*sledding

We live by a pretty amazing park with a decent sledding hill. This first time Vera was a little overwhelmed and underdressed, but we have all winter ...

and last year! 7 months old I think:

*

A few things about Vera lately that I want to remember:

°She's really into praying before meals now. She likes to hold hands and bows her head in a funny little way. When we finish she says ah-me! and then signs "again." Last night we prayed "again" at least 10 times.

°I love how she makes her stuffed animals and dolls do things. Over Thanksgiving I noticed her play-feeding Bunny. She put down the spoon, signed "more" with his paws, and continued the feeding. He and the other little friends also sign thank you and wave bye-bye. One day after I showed her how to slide off the couch on her tummy, I saw her sliding Bunny off on his tummy too. Last night, I think she was trying to put Bunny in a sling. She had one of my tank tops around her neck and was trying to stuff him in too ... I wrapped it around and they hung out like that for a while. It was mpossible to get a good picture:

°Last night she discovered that she could blow out votives and wouldn't let Tia [our neighbor] rest until she'd re-lit them 20 times.

°She loves to brush her teeth and I can guarantee if I start brushing mine, she comes running from wherever she's been for her turn.

°Tonight she stuffed some brocolli up her nose. Ben laughed and called me in to see. Hopefully he remembers next time that you don't laugh at those things! She was still snorting out brocolli by bathtime.

°She loves shoes and hats. She always labels our shoes and hats: Mama! Daddy! Mama! Yesterday I thought she might have labeled one as Vera's! She says her name like a Vvvbbbba breathy type sound. Her friend Amelia has this same hat and she labels it too:

*a true toddler

Vera started clearly saying the dreaded "no" a week or two ago. I noticed she'd copy me when I spill something and say "oh nooo!", which was kind of cute. A few nights ago Ben asked if she wanted to get out of the tub three times, and each time she gave him a clear no. This morning she started a game where she holds something out to Stella or me, and just as we go to take it, she swings it back around and says no! I don't like this game very much, and am at a bit of a loss [and I feel like I'm being duped, because every time I think she really is giving me the object. she's very convincing.] My first reaction is to say [obviously], "no, Vera!" What do you suggest?

*2

I'm so grateful for Ben motivating me to get up & out. I was feeling totally unproductive and bored and sluggish one morning last week, and so he suggested we go for a hike - with Vera and Stella. Guess what? You can go on an outing with two babies [and a dog too]! There was no whining or crying in the car or on the trail and we all got some lovely, cool, fresh air.

[very handy, comfortable Beco carrier on loan from the twins]

*el baño

Vera normally has "tubby time" with Ben - a highlight of both their days. After she gets undressed, he's taught her to carry her dirty clothes into her room and drop them in the basket - nothing cuter than her naked little bottom running back to get in the tub. They do all these cute little projects [quite Montessori unbeknownst to Ben] like filling the pitcher with shampoo bottles one by one, lining them up on the side, taking them down, repeating, etc.

I usually don't give her a bath when he's not home, I've thought it was kind of a hassle. Last night though I did, and had so much fun just watching. The entire 25 minutes she poured water from one cup to the other. At one point she dropped a cup and it splashed in her face, making her laugh. So she switched and would pour, pour, drop one cup in the other and pour it out into the water to splash. She was cracking up - every single time. I didn't have to do anything but watch.

[my new cell phone doesn't take very good photos :( ]

*more

Ok, ONE more.  I just posted the last one and from there Ben and I sat and watched old youtubes of Vera over and over and over.  This one is pretty cute from a couple weeks ago.  The day before we'd let her and Sam & Amelia jump in the crib, which was cra-zy - I think she was trying to recreate it:

*

Here's two more videos from a night last week. Ben had class late and Vera and I had a fun little dinner together and then just hung out and played. She didn't really talk or sing or put her hands up or anything else I asked her to do [geez, why won't kids perform when you want them to??]. These aren't super-exciting, but are a little snapshot of our everyday:

*unas palabras

I've been trying to upload videos all day and this is the only one that's worked. I finally got her to say some words on camera. I forgot I was going to edit the end when she doesn't say her "sah/me-me" which is a favorite. ...well that and "tomato."

*do you...

... know anyone who likes to write letters and send birthday cards? My older sister had a great idea for some of her friends: she had me make up some little sets with 4 of my birthday cards, 4 thankyous and 4 of the Be Thou My Vision notecards. If you're interested, you could send me an email.

I'm thinking $20 for shipping and everything. I won't put it on the Etsy shop (you can look there to see everything though) because it's a bit of a hassle and they take a little cut. Also supply is limited :)

* Just a thought *

*the tree

Doesn't this look sweet - decorating the tree with my little girl?




