Wish I could read her mind (7)>>>>

[steady]

Along with the compliments come a little chop busting and good natured ribbing...something else that may have been lacking the last few months.

We seem to have reached a point where we can joke about a shortcoming one of us has or "make fun" of each other, without the other taking it personal.

My W and I are into this phase also. You have to think that the R has relaxed quite a bit in order to joke around, bust chops, and rib each other about shortcomings. I've noticed this in my R also. It's a good sign.

Sounds to me like she really enjoys talking to you. It's probably one of her love languages - along with quality time. It's filling her love bucket and she likes how it feels. Just my opinion though.

As far as the GAL'ing. I asked my W the other night about the two of us working on a Christmas list together. She agreed. You might want to pick something around the house - finances, organization, etc... and ask if she'd like to spend time with you working on it. My W and I have talked about getting a dining room table and a new couch. House stuff, things that need to get done, and working on it together. Just a thought.

Go with your guy on the feeling she wants to add something but holds herself back. She may be on the brink of telling you something good, but keeping herself from saying it for some reason or another - speculation of course. But your gut is a good compass. Whatever it is will spill out eventually. Time.

On the pauses in conversation - maybe it's her fear that you will run out of things to say to each other or revert back to when you guys may have not been talking much. Again, just a guess.