Chapter umpteen, in which Anne speaks much more clearly

Anne knows so many words now, we can't keep up. But we can tell you about a milestone, of sorts. Anne is starting to pronounce words much more clearly. As of the week before Christmas, she started calling her friend Cora "Coh-wah" instead of "Coh-gah." Which means Dora the Explorer has become "Doh-wah" instead of "Doh-dah." And today, she called her friend Taylor "Tay-wah" instead of "Tay-tay."

I thought it might be fun to list as many words she knows that we can think of. She knows many more than this, including Portuguese words she speaks with her nanny, Lucia. But here is a sampling of words she says.

Things she eats or eats with: Bottle, bowl, plate, cup, saucer, tea, coffee, juice ("doof"), apple, pear, banana, grape, muffin, toast, waffle, pancake, bacon, egg ("eggie"), mango, edamame ("eh-ma-ma-ma"), peas, cheese, pasta, rice, quesadilla, pizza, pretzel, puff, yogurt, agua (Portuguese for water), soup, lid.

Things she does: Up, abre (Portuguese for open), yoga (sometimes "yogi")

People she knows: Mama, Dada, Grandma, Lucia ("Noo-noo") Cora, Sutton, Taylor, Lisa, Leo, Raia, Toren, Gabriella ("Gabby"), Annika, Helena, Angie, Charlotte, Miss Mandy, Mr. Mike. Also her cousin Alexa, whom she has not met -- she says "ah-neh-ha" and kisses her picture. And auntie.

Animals, animal sounds: Kitty cat, meow ("mah!") doggie, ruff ruff, cock-a-doodle-do, moo, sheep, baa baa, ticky ticky (that's the raccoon), oink oink ("onga-onga"), owl, who who, eee-eee (for the monkey), beep-beep (for mouse), ribbit ("yibbie"), hippo ("hippie"), neigh, bumblebee, butterfly. She also does this little thing with her lips and tongue to look like a weasel.

Toys and kids' characters: Elmo, Dora, Mickey, Minnie, baby, doll, Violet (a stuffed talking dog), Mininou (Portuguese for little boy, the name of a doll Lucia gave her), Ernie, Big Bird, Abby Cadabby, Zoe, Grover, Winnie, Eeyore ("oh-yo"), Eebie, Princess Robyn, popper (for popcorn popper), choo choo. She knows who Kermit the frog is but calls him "yibbie" for ribbit.

Body parts: Nose, eye, belly button, ear, mouth, knee, foot, piggies, belly, elbow, fingers ("fingies"), chest. Fingers is relatively new, as are elbow and chest and mouth. She says "oculos" for glasses, which is Portuguese. She also says socks and shoes.

Other things she says: Hi, I love you ("ah-nuh-nuh"), boo, moon, flower, car, book, whoa. Also please, which is very big these days ("pease") and thank you.

Musical instruments: Guitar, flute ("foote"), cello.