I'm sorry, you said what?

It struck me recently - Elle is speaking in complete sentences.

WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN?!

The first solid phrases I can pinpoint are of a similar theme. There was the peek-a-boo parroting of "Where's Elle Belle?" But now she's taking it to a higher level - she's been saying "Where did *insert person/animal/thing here* go? Where is he?" for a few days. It's especially cute when she is talking about Tim, Santa or one of the cats. The other day, Elle and I took dinner to Tim, who had a hectic night of work ahead of him. As we pulled away, I heard Elle quietly calling "Daddddddyyy. Where did he go? Where is Daddy?" The enunciation isn't crystal clear, but it's definitely clear enough. (And makes me want to melt, but that's beside the point.)

Then she added the cats. "Where did Sidney go?" she'd say as she put her hands out and started walking around the condo to hunt him down. There's been "Saaaaannnnnaaa. Where did Sanna go?" She threw that one out minutes after flipping out when she visited Santa this year - I told her that it was obvious she didn't care where he was when he was trying to talk to her, but she ignored me. 

And then another favorite that started this weekend: "I see Elmo. Where did he go?" The way she asks it - like her heart is breaking because she doesn't know where in the world Elmo went (Elmo being "present" in book or Target ad form) - is absolutely adorable. (More on another one of her favorite sayings in an upcoming post in which I realize what a terrible role model I am.)

But peeps. She's stringing stuff together. Aware that she's unaware of the whereabouts of certain people. FREAKING FIGURING STUFF OUT. I'm pretty sure she'll be answering the phone and taking messages before the end of the year.