Mooserific!

Yes, they’re sisters, but not identical, we often say. Even our walks illustrate that point. Josie likes to lean forward in the stroller, point at things, and excitedly tell me what she sees. “Dog! Car!” She only has words for a few things, but she tries. I fill in the rest. (Look Josie! A mailbox!) Gwen likes to recline and suck on her pacifier. She lets the world come to her.

Abby had an excellent idea for dinner tonight.

Hooray! I finally think we are all recovered from the horrible stomach illness. We enjoyed the lovely weather today with a trip to the library in the morning for storytime, and a mile walk around the neighborhood after naps. The girls especially enjoyed playing in the front yard (and climbing the tree). I hope they sleep well tonight!

After being awake for a few minutes this morning Abby asked: “Mom, can I have a little snack?” Sure, I replied. What would you like? “Cake!” Josie liked that idea too. It’s a good thing hummingbird cake is pretty healthy.

Cannonball!

We’re down to just two more swim lesson days before we take a break for a little while. I’ll really miss our special time together, but I think Abby’s ready to graduate from her toddler (water acclimation) class. She’s definitely acclimated. In a few months, she’s already far surpassed the other youngsters in her class. When we first started lessons, she fussed and clung to me like a drowning cat. She now loves the water. She walks around by herself in the three foot area of the pool (“the deep end”), floats by herself on various water floats, goes under water, blows bubbles, and jumps into the pool by herself. The big achievement today was that she asked me to teach her how to do a cannonball like some of the kids she plays with after lessons. I held her up high out of the water and told her to grab her legs. She curled herself into a ball and then insisted I let her go. I did. My balled up Abby sunk to the bottom of the pool then bounced up shouting “again!” We did this over and over again until she was ready to try from the side of the pool. Her cannonballs were shockingly good for such a little person. Gosh was I proud. Cannonball!

Abby listed for us today her favorite members of her “Zoo family.” She likes Eunice, Bob from the bird show, Gaye, someone from the loorikeets (I can’t recall her name), and “Thane Maynard, of course.” I love that she gets to visit the zoo so often that she’s on a first name basis with the keepers. Thank you Grandma and Grandpa Moose.

Puddle stomping fun after our afternoon walk

Abby delighted in showing her sisters how to play in the ball pit at Totter’s Otterville today. It was our first visit since October, and this time Gwen and Josie were big enough to get in on the action (as Abby would say). They all had a really good time.

Ouch! Our poor ears.

The girls and I played outside in the snow this afternoon. I’m not sure what Gwen and Josie really thought about it. They never fussed, but they didn’t smile much either. They seemed to like eating snowballs and being pulled around in the sled. Abby liked playing chauffeur. I think we all enjoyed the sunshine. It was especially exquisite reflected through the ice on the trees.

If you’re happy and you know it…

Words!

The floodgates are opening! I heard more words, and attempts at saying words, during these past few days than all the words in Gwen and Josie’s combined vocabulary up to this point. Tonight, for example, Gwen suddenly said “bye” instead of just waving. And while I dressed Josie after her bath, she said “water.” Both were clear as day. They’re both starting to say quite a few of the beginning sounds of words too – cook for cookie; pop for popcorn; Ga for Gossie (the gosling in a book), etc. They get very excited when you understand what they’re saying (especially at mealtime when they’re asking for something). Gwen often does a little happy stomping dance to acknowledge our understanding. Josie says a whole long string of funny sounds while enthusiastically nodding. It’s all very cute and exciting. Words!

Riding in the van just became more fun. Gwen and Josie get to face forward now! (And eat lollipops so they’re not tempted to snooze on the way home from the store.)

Oh boy! The school bus.

The girls greatly enjoyed visiting with their surprise guest today.