Avi's CoHousing Adventures, # 85

Snapped these pictures with our professional camera the other day. These are the moments that make cohousing such a great life choice for raising kids.

8-year-old Gianna showing Avi how the umbrella opens.

6-year-old Ezzy carefully pushing Avi around in a mini-dump truck. Avi climbed into the truck bed herself. I love her expression of trust and admiration looking up at Ezzy here.

So precious!

Random picture of the great veggies we get from our local organic farmer. Thanks, Jerry!

Halloween 2010

We maybe went overboard in our planning of one of our favorite holidays this year. In trying to be so clever, we missed the cuteness factor of Avi's costume, throwing the whole thing off. We wanted a themed family costume, so Michael was going to be the Fisherman, Maren the Fish, and Avi the Mermaid (get it: the product of our love). Well, Avi's costume came from the Internet and even after sewing and altering, the single fish fin/leg part still didn't work too well on a walking, bi-ped toddler. Plus, it just wasn't "cute". So we opted for an adorable monkey costume borrowed from a friend. Thanks, Amanda and Olivia!

Here we are in our full regalia. Avi's leg just popping to get out!

At our first (of several) Halloween party.

Right to left: Olivia, ?, Jacob, ?, Kendall, Claire, Avi.

At the Munchkin March in SLO. Macy is dressed up as a chicken. Avi has opted for the more convenient and cuter monkey costume. Maren has turned pirate. With friends Corrin and Josh.

At our home, during our Halloween party.

Avi cuddling up to neighbor and friend Frank. Who doesn't love this guy?

The culmination of it all - Trick or Treating! Avi holds on tightly to her first Trick or Treat basket which holds one candy. She only got to go to one house, then her bed called...

All those little things (16 months)

Avi, you are growing up so fast I don't have time to write down all the cool new things you are doing. One pretty silly and embarassing thing you started doing a few weeks ago was pick your nose. It was like, Wow! I have a hole on my face and my finger fits perfectly inside! You would just put your finger up there and then just sit there, not even moving it. You are so silly!

And now I'll say something that won't have you hate me when your 16 and reading this: your vocabulary is shooting through the roof! You say "uh-oh" for no reason (like the other morning you got up, I was breast feeding you and then you just sat up and said "Uh-oh" when nothing had happened). But you also say it when you drop things, so that's good! You're also saying "no" (unfortunately), and "Wow" (which is absolutely adorable), and "doggie", and not so recognizable words, like "em-n" for lemon, and "eez" for cheese. You are also going through a separation phase in which you don't like to be put down or left at all. In fact, sometimes Daddy isn't even good enough, you only want Mommy. And then you are saying "mommy" for everything you want, which to be honest is really annoying (Don't use your mother's name in vain, would be my first commandment if I wrote a bible for mothering).

You love to eat whatever is on mommy and daddy's plate and tend to be uninterested in what's on your plate. Sometimes, if Daddy looks away, you will steal his big fork and try to put his food in your mouth! You even ate some of Mommy's salty seaweed snack yesterday - and you loved it! (Even Daddy won't eat it!) You still don't like eggs or bananas (though you loved the tiny baby bananas in Hawaii). You still breastfeed, but usually just once or so during the day, and then once before bed, 1-2 times in the middle of the night, and then when you wake up.

Currently, you have four molars breaking through your tiny baby gums, so that must be very painful, but you are enduring like warrior, you get frustrated easier and are waking up more at night, but you seem to be doing quite remarkable with the pain. My poor baby. You're learning to run and it freaks me out. I will think you are only 5 feet away, then I will look up and you will be all the way down the path! Your little legs are getting so strong and the little thigh fat is falling away fast - oh, how I miss those "chunky chunkies", as I call them.

Our little artist

This hat was given to Avi by her neighbor Molly. Molly was in Europe when Avi was born, and I asked her to bring back something from Paris for our little baby. Well, the red Parisian beret finally fits Avi. She completed the look with an authentic paintbrush in her hands. Our little artist, who knows where she will go?

Interview with a Toddler

In many ways, Avi leads the life of a celebrity. She receives an exorbitant amount of attention in both the private and public spheres of her life. Much of what the world knows about her is filtered through the selective nature of media (i.e., blogs, websites, photos, and video). We decided to get up close and personal with Avi and discuss what’s currently on her mind-- in her words. Avi was kind enough to spend a few moments with her father in the living room of her beach home, on a sunny fall October afternoon. We discussed a wide range of topics spanning art, religion, politics, and apple juice.

