Dear Avery at 7 months,

Dear Avery,

I am still learning who you are, every day. Your energy and temperament is very different from your brother's when he was a baby. But, these things are hard to put into words when you are still so little. You are an intense, fiery little thing constantly moving your head in the direction of sounds, sights, and things to grab. And, when things are not right you scream at the top of your lungs. If I had to choose colors for Zealand's essence they would be blues, greens, and maybe even some purple. You have water colors too, but are also shot through with streaks of red. And, when Zealand was a baby he seemed to absorb things around him, slowly like water through a sponge. You, on the other hand, gobble things up. You do not want to miss a thing.

And, you have lots to say. You say "dadadada" and blahblahblahah with great seriousness. You love to go for walks, facing outwards in the Baby Bjorn. And, I have said it before, but you make so many friends. Heads turn for you all of the time. "What a beautiful baby!", follows us wherever we go.

You are so inquisitive. When I start to sing a song your head whips around and you stare at me in a way that is almost unnerving. It is as if you are trying to figure out English right then and there. You watch my lips move with such an intensity. And, music. You enjoy listening to it but you also stare at the Iphone on the dock as if you are trying really hard to figure out how sound is able to come through the speaker. It is curiosity, but there is also an intensity that is unique, I think.

Thankfully, you are also a silly goose. You giggle and smile when you spot me across the room and you are incredibly ticklish. I love to nibble on your sides and tummy just to hear your great belly laugh.

You now sit up without being wobbly and are so eager to crawl. You reach for things while on your belly and move around in a circle, rolling around to where you need to go. The other day you tucked your knees under in a crawling position, but that was it. Your mind and curiosity are already running, crawling, and walking but your body is not yet cooperating. You often will balance on your tummy like a turtle flailing your arms and legs in frustration.

It is just a matter of time before you are all over the place. And, I am pretty sure that you will indeed be all over the place. Right now your range of motion is pretty limited. But, you still manage to grab and find all sorts of things. I can't even imagine adding crawling to this mix.

We love you Baby Wavy - your blues, greens, and even your red.

Love,

Mama

December/January Pictures

Dear Zealand at 30/31 months,

Dear Zealand at 30/31 months,

Where do I begin? Christmas this year was a lot of fun as your awareness of Santa and holiday fun was so much more than ever before. And, I felt for the first time the beginning of our own family traditions.

We started the holiday by going to a tree farm the day after Thanksgiving. You were most interested in the kiddie train that was there and finding a bridge that was close to some trees that we were interested in. You were a little leery of Santa Claus but you did manage to whisper, from ten feet away, that you would like a sailboat for Christmas. And, that was that.

Decorating the tree with you a few nights later was one of the most memorable holiday events. Avery was in bed and it was just the three of us. With holiday music on we decorated the small tree that we chose. We figure that each year we will get a slightly bigger tree to grow along with you and Avery. I think you like being close in height to the tree and it helps to allow you to decorate it. You were so happy this evening. Running from the table to retrieve an ornament and then over to the tree and back again. Later we all danced in the living room to holiday music and you kept asking for more dancing. At one point your head and arms were in your dada's hands and I held your feet and we swung and swung you side to side and higher and higher. You laughed and laughed. These are the kinds of memories that write themselves all over your heart and last there even if your memory fails.

Other holiday highlights:

We decorated gingerbread houses together as a family one evening and then that week we had your good friend Henry over to decorate sugar cookies. I carefully arranged two plates of decorations, dried apricots, coconut flakes, currants, and some peppermint. You each were given five frosted cookies to decorate and were told that you could eat two and save the rest for later. What a civilized plan! And, of course the moment the two of you saw five frosted cookies you proceeded to shove them into your mouths as if we might suddenly change our minds about the whole thing. The decorations were mainly untouched and Gisela and I later added them while you two played off your sugar high.

The picture pretty much sums it up. The lid is officially off the pandora's box of sugar delight. We had to put on high shelves your gingerbread house since you kept picking off hunks of candy and a few mornings you asked for candy canes with your oatmeal. And, you ask for "just one more cookie" with your pointer finger and your face all scrunched up as cute as can be. Instead of whining for something you are learning the fine art of laying on the charm.

I have to say though that your love of sweets is mainly my fault. I really enjoyed baking gingerbread men, sugar cookies, and bringing home candy canes for the tree. Part of the holiday magic, me thinks, is to relax the rules and allow for treats. Gingerbread cookies for breakfast, sure, why not, it's the holidays. Come to think of it, this is how I spend the month of December myself. Hmmm...

We read many times The Night Before Christmas, and The Polar Express (a gift and favorite of Ami's). And, had many discussions about how Santa might get into our house since we do not have a chimney. We decided that he would have to come on the fire escape.

You developed a cold a few days before Christmas so I think the excitement was a little muted. You crawled into bed with us at about six in the morning with no mention of what might be in the living room. I should say that a new habit of yours it to crawl into our bed in the wee hours for a cuddle. With your sister usually sleeping soundly in the middle of us, somehow we now have a family bed. Sweet and also, well.. thoughts for another time..

At some point we asked you if Santa Claus came. You crawled out of bed and pattered into the living room. It took awhile for things to sink in. It might have been the cold. But, soon enough you were digging into your stocking with delight and marveling over what Santa had left. At one point you exclaimed, "Santa brought Everything!"

Everything was very modest, something we consciously strive for in our household. A wooden sailboat, a Thomas the Train caboose, a wooden car, a book, and small stocking stuffers. And, a bag of gingerbread men that you promptly devoured.

Besides holiday goings on, these months have been busy in another way. We are in the process of buying a house in Walnut Creek. Right now, for you, that has meant visiting houses in Walnut Creek and doing many more adult sort of errands, and being privy to lots of adult conversations. Yak, yak, yak, as you would say.

Not ideal for you, but I know it will all pay off and you will love having a house and a backyard. I think you have sensed the transition going on about you and it has made you a little uneasy. We have started conversations about a new house in Walnut Creek and you have talked about packing your crib and toys. But, I am sure this stirs up anxieties in you. San Francisco is all you have ever known. Your first home.

In the meantime, we have had lots of play dates with your new good friend, Henry. The two of you play very well together and really enjoy each other's company. A favorite over the holidays was going to Koret park and sliding down the tall cement slide on cardboard. One day Henry even brought two brand new pieces of cardboard for the two of you. Henry's mom, Gisela and her other son, Oliver, would stand with the babies while you and Henry climbed and slid down for what seemed like hours. Not saying much but laughing and moving in perfect sync. I love watching when you are in your happy zone with another kid. It makes me think ahead to preschool which I am pretty sure you are going to just love.

Oh, another big one these past two months has been preschool tours and preschool play dates. You have loved each preschool visit as the spaces are always so much fun. Cars, trucks, blocks, kids! You jump right in. I can't wait for this experience to begin for you. And, for all of the things that are starting now - friends and play dates to really blossom ten fold. I feel that you are really ready for all of it (at least at this point in time).

Here's to a new year kiddo. I have a feeling that 2012 is going to be a big one!

We couldn't love you more.

Love,

Mama