*13.5 months

I don't have to wait for a round number to give an update :) Vera is literally learning and understanding new things every day, leaving us ever amazed. I wanted to write some things down before she moves on and I forget:

She loves helping me with things - turning out lights, closing doors, holding something for me, helping me cook [telling me that it's "(h)ot!!"]. If the gate to downstairs is open she'll responsibly walk up and close it. If I say, Vera what's in your mouth? She'll immediately take it out and hand it to me - or if there's something on the floor I wouldn't want her to have, she hands it to me before I ask. I love her little smile when I thank her and give her a kiss: the I'm-trying-not-to-smile-smile. I encourage her little servant's heart as much as possible, it's so sweet to see. [Of course she's not all sweetness and her little temper flares quite often. Don't you try to take that pen away or bring her inside before she's ready...]

In her own little way she's now saying banana, hot, flower, ouch, shoe and apple. She can tell you what a cow, monkey, cat and dog say and she signs milk, eat, bird, fish, sleep, ball, baby and sign [meaning she wants to watch the baby signing dvd].

We love being a mom and dad - watching this little person develop!!

*oh, and she gives us lots of kisses now :) - "ba!" she says because she can't make the muaa sound. we can't get enough.

*etsy!

Ok, some of you may know that I've been working on this. Hard to believe how long it's taken me [original opening date was in June I think], but I have started an Etsy shop! Yes I did!! I'm having a strange reaction to typing this and am finding myself kind of nervous. Anyway, please have a look if you'd like. Don't feel obligated to buy anything - unless you really pity me :) Do feel obligated though to tell anyone you might think would be interested. There's birthday cards and thank you cards and some notecards with my most favorite inspiring hymn. Also, I welcome any [kindly worded] constructive criticism as I'm still a little unsure of how it all looks and how this all works.

paperlove.etsy.com

*dinner

Normally we don't let her have at it with dinner. The other night though we just sat back and watched...

I always used to think, "ohh brother..." when people had framed pictures of their kids in dad's baseball hats or with food smeared all over their faces. It seems like the must-have picture of your baby, doesn't it? Well when it's your baby, it is the cutest thing ever. I mean just look at her - she's crazy, hilarious, what on earth is she doing??! I might not share our pictures of Vera in Ben's bball hats [we do have them...] but I do have an understanding now.

[and um if you want to see her cute
little expressions close-up, click on the picture]

*la manzana

I love apples [..ah pink ladies...], and I thought this Vera-sized apple was adorable.

¿remember this apple?

*outside

Ben went camping with a friend Saturday night - taking advantage of the quickly retreating summer. Apparently Joel was better prepared with a top-of-the-line sleeping bag and two pads. Ben had an old skimpy bag and slept on Boone's carpet :) Perhaps it's time to invest in the good stuff. Anyway, sounds like they had some good bro' time.

. [I had a nice time too in case you're wondering: watched a girlie movie, ate ice cream with dulce de leche and almonds and slept diagonally across the bed. not too bad.] .

*1-2-3-4

This is Vera:......

......:watching this video:

*el jardìn

To be honest, the garden is a little sad this year. I thought we were off to a good start, but I think we didn't prepare the soil enough, didn't water enough and weren't back there tending enough. The tomato plants are a third the size they should be, the beets never came and the radishes were too hot. We ate a few and then left the rest sitting there until they were literally the size of cucumbers with 2 foot tall spiney foliage. It was disgusting. We are getting some tomatoes though and the butternut squash seems to be okay. Ben harvested an ear of corn which was really tasty and sweet. Our little apples trees produced this year too. Ok, it's not so bad.

The herbs have done well too - good because they're my favorite anyway.

***

Vera loves to go out and pick tomatoes, dig her thumbs in and then eat them like apples.

Here she is smelling the corn, making sure it's ok to eat.

We'll try again next year - hopefully remembering what we learned this year.

*outside

Monday there was a definite turn towards Fall in the form of a fabulous thunder/hail/rainstorm. Isn't it amazing how slow summer is in coming and how quickly it passes by? And how we say the same thing every single year?? Anyway, I love this perfect warmish/coolish weather and wish we could have a few straight months of it [perhaps why I loved San Diego?]. I'm feeling the need to be outside as much as possible before I start complaining of it being too cold.

* ¡sientate!

Sit down please was one of the first things Vera understood. She still understands but now thinks it's a real fun game to stand up and wait for me to tell her, sit down and then stand up again. I think she's even mimicking me and is starting to say "sit." Anyway, she looooves chairs and loves to feel like a big girl climbing into them [at least that's what the look on her face tells me]. This adorable little wooden one was a birthday present from our-friends-the-twins' grandpa! So nice :)

*

I can't even remember when she started doing this, but I'm so glad I finally got it on video:

*six things

o-kay, my friend 'tagged' me to write six things about myself on my blog. I think ben would agree that this is my blog :) I won't tag anyone else, but if you want to you can do it too. I love reading these things about my friends....

