Dalia the storyteller

Remember when Dalia made those awesome faces? Well, lately she's been writing her own stories. It started at school, stapling together paper and asking her teacher to write down some words to go with her drawings. She made a couple of Christmas books for her grandparents, but this one is the most detailed of them all, and thankfully don't include getting sprayed by skunks, which is her most intense new fear these days. Anyway, it is so fun to do this with her as it has been my passion since I was a child, too. I'll never forget my mom helping me write stories and even have a copy of one of my first in our bookshelf. Only I was 7 and not 4. She honestly narrated this story verbatim. I just wrote what she asked me to. Enjoy.

A Fon Summer With Dalia and Eloise By Dalia Kathryn

Videos of Eloise

I've not ever had trouble posting videos on the blog before, but am experiencing technical difficulties. Too cute not to share, so I'm figuring out how to upload to YouTube. If it works you'll be able to click on links below to see some pretty darn cute stuff including: teeth, laughing, walking and singing. Food on the mouth, Dalia talking in the background, Zoey (cat) meowing incessantly, and the tv on are all extra fluff! Also, a disclaimer on the singing part: we hardly ever watch Dora around here. Seriously! I think Eloise heard the song once and memorized it. That is scary stuff, guys!

 

Baby steps

Oh my goodness! I have been trying to keep up with all the amazing things these girls are doing, but in doing so, I'm really losing ground documenting all of their accomplishments. While Dalia is easily picking up simple math that I couldn't do in second grade and writing her own stories, Eloise is trying to say everything. She whispers like Dalia did when she's working on a new word. It's so sweet. She's thoroughly enjoying talking on the phone and because we've done face time with my brother and his family, she thinks the people she's talking to can see her. The waving at the phone is just too much! But, more importantly, she's walking!!!! Okay, she's taking steps. She loves to practice and gets so proud of herself it's infectious. She's much more cautious than her big sister was (an understatement), but no less independent. She will walk all over the house on her knees so she doesn't have to crawl and she can get from the kitchen to Dalia's room on her feet if you'll just give her your finger. We had Dalia try and help us with a video. Here it is. She takes a couple of steps and then throws herself forward in glee at her accomplishment.


I'm just so in-love with these girls. They are truly inspiring.

Christmas!

What a wonderful Christmas! It truly was magical with both girls. Christmas Eve was spent with great friends and family, an easy bedtime in anticipation of Santa and a Christmas Day filled with joy! Not too many gifts to overwhelm the girls, but just enough to keep the fun going. The sun even came out and Dalia got to ride her new bike from Santa. A gift, indeed, to go outside for a walk in December!

Had so much fun with Dalia helping me wrap presents and write messages

fun at Thom and Steph's

partyin' with Gigi

Gigi (the smartest grandma ever) brought her iPad to share with the girls

didn't want to leave Owen and Cecily's, but was almost too tired to walk to the car

Christmas morning! Santa came!!!

I think this is when she got it

what's next?

sunrise

Dalia was so happy to give her gifts (personalized books she wrote and illustrated herself) to her grandparents

Eloise gave Dalia a watch. I think it's her favorite gift.

snuggling at quiet time

a much needed rest for Daddy

sun worshipping. mommy's favorite gift this year!

Christmastime

There have already been so many special holiday moments with our girls this year. It's really different with Eloise around and sharing in the fun. Decorating the tree was by far the most fun. But, also making gifts for family with Dalia and watching Eloise love the ornaments. Dalia has been exclaiming things like, "Merry Christmas in 4 days!"; "I love you at Christmastime!" and wrapping up "presents" for us all in blankets. Anyway, before the big festivities I thought I'd post a few pictures from the past few weeks.

 

school pictures

As is true Dalia fashion, she wouldn't hear of sitting down and letting some stranger take a posed picture of her the way everyone else was doing this year. We'll see what happens next year. I am supposed to get my money back, though I'll probably be able to laugh a little when we get the class picture with Dalia sitting backwards in her teacher's lap (that's right, facing away from the camera). Anyway, here's something I love so much about her school: the school director is always loitering with her awesome camera and love for the kids. I was joking with her about Dalia's school photo - lack there of - and she decided to shoot these. I couldn't of dreamed of better pictures to mark the passing of this time in her life. Way better than a posed shot in a wooden chair with a blue background. Her friends running behind her and the fall leaves all around her. Every day we are more proud of her. This week's favorite activity? Counting to 100. Over and over and over again. We counted together to 112 in the car this afternoon. 

ONE

My baby Eloise is one. My surprise, my sunshine, my heart incarnate. I'm so in love with my little girl I can hardly believe a year has gone by. There've been some hard days, but really, what an amazingly joyful year it's been. I feel more myself than ever, thanks to her. I feel more confident, thanks to her. I feel more capable, more loving, more compassionate and patient, thanks to her. She whispered her name to me as she was placed on my belly and seems to have been whispering the truth to me ever since. If I'm quiet enough, I can always hear.