Out of nowhere Tim has become a puzzle-solving machine. He still doesn't understand concepts such as edge pieces always going along the edge, but he makes up for it with tenacity. We have a handful of wooden puzzles with cutouts and he got so fast at those that I had to dump three puzzles out together to confuse him long enough to get something done while he was working. Next I got a couple puzzles back that we'd lent to my SIL. One is a box of 16 pieces that turn into 4 groups of mother-baby animal pairs. The second is a 48 piece zoo counting puzzle that has 12 groups of four pieces that all connect into a seven-foot long puzzle. I'd give him one of the mother-baby 4 piece puzzles and once those were easy, I gave him all 16 pieces at the same time and he needed to sort them. This week he has begged to do the zoo puzzle all day long. He's done it at least 3 or 4 times a day and would prefer more. What's worked best is if we put little piles of each set per number in order -- then he connects the four 1-elephant pieces, attaches the 2-giraffes, and so on. Then he can attach them independent from us. If we spread all 48 pieces on the floor face up, he'll get quite a few of them but begs us for help that he only sort of needs. Today I got tired of tripping on the zoo puzzle and got out a 25 piece bunny puzzle. The first time, I sorted the pieces into 3 groups and guided him as he guessed at it. The second time I sorted them again and only had to help him once or twice. It is so fun at this age to see him catching on so quickly!
He's also begun putting more words together. My favorite was when I asked him where Leo sat in the car and he said "Leo sit next me." Comprehension and 4 words! He's using his own name much more often -- he usually calls himself Bimmy/Mimmy. He recognizes the capital letter T as the start to his name. He understands the numbers 1 and 2 and also says the numbers 3, 8, 9, and 0 but doesn't associate them with their numerals or concepts. He hums "Twinkle Twinkle" and throws an end word in here and there but doesn't seem to know the Alphabet Song yet.