carter is sick with some ridiculous gastrointestinal thing that had him screaming for hours last night, today and a bit of tonight.

and now i think i have it.

and it is my birthday. hooray.

but, on the other hand, about two weeks ago, carter started pointing in earnest--he has been gesturing at things, but not with a directed index finger. now he has the real thing conquered, and is thrilled to point at everything--he knows now that he can point, have me reach for something, shake his head and point again at the thing next to whatever it was that i got, and clarify that he wants THAT. he is also talking up a storm. it is his own language, but nevertheless, he will sit and holler syllables at a toy, desperately trying to communicate with it.