Arwyn turned 14 months old this week, and she is the most kissing, hugging, loving little 14 month old ever! She will be in the middle of breast feeding and decide that she needs to stop, climb up and kiss me on the lips, and then get back to business. And she will do this multiple times. She also likes to keep kissing and kissing (as well as tight hugs and squeezes) during the bedtime song. Unfortunately it's more like a kissing game that fires her up rather than calming her down, so it really isn't too helpful at sleep time, but it is funny and cute! She just loves to kiss! She's also started pointing incessantly at the picture of the owls above her changing table, and she can say "owl" now, as well as making the "who!" noise that owls make. She's starting to like baby dolls a little (but not necessarily more than any other kind of toy yet), and Leia graciously gave Arwyn one of hers to play with. It's weird though, because she hasn't picked a bedtime "lovey," even though there are several good ones in her bed every night to choose from. I do occasionally see that one of them is flopped over her head when she's sleeping, but it never seems to be the same one twice, and it's not done consistently. She's had a couple sleepless nights this week, which were either teething or some little illness, and she always has such a hard time going back to sleep, which is why I'm bummed she doesn't have a lovey to help her. Her hair is getting so long again, but she hates when I put clips in to keep the hair out of her eyes. She always tries to pull them out! And hair gel doesn't work either; she just loves to rub her hair, either on the floor or with her hands, so the best intended hairdo goes to crap so fast! On school days, Arwyn is always so content with whatever she's doing when we arrive, but super happy so see us, and then pissed when we try to put her down or into her carseat. (Contrast this with Leia, who by 5 or 5:30 was always so upset that everyone else around her was getting picked up but her parents hadn't shown up yet. We always arrived to find her crying or being held and walked all around school by the director or some teacher...so funny how different they are!) The other day though, Arwyn was so visibly happy to see me when I arrived, but she didn't stop playing with whatever it was she had in her hands, and she didn't ask to be picked up. Instead, she marched over to her carseat and climbed right on in, indicating she was ready (and happy) to be going home. This has NEVER happened before! It did happen to be the day of the hospital party, which we had been telling Leia about, so maybe Arwyn actually understood where we were going and was excited about it too?? Who knows? She has also started trying to put on her own clothes. She can successfully put on a helmet now, which is so cute because she puts it on backwards but is so proud of herself for having gotten it on at all. And she also practices putting shirts and things on top of her head, although she's not actually getting those things on at all. Still, it's so fun watching her try.
Leia's interest in artwork has really exploded over the last few weeks. This week she's been drawing maps and putting "words" on the maps. The words are still just squiggly lines, but definitely in the right direction. Then she likes to "read" the maps, or has us "read" her maps to her, which basically consists of making up a good exploration story related to the pictures on her map. It's all so creative, I love it! She's been interested in trying to draw many new things too, but she always wants us to show her how to draw it first. We had a good morning of pulling weeds out of Daddy's garden, and it was cute because when we finished she says, "We worked really hard!" These are exactly the kind of statements we are supposed to be saying to her to encourage self sufficiency, so it's funny to hear her say it herself. She seems to always want so many things, which of course I'm not about to just buy, so I always tell her to "put it on her list" for her birthday or christmas. That was sort of an unfamiliar concept for her, but she went along with it anyway, and now she's constantly telling me "I'm putting this and this and that on my list." And she finally discovered that you might want to write down a list, so besides the words on her maps, she's also "writing" many lists. Too cute. She's having another little jealous regression period I think, because she's started to constantly mime things to us instead of talking. It's kind of like her little version of charades. It's actually quite brilliant because we really have to look at her and pay attention to figure out what she's saying, so she has definitely figured out a good way to get more attention! She's also figured out the other people's lives sometimes look better than your own from the outside. She's decided that she wants McKenzie's mom to be her mom, and I can go be with McKenzie's dad (I guess Josh is still ok). I know it's pretty normal and all kids probably think that someone else's mom is cooler than theirs, but the weird thing was that she told me this pretty matter-of-factly at the end of what I thought was a pretty good day for all of us; she wasn't really mad at me about anything! Oh well, she's stuck with me!
