Fliver O'Lou What You Do

Little Fliverskins, you are into EVERYTHING! Once you decided you could pull up and crawl you also decided that you should be able to walk. You aren't there yet--but, you leave a hurricane of destruction in your path. Magazines on the floor, plants ripped up, if you can reach it it's going to be touched. It is fun to watch you explore and learn your world. You are still very much into textures. You love to feel things and scratch them to see what they are like (especially the back side of my arm which happens to be very sensitive--you love to scratch me there).

You are an incredibly playful little baby. If you are in a good mood you will "attack" me by putting your open mouth all over my face. I usually have makeup running down my eyes from your slobbery kisses. I love it.

You have been saying "Mama," you crawl like a champ, pull up like no-body's business, and clap your hands. You picked that skill up from your cousins who are around 1-2 years old. We clapped hands alot over Memorial Day weekend with them and would say, "yay!!" You apparently liked the sound of that and when we got home you started clapping and you love it if we yell, yay at the same time.

So, you are my biggest fan. Haven went through this stage. You aren't very comfortable if I'm not in your site and if I am then I need to be holding you or at least doing whatever you want me to do. If I'm not doing it right you let me know. Vivi, I would describe you as an easy, happy baby. Except when you aren't. Because you definitely let me know if things are not as they should be in your little 8 month old eyes.

And, my Haven. Big, grown up Haven. You are sometimes bigger than those size 3's you wear. At least you think you are. Yesterday I was on the phone with Gammy and you thought I'd talked long enough. We were outside and you were trying to get my attention. Eventually, in frustration you said, "just go inside. I've had it with you!" Indeed!

Tall tales are your repertoire now. Sophie got run-over? The party we went to was really great, the people were nice because they didn't beat you? (I was not aware that we frequented parties where you were beat on a regular basis). I never know what you are going to say. Which is pretty funny. Good thing I don't embarrass easily.

You are both the most precious girls I could ever wish to have. I love you both so much. This period of our lives is a bit trying. Three year old full of energy mixed with a demanding, although easy baby, in addition to a tired mama. I hope that in a few months things become a little easier and we can just breathe and enjoy. I already do enjoy, so much the time I get with you both, I just wish I had more sleep and energy!

Moving and Shaking

Sweet Little Viv, you have decided to work on 3 mile-stones at once: sitting, crawling, and pulling up (I should add teething to the mix, but I'm not sure that's a technical mile-stone). You mastered sitting up a few weeks back, decided to go right into the crawl (you take two "steps" and fall to your tummy), but the pulling up you have down. Especially if you want something. I just lowered your crib to avoid any base jumps like your sister was fond of, thinking, it will be months before you are pulling up. You still have to learn how to crawl. I stand corrected.

You are a funny little girl. You like to attack me and your daddy by opening your mouth, grabbing our hair, and pulling us in, and sucking on our cheeks. Over and over again. You are typically very easy going. You are an easy baby, but, whoa man--when you decide being easy going is for the birds--you are done. Done. The frustration doesn't build, it's just built.

I thought it was funny when no one could eat around your cousin Cora because she was so food-centric. Umm, the last laugh is on me. It isn't that funny when you are eating dinner and your baby is screaming at you because you won't give her a bite. Never mind that you'd choke on it. Doesn't matter.

Your sister, on the other hand, has hit her stride with speaking. There are no strangers now. Haven tells everyone whatever is on her mind. A captive audience is her time to shine. This morning at Mops, she informed everyone about her pet cicada that daddy caught her. She named him Junior Jeffie. I love that name.

She calls every baby a "borned" baby. I assume it means newborn, but it works. Yesterday she wanted to play with her little pet-shop and I asked her to pick it up before Vivi woke up in case she choked on the small pieces. Haven asked, "because then I wouldn't have any toys?" Yes, my Haven. That is our primary concern: all those toys lost forever in Vivi's stomach.

Haven Grace, you keep me rolling with all your questions and sayings. Sometimes I'm a little nervous about what you will say next. On Saturday we went to Auntie Fae's graduation party. Daddy had just come back from Seattle and you saw him driving up. You went nuts when you saw his car in the drive way and started yelling: "there's my daddy!!! He has a big, big..." then you paused long enough for me to get nervous. I didn't know what might come out. Thank goodness you said "car." You are a delight little one. Everyone, everywhere tells me how beautiful you and your sister are. You are indeed. And, you both give me such joy. You make my heart happy watching how tender you are with your sister and how quickly (most of the time) you are willing to help her out when she's fussy. I can't wait to watch you two grow up and become wonderful, life-long friends.