Jane these days

It has been four whole days without posting. We are not out of town. We are not in any sort of dire circumstances. It just so happens that there isn't much going on this week.
Let me take this opportunity to talk about my favorite little near-two-year old.
Lately, Jane has been speaking real words with greater ease. She tries to put words together to form sentences and puts a long pause between each word. It's unbearably cute! Her improved communication has made life easier for everyone.

Jane likes... no she loves to say she's sorry. Yesterday, she lightly slapped my face three times. After each time, she would smile big and say, "Sahwee!" and give me a hug and kiss. I endured two more slaps just so she would apologize in her loving way. Once she even responded for me saying, "owww!" in a high-pitched voice. After all the "fun", I chastised her and told her not to hit.
This morning she kicked me while I was changing her diaper. I told her not to kick, and she immediately grabbed my neck and said, "Sahwee!" I don't know how much more abuse I can take, but I need to be more proactive about it. At least she knows what to do when she has inflicted pain on someone.

Something that gives me a good laugh about Jane lately is how she mimics me talking and walking. She gets behind the stroller to push with one hand (we have a second, lower seat behind the front so it's just her height) and she holds up her other hand making gestures while she starts babbling and making serious facial expressions. It's hard to describe (I wish I had video). Just imagine me talking with my hands the way I do, but in Jane form. Anyway, she did it today on the big kid play set. I was walking with her down the narrow corridor/bridge and she just started a conversation with me, while using her hands, like we were friends discussing the current events at the public school. I laugh every time but she just keeps talking... like an adult.

The last new thing Jane is doing is calling me Minna, although it sounds more like "Mlala"- definitely distinct from "mama". I remember thinking how cute it was when Hannah did it, but after a while, I had to enforce Mama again. We'll give Jane another week or two.

Jane, you are a monkey but you're my monkey and I'm completely nuts over you!