The Cheese Monkey.

The other day, Avi woke up from her nap and wanted "fooood" as usual.  But this day, all she wanted was cheese, lots and lots of sliced goat cheese.  So, I (naturally) called her the "cheese monkey".  In fact, if I say "monkey" after anything, it usually gets Avi to smile!

Oh My Gosh! Isn't she the cutest!

It was a normal morning this Monday, we got up and got dressed as usual.  But after I put this new shirt on Avi, I had to do a photo shoot.  Poor Avi, I dragged her outside before it was even 8:00am.  She didn't seem to mind, though...

Shirt: hand-me-down from Pacha & Millie, Leggings: BabyLegs, Shoes: gift from Gigi Louise.  Thanks to all who keep Avi fashionable!

The Bathing Artist

They didn't have these when I was a kid, right Mom?  Avi's got these super-cool bath crayons she has a blast with.  Here we are inspired by our truest muse.

 The artist stands by her work.

Parent Participation, San Luis Obispo

We still enjoy going to parent participation classes.  Mommy's friends are there, coffee is there, snacks are there, Avi's friends are there, toys are there, songs are sung... it's good times for both baby and mommy. 

 Avi does a lot of watching and learning.

 Avi standing with her friends singing a song.

Playing with the scarves with Teacher Julie in the background.

Santa Maria Children's Museum

The coolest discovery of the month for Avi is the Children's Museum in Santa Maria.  This place rocks for a town that is lacking in so many ways.  Way to go, Santa Maria!  We got our year passes and have already paid for off by how often we've gone!

 Avi the miner / archeologist / cutie pie.

 Daddy having fun!

 Avi the farmer.

 Funny smile!

 Something strange about this picture?

 It was the shoes!  Avi's fascination / fetish with shoes started around 18 months and is still going strong! She loved putting on any shoes, any size, anywhere!

 The whale's mouth slide, complete with sound effects.

Sarah holding Avi while Kendal is held by Maren.  We all are waiting for the shark (only a 2' shark) to swim by again.

Potty Following

Avi decided this week to start using the potty.  Hence, I am not potty training her, rather I am potty following.  I follow her around with hands ready to remove clothing when she says "potty", or with her plastic portable potties.  She does the rest!  In fact, just yesterday, just 5 days or so after she started going pee on the potty, she did a poo-poo! We are sooooo excited!  Who knew crap could be this thrilling?!  Oh, did I mention she's 20 months...  

 Peeing in nature can't get much cuter!

Taking a break from playing to pee on her Potette Plus!

"Avi have soup."

Today was a big day in the life of Aveah.  She's 20 months old and her vocabulary has exploded as she is honing her speech skills.  She can repeat almost any word back to you if you say it slowly and repeat it for her.  Amazing!  This may not seem that "amazing", but when you've waited 29 months to hear your baby say your name, believe me, it's ah-maz-zing!

Today while eating soup, unprompted, Avi just says, "Avi have soup."  She created this sentence on her own.  Mommy didn't make it up and then have Avi repeat it.  No.  Avi constructed a sentence, with correct syntax and all on her own!  (Don't worry, we'll work on that verb conjugation soon.)

Then, as if this wasn't enough excitement for one day in the life of a 20 month and 2-day old, Avi used the toilet.  She was playing with Daddy, and he noticed her saying "potty".  So he took her to her little toilet, and she tried pulling her pants off on her own!  He helped her with her pants and diaper off, and then she sat by herself on the toilet and went pee!  Can you believe it?  I can't!

Today was a good day with Avi.  My little Dove, I am very proud of you.  At the same time I'm sad.  When I put you to bed tonight, I thought, This little girl won't be here tomorrow, she will already be older and be someone new and smarter and more independent.  Sometimes I hate putting you to bed because I know this day is over and I will never have the same you back.  But at the same time, I look forward to each morning (as long as it isn't too early) and "opening the present" which is you, Avi Dove!  Thank you for sharing your days with me and your daddy.

Mornings with Rachel and Amy.

Almost every morning after we wish Daddy goodbye for the day, Avi and I will walk over to Rachel and Amy's house and hang out while they get ready to go to school.  Lucy, the dog, and Jessie, the unfriendly cat, are there, too!  Avi has a blast, and Rachel and Amy swear it makes their day to see Avi every morning.  Avi's favorite things to do there are: steal some of Rachel's breakfast, put her hands in Lucy's waterbowl when Amy isn't looking, go into Rachel's room while Rachel is picking out her clothes, feed Lucy Rachel's breakfast, sit on the steps and demand Rachel sit next to her, give the "eye" to Amy and make Amy crack up laughing, and shout "bye" to anyone else who walks in the door...