Girls at play.

Prepare yourself, these girls are dynamite cute.

Show me your scared face.

... happy...

...excited...

 ...sad.

Construction zone

I asked Kalia how she wanted her hair done after her bath and she replied that she wanted a braid.  I've never tried to french braid her hair as she's usually so wiggly when I'm simply putting it in a pony tail.  Since she'd requested it, I thought I'd give it a shot.  I sat her down with a puzzle and went to work.  Here is the finished braid.   

 Pretty good for a first attempt.  I guess all that self practice paid off ;).

This is the puzzle she was playing with.

She told me she was building.  When I asked what she told me a house.

Here's her house:

I thought it pretty ironic that she was building a "house" with tools. 

Curiouser and Curiouser

The evening sun comes in our front windows very strongly.  I was helping Kalia get ready for bed and I came out to find Amalyn.  She was entertaining herself quite easily:

Amalyn 9 months

The stats are in:
height: 28"
weight: 18lbs 6 oz
head: 17 1/4 in
teeth: getting her 3rd tooth

clothes: 6-12 mo,  9mo, and 12mo
shoes: (rarely) size 2/3
diaper size: 3

eats: some purees but moving towards small pieces.  Still hasn't figured out self feeding.  She'll pick up food but it doesn't make it to her mouth.  She's started using a cup and still takes bottles.  She eats about 4 to 5 times a day, 4 oz of formula and table food with a 6 oz bottle at night.

sleeps: one to two naps a day plus 10-12 hrs at night.

plays: can crawl!  She comes and finds me when I leave the room.  She's trying to pull herself up on everything.  She'll walk holding my hands.  She's not really trusting of walker toys and won't touch them.  She's really good at getting into a sitting position from her tummy.  She likes the hard floors and we have to gate her out of the kitchen and bathrooms.  She loves soft toys and hugs them.  I see her holding stuffed animals most often.

social skills: Loves everyone.  She's not afraid to go to other people.  She's only waved a few times but she knows how to clap.  She'll hand toys over if you ask her to give it to you.  She got a clear check up at the eye doctor, but she seems to have one eye unfocused.  I guess seeing someone new gets her to focus better and the doctor hasn't seen it.  She's babbling the ma, da, ba sounds most often as well as vowel sounds.

recent milestones: We dropped her mattress to the lowest support and she started pulling herself up.  I've seen her standing in her bed twice.  She can chew larger pieces of food, and has moved on from purees.  Crawling was a big one as was getting into a sitting position.  She learned to clap and wave all since her 9 month mark.  She's been one busy girl!

I love my binky!

"I think this is how it goes."

"I can do it!  I can get you mama!"

"This didn't work out the way I thought it would.  Help!"

All worn out.  She's always sleeping on her tummy.

Cooking buddies

 Tristan requested some chocolate chip cookies so I had Kalia help me make them.  She was pretty excited to try the finished product but she couldn't smile and eat at the same time thus the two pictures.  What a good little helper!  I would measure out the ingredients and she added them to the bowl.  I look forward to many years of baking help!  I certainly remember helping my mom.

Kalia says

Daddy was giving Kalia a bath and I was cleaning up the kitchen when I hear:
Kalia: "there's nose in my water!"
Daddy: "There's nose in your water?! Should we tell mama?"
Kalia: "yes."
Daddy: "Honey! Kalia's found nose in her water!"
me: "Oh no! Not nose!"

getting dressed

I picked out Kalia's clothes this morning and left the room.  She got dressed *all by herself* and I couldn't resist taking pictures.  My little girl is growing up!

I love that her pants are backward!  The shirt is the right way, just inside out.  She didn't mind at all.  Though, we did get things corrected. :D

BBQ with friends

Last night we were invited to a BBQ with friends in the complex.  They invited families that were new to the ward as well as a few friends already here.  We ate hamburgers and brats with beans, veggies and fruit for sides.  The kids were having lots of fun and discovered the kiddie pool.  It didn't take long for them to jump in, clothes and all.  It was a great way for Kalia to wash off all the condiments from her burger as well as spilled root beer.  The night ended quickly when Kalia had an accident in the pool and had to go take a bath.  She was having too much fun to notice until too late.  Sorry friends!  We had fun.

I know it's a lot of pictures, but I couldn't narrow it down.  I just love how excited these kiddos were!  One picture just doesn't show enough how much fun they were having.  Plus, getting 5 2 year olds to stop for a picture was quite a feat.