Little Toofer Updates

At the dentist earlier this month, Dr. Cece informed us that Aves already has one of her adult molars! Sure enough, we took a peak inside and there it was. Now, we just wait for her first loose tooth, which I'm sure will be any day now.

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Griffin is in full teething mode for his 2 year molars. He already has his lower left one that I could feel and if the constant drool and runny nose is any indication, he'll be getting others soon. Ava had all of hers before her 2nd birthday, and both of their teething patterns have been pretty similar.

The Artist

Ok, so not the Oscar Nominee (yet), but I love watching Aves in her element of creating. On this day she was creating a masterpiece of me on my wedding day. Check out that look of determination in her eyes.

Bathtime Bubbs

What a little clown, keeps us laughing all day long. Bath time is fun time in our house. Ava and Griffin could stay in there for hours and play. Recently, Ava has started liking showers, so this left Griff all by his lonesome in the bath. He decided to have a little fun on his own by playing peek-a-boo. He misses his sis every few days, but still is able to make do.

Wordless Wednesday: My Sleeping Beauties

Christmas Recap 2011

I'm a bit behind on uploading my pictures from the camera, so a Christmas update at the end of January will have to suffice.

We were so fortunate this Christmas to be able to spend some time with Grandma, as she came down to stay with us over the weekend. We are also very lucky that The Christians are closer to us when they visit their other set of grandparents, so it makes it easier on grandma to see more kids and grand kids. Aunt Jill, Uncle Spencer and Abigail and Emery came over Christmas Eve and what a treat to get to hang out with them. We ate warm soup and yummy chocolate dessert and they helped us sprinkle reindeer food on the lawn to prepare for Santa's arrival. We got to wake up Christmas morning with Grandma here! It was really special for all of us to spend Christmas together. Later that day, we spent the day with Gigi, Poppy and uncle Aaron too.

So not only was Christmas extra special this year with the inclusion of lots of family, but it was magical to see it through Ava's eyes especially. She was so excited to see the things she had asked for, set up downstairs on Christmas morning. Griffin was equally excited, although he hadn't a clue why he was supposed to be, haha. Such a memorable time for us all!

19 Month Update

Oh Griffers, I haven't forgotten about your monthly updates, we've just been so super busy getting back into the post holiday routine, that I didn't blog about it. It's safe to say that a good chunk of our business is due to you being so curious and into just about everything......which is a great thing! You are growing by leaps and bounds and blossoming into a little inquisitive being just ready to figure out what lies ahead.

At 19 months:

Favorites:
My FAVORITE, all time FAVORITE thing you do is telling secrets. You have learned how to whisper and when asked to give a secret, come up and whisper jibber jabber, baby babble into our ears....something only YOU know what you're saying. It gives me the chills to feel your sweet baby breath and hear your baby talk, not to mention that it makes us all laugh so hard.

Your favorite bedtime song is "Baa Baa" as you call it, or Baa Baa Black Sheep. You also like Twinkle, Twinkle and Hush Little Baby while we rock and snuggle.

Still going strong with the pacifier....ack, which only makes it all the more harder to take it away.

You love bath time and could spend hours in the bath with Sis. You particularly like to make the mermaids, animals and little people jump off the side and splash into the water.

You love anything with wheels that can vroom, vroom. The other day I thought it was so cute how you and Ava were playing doll house. I peered in the closet to see Ava playing and you seeking out the lawn mower and wheel barrow to vroom across the floor and up the wall.

Oh, and dancing, you still love to bust a move when you hear any sort of rhythm, be it music, clanging or whistling.

Words: You aren't using TOO many words, but know quite a few. Let's see.

Mama, Dada, Gigi, Grandma ("Gmmaw"), Boo, Boom Boom (doggie), hi, bye bye, sissy ("geegee"), poo poo, pee pee, thank you, beebo ("bibow"), pa pa ("baa baa"), ball, no no, yeah, yay, oh, uh-oh, good ("goo"). There are still a lot of signs, sounds and motions to tell us what you want. For example, if you want an airplane is "Mama, vvvvvvvvvvv" to tell me you what your airplane. You are doing great at comprehension and relaying your needs.


Phases:
However, you have really gotten into a hitting phase (PLEASE tell me it's only a phase!). Understandably, You'll hit when you get frustrated or don't get your way. And the true temper tantrums have continued. It's fairly easy to either distract you or ignore until we can talk to you once you've calmed down. You are great about showing gentle and giving kisses to make it better.

Personality:
You are such a friendly guy. Waving to people and saying hi and smiling and flirting, the whole nine yards. You continue to be my little snuggler and cuddle up and rock before bedtime. It's great downtime for either daddy or myself to have with you and we will always cherish and remember it. You love to laugh and have a good time, while making being silly and making people laugh. You have just about the sweetest face I have ever seen and terrific enthusiasm and passion for the world around you.

Extra! Extra! Read All About It!

We went for a walk and to our neighborhood park this afternoon with our good buddy, Austin. When Ava and Austin spotted a chair in a tree, a chair in a tree? their imaginations went WILD! That's when the hunt for the grumpy old troll began. Ava asked if I would call the newspaper, because let's face it, the girl knows I have contacts from my acts of local activism and tell them the story......

In Ava's words....

"It all started when we saw a chair in the tree. Two kids saw something and then they found out that there was a grumpy old troll coming in their minds. So the kids found pawprint shapes, with their minds, that the grumpy old troll was eating acorns and nut and he was leaving crumbs of nuts that he ate. But we couldn't find him yet, but we tried and tried and tried."