Leia's interest in artwork has really exploded over the last few weeks. This week she's been drawing maps and putting "words" on the maps. The words are still just squiggly lines, but definitely in the right direction. Then she likes to "read" the maps, or has us "read" her maps to her, which basically consists of making up a good exploration story related to the pictures on her map. It's all so creative, I love it! She's been interested in trying to draw many new things too, but she always wants us to show her how to draw it first. We had a good morning of pulling weeds out of Daddy's garden, and it was cute because when we finished she says, "We worked really hard!" These are exactly the kind of statements we are supposed to be saying to her to encourage self sufficiency, so it's funny to hear her say it herself. She seems to always want so many things, which of course I'm not about to just buy, so I always tell her to "put it on her list" for her birthday or christmas. That was sort of an unfamiliar concept for her, but she went along with it anyway, and now she's constantly telling me "I'm putting this and this and that on my list." And she finally discovered that you might want to write down a list, so besides the words on her maps, she's also "writing" many lists. Too cute. She's having another little jealous regression period I think, because she's started to constantly mime things to us instead of talking. It's kind of like her little version of charades. It's actually quite brilliant because we really have to look at her and pay attention to figure out what she's saying, so she has definitely figured out a good way to get more attention! She's also figured out the other people's lives sometimes look better than your own from the outside. She's decided that she wants McKenzie's mom to be her mom, and I can go be with McKenzie's dad (I guess Josh is still ok). I know it's pretty normal and all kids probably think that someone else's mom is cooler than theirs, but the weird thing was that she told me this pretty matter-of-factly at the end of what I thought was a pretty good day for all of us; she wasn't really mad at me about anything! Oh well, she's stuck with me!
Ready for school and cute as a button in her little summer jumper!
I missed the moment when she had just climbed into her chair by herself, all happy and ready to go. I captured the moment right after when the seat tipped over and she fell back out!
Pony rides for Leia at the hospital family picnic.
A little in shock to meet a duck with an afro tuppé!
These animals were cool to see, but a little too close for comfort! Get back you!
Kenzie and Leia having fun in the costume box!
A Charlie Chaplin Princess...nice combo!
Leia got a princess wand balloon and Arwyn got a pirate sword balloon.
"On guard!"
Oh yeah, so psyched to be running around swinging that sword everywhere!
There's nothing she can't climb!
Two tired and wired troops headed home after a fun party!
Checking out the new lawn (and cool toys) up at Emmett's house.
My little cleaning helper.
Really getting into it and working that swiffer!
Another braid photo request!
Model shot of the new do!
And here we have a happy customer modeling the sparkly new "glass slippers" that she bought with her own money...they finally arrived in the mail!
Unfortunately they gave her blisters within 20 minutes of putting them on her feet! She wouldn't let me return them, but I noticed that she hasn't worn them too much since those first few days. So sad!
Chef Leia helping Daddy with our yummy pancake breakfast.
With the bloody eyes it kinda looks like the mask after Darth Vader dies...spooky!
Deep in thought about her next artistic masterpiece.
It's Daddy time!
Pointing at something she considers very cool.
Love love love this little cutie with her new barrettes and jumper!
"Mom, check it out! So many cool things here at Nana's."
She is always so psyched to practice walking face forward down these stairs!
Fun reading time with Daddy...well, Arwyn's not too into it I guess.
Everyone gets a ride on the Daddy train!
Leia is so psyched that Arwyn is starting to play with her a little more...climbing into her fort with her was huge!
Ha ha, look out Leia, Arwyn's gonna get you!
"Oh yeah, I can put on my own helmet now! I rock!"
Don't you just love that proud little grin?
On and off, on and off, that's the best game.
Ninja Daddy on the grill!
Such a cool job coloring this elephant...stayed in the lines and used neat colors...I think it's an elephant in the sunset. Her teacher was so impressed too!
"Daddy, turn this into a purse please!" Well, turns out that Leia and Daddy's art plus Leia's junk treasure hunting supplies plus Josh's creativity do make the perfect purse!
Look who just found the perfect spot to enjoy a never ending supply of rocks to try to eat!
Leia wants to play, but Arwyn says "outta my way sister!"
Oh dear, poor Leia, so many owies up and down her legs. The whole box of bandaids just wasn't an option, so we had to wrap her all up in one giant bandaid!
And here is what 14 months old looks like!
Long hair, only likes to stand, so big, but that great happy smile hasn't changed!
Little goof!
Still only 4 teeth, but they are getting big!
There go the hair clips...they don't last long with this girl!
"Ha ha Mom, I got it out!"
Likes to climb into the swing by herself and chill out.
Ok, finally kneeling down for at least one minute to investigate a new toy.
Ahh, scary ball child, I think she's possessed!
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