Daddy: I want to thank you, Avi, for taking time out of your schedule to sit and do this interview. I know your time is in high demand and you currently have several projects going on. You could be doing your regular weekly hike, hosting a get-together with your friends and their moms, practicing your gymnastic agility on the trampoline, or keeping up with your acquaintances at parent participation and stroller strides.

Avi: Da.

Daddy: So tell us, Avi, what does it feel like to have a brain that is absorbing information at a staggering rate-- a rate that would literally make an adult completely pass out on the floor? The world is old and your mind is so new. Does your brain ever get sore from all of that activity? Does your head ever overheat? We’re talking about a lot of energy here.

Avi: Da.

Daddy: Hmm. Lately, you’ve been doing a lot of talking. Some would call it babbling, though the discerning listener will be able to pick up on the subtlety of actual words, particularly mimicked words that you repeat back to the speaker. You often speak in a string of words and sentences, sometimes paragraphs. And just the other day, you shared what appeared to be an actual story that you were recounting. By the rise and fall of your pitch, and wide hand motions accompanied by leg jumping, it was quite dramatic and seemed to involve dynamite explosions or a big bouncing ball.

Avi: Baw Baw bee-bee do. Duh doh-doh.

Daddy: Does this mean that you will be--

Avi: - Ga! Gaaaa! Anah ma daw.

Daddy: --that you will be less interested in continuing your sign language studies?

Avi: [no reply to this last question]

Daddy: Well, I hope you don’t, because you have several signing words under your belt (like “milk,” “food,” “down,” “ball,” and “drink.” Plus, you are an avid pointer. You point on command to many stated objects and most major body parts. And there is a lot of force in that little index finger of yours.

Avi: [no reply. At this point, Avi walks over to the kitchen table, finds a random cheerio underneath, and places it in her mouth].

Daddy: Apparently, you don’t ascribe to the 5 second rule?

Avi: Aaah! [Avi points to her high chair at the end of the table which means she would like some food. I pause the interview at this point to place her on the chair and provide some turkey, pita bread, and hummus. She rejects the bread & hummus by tossing it on the floor, and duly stuffs as much turkey in her mouth as she can before I remove her plate. After less than ten seconds, she’s ready to get down. She finds her sippy and takes in some apple juice. The interview resumes.]

Daddy: So Avi, where does your sense of affection come from? You are often found hugging other small children, particularly other princesses like yourself, and even after having barely made small talk. While some children find this flattering, others appear intimidated by your hugs and head-nuzzling.

Avi: Na na bee-bee doh. Bah bee, bee bee. Da.

Daddy: Let’s move onto the subject of art. You’ve always been impartial to music and dancing, and have been described as “lyrical”; in fact, you can be heard singing melodies in your morning crib. Plus, you never hesitate to get down the second a musical beat is heard. But lately you’ve taken some interest in the visual arts- particularly the medium of a ball point pen, which you prefer over crayons. Your style can be described as a mix of wide, bold, and repeated strokes, with interludes of tense, intricate movements; you seem to be straining to achieve something in particular before abandoning the whole thing. Care to share any thoughts on this?

Avi: Haw! Yeaaah! Ha baw bay da-be-do-ba. Yeaaah! Haw. Haw.

Daddy: Interesting. So, any forecasts on the upcoming state elections?

Avi: [Avi disregards the question, having exited the room, and is now climbing the steps towards the front door. She’s decided to end the interview at this point and move on to her next venture. ]

Leg Tunnels

About a month ago I was washing dishes in the kitchen sink. Avi walked over to me and started hugging the side of my leg. She wasn't begging to get up or asking for anything, she was just hugging for the sake of hugging. Since then, she's been avidly going in and out from underneath mine and daddy's legs. It must be fun being that short and having the whole world turn into a playground for you.

Under mommy's legs.

Running around.

Right before a fall.

She cried for about 10 seconds after this fall. Avi must fall 3 times an hour, but she often doesn't even make a peep. She only cries when she's hurt herself (like with a scratch) or if she's tired or hungry (and thus already cranky). She's a tough cookie. Most of the time after she falls, she wants us to pick her up and comfort her, but then after 2 seconds she wants back down on the ground to go at it again! She's pretty good at self-soothing.

Dancing with Daddy

After Michael's been gone for the day, he will come home, wash his hands, then directly pick up Avi and dance. They will twirl around the living room for a song or two - the whole time Avi has a smile on her face and Michael has an intent, sweet concentration. It is so endearing it makes my heart ache.

And afterwards, after all that serious dancing, comes the rest on the couch.