20 months deserves 2 photos in my book! Robin is learning new words every day now. She is inquisitive and insistent when it comes to learning – if she doesn’t know the word for an object she will point to it and look at you fixedly in the eye (it’s almost scary how good her eye contact is) until you say what it is and she repeats it. Sometimes I don’t know where she comes from, lol. Robin continues to love her baby doll and is constantly following her sister around (and vice versa). Several times a day she asks where Daddy is (ah-Dada?) and I always have to give her a very specific answer or else she isn’t satisfied. She does the same for Nana, Boppa, Gamma, Gampa, and sometimes Leela and Tevin. It happens so often that Lilly has started answering for me: “Daddy is at work, he will be home for dinner; Grandpa is at his house in Arizona, we’ll see him soon”. She is just so darned cute!
Siblings Night Out is always one of my favorite nights of the year! This year Todd arranged for us to have an hour of ‘jump time’ at Sky Zone in Phoenix. SO MUCH FUN! Afterwards we went out for dinner (and plenty of drinks) at the Yard House, followed by an evening out bowling. What will next year have in store?
This year we had a very Merry Christmas indeed! We celebrated with Grandma, Grandpa, Mark, Pinata, Leela, Tevin, Aunt Terry, Gary, Jason, and Billy in Arizona. Todd was missed (travelling from Shanghai with Jessica) but we’re hoping he and Jessica will join us next year.
We had Christmas Eve dinner at Grandma and Grandpa’s after listening to the neighborhood carolers and Aunt Terry read Christmas stories to the kids before bedtime. Lilly and Leela each picked one gift to open on Christmas Eve.
Christmas morning Lilly was up bright and early at 6:30. We tried to keep her in our room for a bit (in hopes of keeping things quiet so she wouldn’t wake up the rest of the house) but she was so excited that there was no stopping her. There is no doubt that Lilly was a very good girl this year and Santa spoiled her with lots of presents! The kids had fun showing everyone their new toys and playing together. We all joined together around 10 to open the family gifts. At that point it was pretty apparent that Robin was not feeling well (low-grade fever, cough, runny nose) and she needed some extra attention so we didn’t open her gifts until later.
After the kids were asleep we sat outside by the fire with drinks in hand catching up with one another. It’s sad to be living so far away from my parents and siblings but always such a special time when we get together. Merry Christmas!
For the complete set of photos (of which there are many), click here.
Tonight Lilly decided not to sleep with her beloved Froggy, that she has slept with every night since she was 3 months old and carried around with her most of the time between 14 months and 2.5 years. She told Bill: “Daddy, I do not need these snuggly things in here any more”. Not to worry Froggy, I will keep you safe until you sneak in with Lilly’s most prized belongings for college.
We have big plans this Winter, hopefully to include some sledding, ice skating on Viele Lake, and skiing, but we’ve only seen one day of snow so far!
Here’s the girls’ class lineup beginning in January, afternoons are reserved for outings with Mommy and playdates with friends:
Monday: Lilly – Preschool in the morning
Robin – Mom/Tot Music and Dance Class
Afterwards Robin plays in childcare while Mom gets in a workout, followed by lunch out together
before picking up L
Tuesday: Lilly – Gymnastics for 3 year olds (Robin & Mom watch)
Wednesday: Lilly – Preschool in the morning
Mom meets with her Spanish group!
Thursday: Lilly – Preschool in the morning
Robin – childcare at rec center while Mom gets in a workout
Friday: Lilly – Preschool in the morning
Robin – Whole Foods trip with Mom followed by Gym Jam
Saturday: Lilly – Advanced Preschool Swim Lessons
Robin – Jelly Monkey Swim Lessons with Daddy
*Starting next month I’m also excited to be joining Intercambio in a volunteer position to teach English to a group of Spanish speakers one evening a week!
Recent Comments