February Snapshots

February was cold, polar, icy, snowy, abominable. There was a lot of indoors time. There was also a lot of mall play area time, which inevitably meant colds as well.

This month I started really initiating a quiet time for Ella while Avila napped. Finally Avila is sleeping longer and Ella is -mostly - enjoying her quiet play time. I often hear her jabbering away the whole time. Sometimes she'll come downstairs with her face colored or a book she made. It's been good for all of us, I think.

Ella: "It looks like a car seat!"

February Preschool

Practical life

First Birthday

Avila's birthday was simple. It was just the four of us. A few days later, though, we had a sweet time of gathering.  We're not really ones for big, elaborate parties, so we gathered our closest friends/family and Avila's godparents (a couple of friends were unable to be there and were missed) and ate delicious cake.

Birthday Party

12 Months

New signs: "hat", working on "book" and "please"

Oh how happy you are, little Birthday Bird!

You are sweet and affectionate: you love giving kisses and hugs to us and baby dolls. You like to come in for a quick snuggle and then go back to your explorations

Intense as always - either very happy or very sad

You love carrying around a baby doll or stuffed animal 

You love shaking your head as fast as you can, which usually makes you fall down

You are trying SO HARD to jump. It's hysterically adorable

Up and up has been your motus operandis the past few weeks. You love climbing the stools to get as high as possible. Playing in the sink is a new favorite (and very helpful while Mama is cooking!)

Books are a new favorite. One day you spent probably 45 minutes just looking at books while Mama read a long story to Ella

You and Ella are beginning to play together. You've learned how to pretend eat food when she's playing kitchen. Of course there are still lots of bumps, bruises, pushes and learning of how to share. 

Learning how to use utinsels at the dinner table, and whenever food is out in front of you blow on it. 

Blowing farts on Mama's belly still brings much laughter to you

You have a squealy, bubbly giggle that we adore

You loved your birthday cake and even tried to have your feet help you eat it.

Boonshoft

Had a cousin day and Boonshoft and then swam in the evening at Dayon Rec Center.