Happenings

 For the past almost four months we've been in the process of selling our house and looking for a new house that is more suitable for our needs and our growing girls. Because of this, I've been sorely neglectful of the blog and even Eloise's baby book. Eesh, and so much has happened. 

what I get to look at most nights

Eloise is walking, talking, dancing, signing, singing, playing ball, being silly and generally turning into a very interesting little person. 

first day sitting in a chair all by herself (with her purse and drink)

Her yeses are starting to look more like yes, unless she's really excited and then they look like big, enthusiastic no's. Very cute. If she wants something she says, "Mamamamamamama" or she points at it and then points at herself (very cute). But she's clearly saying phrases like "what is this?" and "can I have that?" She's matching Dalia in the noise department, joining in with growling, yelling, screaming, laughing. And just recently she really got the signing we've been doing with her for months. She loves to sign more and cracker, all done and is just starting on please. 

playing yoga together

We've had great weather this winter and she's learning to walk around outside. A treat for everyone. 
 

If only our preschooler wanted to go outside more. 

she happily and confidently tried roller skating

Dalia is currently in a fear phase. She's afraid of skunks and forests (oh no!). She's even boycotting Sellwood Park because she heard Mark having a conversation with a woman about how her dog got sprayed by a skunk. She thought the woman meant there at the park. So, even though we've explained differently, she still refuses to go. She will, however, go to a park downtown, conveniently close to our new house! So, that's good. But she doesn't like going out after dark. She's also taken to wearing only my clips and hair ties as she's so afraid she'll lose hers. What have I done!??!

pushing sister at Washington park

I know she's transitioning in so many ways. We all are. And I totally empathize with the fear stuff taking over. Not only has she had to endure probably 50 or 60 house viewings (some of the time staying with Gigi instead), she had to help keep this house clean for 27 days of sheer exhaustion without Mommy sitting down or really playing with her at all. Thank goodness for school! Ironically, she was with her gigi when we finally found our new house! But, we went back for the inspection and she gave it a thumbs up, especially the doorbell and the dutch door. 

We also lost our beloved cat, Zoey. Mark and my first baby. She was 15 years old. It was such a sad sad time for us. But she was so ready to go. Her body wouldn't keep up anymore. She spent her last day outside, where she loved life the most. 

saying goodbye

We'll finish out Dalia's school year at her current preschool, which should help with the transition. And even though we are moving to the other side of the river, it's still only 4 miles away. So we'll be sure to spend lots of time in the coming months visiting with all our friends. Hopefully, they will come to us so she can realize that our friends can all come to our new house with us. I did find a wonderful new school for her to go to Pre-K in the same little neighborhood as our new place. I'm very excited about it. 

In the meantime, she's working on counting to "amillion abillion" and doing dance performances daily. Eloise, happily helping out with performances - dancing and clapping with glee (and a lot of spunk).

dancing with Dalia

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.