"Turtles & Ducks"

It's become a nightly routine. As soon as Dadda walks in the door, Violet chirps, "turtles and ducks!?!?" Translation = "Please take me for a walk down the street to where the creek is dammed so I can feed the turtles and ducks (and play in the dirt and run up other people's sidewalks and driveways..." And thus, our nightly adventures ensue. V. & Dadda...

Feeding the turles and ducks down the street...



Getting there...

Twenty-one months

Dear Violet,
It's quarterly update time! You turned 21 months a few days ago, which means when I write the next update, you will be two years old. Oy! You are such a fun little person now. Here's what you're doing:
- You are a little talker. Not only do you repeat anything that we say, but you say lots of things on your own. You tell us when you have a yucky diaper, what you want to eat, what you want to do. It's so nice to know what you're thinking!
- You have so many things you like to do: you love to be outside (which you tell us all the time), you love to see the turtles and ducks with Dada each night, you like to read books, and you love to pet Petey too. You also like to dig in the garden with your shovel.
- Sometimes you try to crawl in your stroller by yourself, and tell Dada that you want to go on a Ride.
- You sit at the table like a big girl now for dinner. You're also so good when we pray before dinner, and you say Amen.
- Your feet are growing! We're going through shoes so fast!
- You don't like the noise of trucks or cars and run to us when you hear a loud noise.
- You stayed with Grantama and Grandpa while Mama and Dada took a vacation to Boston. Mama and Dada had fun on their trip, but they missed you terribly.
- You did your first Easter egg hunts with MamaLou and Papa D, but you were only slightly interested in the eggs. You'd rather just walk around at your own pace. You also saw baby chicks, baby ducks, and bunnies, which you seemed a little confused about.
- You say a few things we can't understand, and we can't wait until we know what they mean: Foo Foo Fi and Watia/Fatia.

You growing up into a big girl is happening so fast. Every day I see the new things you're learning and I can't believe it. You're so brave and fearless and curious, and Mama admires those things in you so much! Getting to be your Mama is everything. I love you.
Mama

Eighteen months

Dear Violet,
You turned 18 months old last week! You are closer to 2 than you are to 1, and Mama is having a hard time with that. What happened to my little baby girl?
- You are walking, running and climbing everywhere. You love to be on the move.
- You are able to repeat pretty much any word that Mama and Dada say. Your vocabulary is getting bigger and bigger every day.
- You like to go to the park, and you love going to see the ducks at the creek near our house. You say outside and ducks to let us know that's what you want to do.
- You are getting opinionated, even about things you want to wear. You ask to wear your jacket, and you've even started wanting to wear a bib you had from when youy were a baby.
- We had some nasty falls since our last update and Mama had to take you to the dentist for one of them because she was afraid you had hurt your tooth. But the dentist checked you out and said everything was ok. Whew!
- You love to spend time at your new play kitchen and the table and chairs you got for Christmas.
- You love to read books and do alphabet flash cards.
- You love to eat hummus, cheese, and applesauce. You also like to eat soup if Mama and Dada are eating it too.

You are the best thing that ever happened to me, and being with you reminds me of that every day.
Love,
Mama

Tiny Dancer

Violet getting her groove on at Santa's Village... (the best move is at :22)

Christmas Card Photo Shoot

Earlier this month (or was it last month?), we did a "mini" session with Stacy of Cloud Dust Photography when she came to Dallas for the day. We had learned Cloud Dust and the 20-minute mini sessions she was offering through a friend. The price was right and the final take away was 5 digital images that we had full rights to (which if you've done any photo sessions, this is a pretty great deal, assuming you get 5 prints you are happy with). We were very happy with the results. We had a fun time 'posing' down in the Dallas Arts District and Violet loved the open space. The top image is the one we ended up using (though we had a tough time deciding...)







Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

17 Months - Bath Time!

A Few Tricks (16 Months)