Sunday, August 19, 2007

Side Effects May Include...

Making funny faces and being a grump! Helen received her vaccinations to mark her one-year birthday. She's been a little grumpy the past few days, and just when she seemed to be getting over that, she now has a little fever and a rash (I think this is normal for one of the vaccines). Poor girl...

She also has one new tooth that I can see, and is probably getting more, based on the "drool factor" of 9 and the "chew on everything" factor of 10. She hasn't figured out how to walk yet, but I saw her take a little leap from the couch to the coffee table, so I know that she is getting ever more mobile. Oh, and she can make it up a half-flight of stairs while you blink.

She is much bigger than Elizabeth was at this age. She's already filling out her 18-month size clothes and is the 90th percentile for head circumference and height (75th percentile for weight). She is feeding herself now, too, so the pureed baby food is out and we just cut up pieces of whatever we are eating now.

She's losing here babyhood, growing more into a little girl. While I mess the cuddles and closeness of babies, I feel some relief in their increased independence and I look forward to watching them explore and learn about their world.

Elizabeth Gets a Haircut

Yet another haircutting experiment with the fabulous Elizabeth. I know that long hair is super-cute on little girls, but it's not real cute when you have to brush it out or wash sand out of it. So, We're trying the bobbed look again. Once her hair was dry, I realized how grown up she looked!

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Scenes from Helen's World

Helen spends a good amount of time looking out the patio door, looking at the cats, or the birds, or maybe just looking through the interesting patterns she has created by putting her fingers and face all over the glass. Regardless, I was glad to catch her cleaning up a bit!

As opposed to Elizabeth, who almost always wakes up happy, Helen can be a bit of a grump. However, judging from her crazy bed head, it's understandable.

A brief moment of togetherness. Elizabeth and Helen managed to figure out how to sit in the chair at the same time. I'm sure that in the next year or so, they'll figure out how to share toys, too.

Weeks of Photographs

I still think the best toys are free. Now this one was not necessarily completely "free" - I think it cost my grandparents $2.99 in 1980. This was one of my favorite toys as a toddler, restored by my grandmother and now residing at our house. The contents of the cart are home-made "grocery store" items: cleaned up boxes and cartons from our kitchen.

Elizabeth's vocabulary and communication skills are increasing. I am simply amazed at what she comes up with sometimes. Her newest thing is, "Just a minute...I'm busy."

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

I'm the Girl in the Box...

...buried in my toys. Won't you come and play with me?

Happy Birthday, Helen!

Even though we all have colds, Helen had a great 1st birthday. Many, many thanks to Grandma and Grandpop, the Gilberts, Aunt Hanako & Uncle Mark, and Grandma. Oh yes, and thanks to Daddy for helping to make this a special day and taking care of us all while we are feeling under the weather.