Folks, we have a boy!

Grampa Hand and Gramma Lisa visited this weekend, and gave Olie a belated b-day present: his first Beamer. A little ride-on version, it lacks none of the styling of the real thing. Olie hasn't quite gotten the hang of pushing it with his feet, but he did drag it around making all kinds of engine noises.

Also, our boy signed two more words this weekend. That's right, I said, SIGNED! Let me just leave you all in suspense for a moment to wax exotic on the fact that, after months of drilling Olie with various signs, he is FINALLY spontaneously signing words that interest him - words that we may have only signed a few times. Mom is thrilled and triumphant.

Ok, ok, so what are the words? "Motorcycle," no doubt inspired by Randal and Erik's Harleys which Olie witnessed over Thanksgiving, and "gorilla." The later happened as a result of a recent visit with Dad to the Museum of Nat. Hist. (Gorillas are opposite the elephants.) For once taking the innitiative to learn a sign (though he is very good about using the ones I teach him), Chad asked what the gorilla sign was. From then on, Olie lights up whenever Dad signs "gorilla" by beating his chest and grunting. An example of men relating, I guess.

Yes, folks, we have a boy.