1. I love Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream, but I spit out all the chocolate chips.
2. I wish I could have a celebrity stylist take me shopping and do my hair/makeup. I pretend I don't want to be a girly girl, but sometimes I do.
3. Most people know this, but I really really want to work behind the cheese counter at Whole Foods or other such fantastic store.
4. I used to have a real-deal obsessive compulsive issue with collecting pennies.
5. I love Latin and Latin-roots and Latin-based languages and Latin music and Latin dancing and Latin American Literature. and food from Latin-related countries.
6. I hate lotion on the palms of my hands.

*one more

I can't get enough of these 1 year ago pictures. A mix of I can't believe it's been a year and wow she has changed so much. This is one of my all-time favorites. Man it was hard to transition her from sling to crib - sometimes it was easier to just do it this way. I had to roll up the blankets and keep it as snug as possible lest she realize she wasn't next to momma:

*old friends

:1 year ago:

:3 days ago:

*blocks

I just love how babies pick things up and emphatically toss them aside. I think it's the cutest thing ever. You should have seen her here - it was classic. She sat down though afterwards and stacked the blocks for the very first time. This was a couple weeks ago - now she's a pro.

[also note our shiny newly re-finished floors :)]

*new favorite photo

*a few more...

:a little hike with grandpop:

:watching the boys skip rocks with lola:

:snugglin' with uncle matty:

:laughing at the bubbles:

... and some more scenery ...

tahoe : anne :: rock creek : ben

Remember the SAT analogies? Well Rock Creek is to Ben as Tahoe is to me. The thing is, both are growing on the other at a rapid pace. Really, the Eastern Sierra [including Tahoe] contains some of the most beautiful spots anywhere. We had such a great time hiking, fishing and generally hanging out with family. I'm waiting for the rest to share because we actually forgot our camera on some of the best outings. Here's a couple though of some favorite outdoor/classic Sierra Nevada moments:

Just after we arrived. Vera was already so content:

Out by the Owen's River:

Splashing in the creek:

So many hikes. I can't believe this is the only one I got of her in the backpack - and probably the only time she wasn't happy in it:

Beautiful:

*RCL

It's our last morning here at Rock Creek.  I'm sitting on the steps of the cabin listening to the aspens rustle slightly and the creek rush by [oh and the hum of the laptop... bad bad me].  Vera's inside napping and we'll take one more walk before it's time to go.  What a beautiful time we've had - I can't wait to share some pictures.  Pray for a peaceful sleepy drive home for us!  Well sleepy for V anyway.

*kitchenette

[i may add some curlicues at some point, but for now it's ready!

should I paint the bottom trim green?]

*

It's funny how a child's mind works. I truly believed [not imagined] that Tom Brockaw and Dan Rather were my uncles, that my brother's friend's sister was Mary Lou Retton and that I was little orphan Annie. I wonder what's in Vera's little head...

*12 month snapshot

At 1 whole year Vera:

*loves ice cream, popsicles, grapes, bananas, and really all fruit minus cantalope. green things? she likes avocado and green grapes. she liked pesto once too.

*loves to chase and be chased. around the 'loop' of her room/living room, around the furniture, across the bed...

*likes to put my shoes on for me [this involves holding my shoe up to my foot]. likes to put my shoes on herself [this involves placing her foot on the shoe].

*likes to hand me anything when I say, "oooooh can I have that?"

*loves dogs, birds and ducks. especially ducks.

*says duh [duck], dah [dog], da [dad], doh [no - she just repeats this one back to me when I say no, don't touch that - very cute.]. no 'mama' yet. i think she's trying, but doesn't know how to say the mmmm sound. if I remember correctly from linguistics she instead achieves a bilabial fricative: bbbbbbb. I kind of wish she had some more words, but I think she's been focusing on getting around.

*has 4 almost 5 teeth!

*gives her toys/books kisses, but none for mom and dad :(

*is just learning to sniff flowers - so cute.

*only just doubled her birthweight!! we need to load up on the peanut butter and ice cream, like I said.

*dollie

Vera got the sweetest package in the mail yesterday... a friend made her this sweet little dollie [i think the pattern is from here]. I can't believe how cute she is. Vera was a little hesitant at first -she's never had a 'human' doll- but after a couple kisses and hugs from me, she was in love. We need to think of a cute name...