Ran by mallet hash.

My recent perception is that Bethany now suits her name: not that she didn't not suit her name before. The difference is that we did not use her name as often too her, more so between each other as she was unable to respond and was unaware of it's meaning. Now as she is starting to develop her language skills she understands a lot more even if she is unable to speak back. She does try to reply and we think we can hear her trying to form words, usually it sounds like her attempting to repeat what we have just said. The result is that when we call her name we get a reaction from her so that she is no longer a baby with any name that I often felt self conscious about saying in public as it felt pointless and worried that I was being overly cute. Now when we shout "Bethany" as she tries to run off we have a good reason.
   She is still enjoying her food but that includes playing more with it. She is becoming more and more adept at using cutlery and prefers to feed herself now rather than let us feed her but she has got into the habit of rubbing her dinner in her eyes and up her nose. Her predilection of dunking any leftovers from her dinner into her dessert persists and whilst I'm all for experimental cooking I think her sprout coated in strawberry yoghurt may not prove too popular amongst the wider population.
   Bethany is also getting more comfortable amongst other people. She has always been friendly, flashing smiles and waving at strangers and encouraging reciprocation, but would get upset without either Alison or myself to reassure her. She is much more settled at nursery and happy with the staff who she genuinely seems pleased to see. Also last night when we were having our tea in the pub a young girl was fussing over her and Bethany happily played with her outside - at one point running over to her laughing. Presumably she didn't inherit the sociable gene from me.