je te change la couche aussi!” (“OK, Baby Niko, I’ll change your diaper, too!”) Niko & Sam play so well together. Niko loves to make Sam laugh and they really enjoy each other’s company. They are an absolute joy!