Wraslin'

  If it's one thing my two youngest love to do together, it's wrestling!

I guess it's their universal language.

The Amazing Adibaby!

Adi has been growing and accomplishing new feats at breakneck speed! She is really awesome.
First of all, take a look at this:




Is this cool, or what? At only two years old, Adel is drinking from a cup on her own with little or no spilling. I can't take credit for teaching this to her, though. I'm not too keen on having to change her clothes each time she creates a shower. But the boys have no such reservations, so they casually leave their cups of water at the table's edge. And since height is one thing Adel isn't delayed in, she gets lots of drinking practice.

Let's study this photo from three months ago for illustration:

This was one of the first times Adel got up on a step stool... but certainly not the last! It is now a daily occurrence at our house. But as you can tell by her face in this photo, this was an exciting novelty! (Also note the mess on my dresser which I tried to make less noticeable by changing the photo to black and white. And the fluffy cloth-covered tushie. Aww.)

Adel's vocabulary has been growing exponentially.
First she learned how to say "no." Actually, she says, "Uh-uh." This was a big breakthrough, because before she'd answer yeah to everything, even if she meant no. Now "uh-uh" is a large part of her vocabulary. One time I asked her if she wants Randi to come (her physical therapist). Adi said, "Yeah!" Then I asked her if she wants Randi to make her walk. "Uh-uh!!" was the answer I got in return.

Recently Adi started saying, "Up." Old news, right? Wrong.
She'd say up. I'd give her something from "up" that I imagine she wants. No dice. I'd pick her up. More screaming ensued. I would exhaust all possibilities of  "up" until we were both in tears. To calm her, I'd offer something to eat and drink, and she would take the offering. This went on a bunch of times, until I'd just offer her a calming snack before the "up" escalated (pun intended.)
Eventually it began to click in my mind. Could up mean "cup"?? Yes! Yes it does! I taught her a sign for "drink." So now it goes like this:

Adi: Uuuup! UUUUPPP!
Me: Adi, do you want a drink?
Adi: Yeah!
Me: So don't scream. Tell me "drink."
Adi: makes sign for drink or more, depending on her mood
Mama: provides drink

There is lots more to tell you about this Amazing Adi, but I'll save some for later.
I'll leave you with this photo montage of Adi's incredible reach and all it entails:







Notice anything different about Adi in these photos?
She's wearing PINK! Not a little, but ALL PINK. This was probably the first time I dressed Adi in pinkpinkpink... down to the very socks.

Dolly House

One of the presents Adel got on Chanuka was this sweet little doll house. I got it for just over $20 in a local store. I had my eye on it online, but the cheapest I found was $30 after factoring in shipping and all.

I love to watch Adel pretend play. She was putting the babies to sleep, so she took a blanket...


Lied down with it...


And tried to cover herself and the baby with it. Awww.
 
 Of course, in Adi's life, Mama lying down with the baby is an integral part of the bedtime process. What a good Mama Adi makes!

City of Snow

Ever since our gigantic snow storm 2-3 weeks ago, we have been snow logged. Occasionally some new snow falls to cover the old mountains that still haven't been cleared or melted. Thankfully we are able to get around now, but everything was at a standstill that first week.


It all started when we woke up and looked out, er, at our window.

Well, truthfully it started the day before, when we were all outside, carriage and all, trudging home through the blizzard. But that's not as picturesque as waking up to find the view above. So, I'll stick to that story.

Nothing more classic than footie-pajama clad kiddies enjoying the snowy view out the window.

And what a view it was! Notice the fence. It was still visible in some places, but not in all. We have a broken jeep kiddie car in the front yard. One of those huge electronic ones. Can you see it? Neither can I!

I mean, it's not that mind-boggling once you see what a REAL car looked like!

And our back yard! That's a patio in the corner on the left. It's level with the ground now!

We like to throw grains for the birds out the window. The grains stick in the snow, which makes it easier for us to watch the birds.

Although this time, the birds didn't stick around for long...

Coming up soon in a new post: Playing outside!

(PS: A link I put in the previous post didn't work. You can check out a new post I backdated: October Boys.)