Slinging Hippo.

I've worn Avi in a sling since she was about 2 weeks old.  She loves the sling!  Now, I ask her if she wants to be "slung" and she says, "yes!"  Well, the other day she wanted to wear the sling herself and put her toy Hippo inside. I think she will make a very good mommy.

The practicality of the sling: it frees your hands so you can do lots of stuff, like take a drink of water.

P.S. thanks to my friend Paula who handmade this sling for me. It has been and continues to be my favorite.  I take it on every trip we take (have it with us now in the Delta) and wear it all around Tierra Nueva.

Joy. And Mommy Abuse.

Avi brings me so much joy.  When I think of her, and Michael's around, I always say, "Thanks for giving her to me, she's the best present in the world."  He'll reply with something like, "She's the best..." and get a dreamy, far-away look in his eye and then repeat an endearing tale of something cute she did earlier that day.  We are totally smitten and in love.  

We each express our love to her in different ways. Mommy likes to be sort of rough, and throw her around on the bed or couch and nibble on her feet, belly, neck, arms, anything!  Avi loves it.  Her giggle is uncontrollable and totally infectious!  She can handle all the abuse love!

At the Park with Avi.

There's a really cool park near our house, Chumash Park. Avi loves it there!

Content with her conquering of the slide.

Watching other kids and thinking...

Avi must be practicing posing for magazines, because lately she's been crossing her legs at the ankles whenever she stands against a wall. It's adorable and very photogenic!

This is a cool slide, it has bars that roll. Very fun!

But the swing is best - especially when Daddy does "underdog"!