It wasn't. It was a disaster of a night. Vera freaked out when I started putting the ornaments up, furiously signing and saying ball. When I told her she couldn't touch them or the lights, it was total meltdown. Ben was telling me to pose with her helping put up an ornament and I was telling him that it wasn't a happy memory we were making. Anyway, at least now we can laugh about it :) I took off all the ornaments after she went to bed and she's since been able to keep from touching the lights.

*16 months 4 days

I can't wait untill I can officially just say she's "a year and a half." I always thought it was kind of silly how parents were always telling you their child was 17 months or 14 months etc., but now I know how quickly they change and how you want to express that. I did hear a woman talking about her 46 month old a few weeks ago - that's a little ridiculous.

ANYway, at 16 months Vera::

*finally, clearly calls me Mama!! It's a pretty sweet thing to hear.

*started climbing onto the kitchen chairs and the couch. She does it over and over and over and is tiring me out.

*is liking her bottle a little too much. oops, why did I start giving her bottles of milk at a year?? bad idea.

*loves blueberries, yogurt, ice cream, green beans, noodles, mexican food [from a restaurant, doesn't count if I make it], pinenuts and any snack that someone else has.

*loves to pour water from cup to cup.

*"smiles" when you tell her to:

*el agua

It was so nice and refreshing to be back by the ocean! Vera loved it: she was contentedly quiet the whole time and just played + played with us.

*more moments

new cater tradition. fruitball:

the weather was so nice:

every kid started at least 3 apples:

mini pumpkin pie and mini oj for breakfast:

vera loves dogs and birds and cats. she's been calling for caaaatt-ro since we got home:

fun with auntie jay:

one of the twins [who were ad-orable] with his auntie:

eating guava off the tree with lola:

others not captured on camera:

*vera running up to her grandpop at the airport - arms up yelling papa! papa! A pretty sweet sight considering her clinging-to-mommy phase. [I just realized we didn't even get a picture of him!]

*strolling through the most amazing whole foods ever with ben + jessie thanksgiving morning. Ben commented this was a favorite moment of his - anticipating the fun night ahead.

*the beach. i'll post pictures later...

*vera taking two-and-a-half-hour naps!!!

*thanks

{jake thought vera was pretty cute and kept trying for hugs}

I just uploaded over 200 pictures from Thanksgiving and am a little overwhelmed as to which ones to post. We had such a great time in California - our favorite part of course just hanging out with family. It was a big Thanksgiving dinner, with all the aunties and uncles and even in-laws' in-laws present. There was lots of kids and I had so much fun watching and playing with them throughout the evening. I'll share [many] more pictures, but this was a favorite little moment. While the big kids were playing ball, Vera busied herself transporting dirt from a pot to the grass.

*

I really am - I have many many moments of whining, complaining and grumbling, but I always [by God's grace] come back around to being grateful. I'm so thankful for the people He's put in my life, for the experiences I've had -good & bad-, for the abundance of needs that He meets and for teaching me to be content when those needs [wants] are delayed.

We're off to California this afternoon : I can't wait!! to see everyone, to see Vera see and enjoy everyone, to eat so well, to maybe have some warm weather, to be in company of family we love ... Hope you have a happy/thankful weekend too!

xoxo

*sola

There's nothing like alone time in my own house. Even if Vera takes a long nap, I still feel like I have to tip-toe around and don't feel like I get a lot done. This morning though, Ben so kindly took Vera and Boone for a hike, and I took full advantage. First I set itunes to play the entire LATIN genre and then got busy cleaning like crazy - laundry sorted and started, floors swept and vacuumed, recycling/trash taken out, toys picked up. I even had time to sit down at the end with some mate and got some letters written. So nice :: love you Ben!

*¡speesees!

Don't you love to promote something you love? Well I am now an official promoter of one of my most favorite brands!! Ben's sister, Jessie, gave Vera a few outfits when she was born and I immediately fell in love - such incredibly cute prints and fits. Also, everything is made with super-soft organic cotton by a company I can respect - something that is increasingly important to me!!

Anyway, I get to offer my friends and family [and their friends and family] a 15% discount! When you order off their website, just mention the code "redbutte" at checkout. Like I mentioned to a friend, this isn't like my Girl Scout cookies that you feel obligated to buy: I'm just excited to be able to share this awesome brand [with a bit of a deal] to my friends! Fun :)

Here's a few of my favorites:

**yoga pants! these fit so well and are so so cute! perfect for fitting over cloth diapers - or regular ones too**

**these little jumpers are so cute - and really easy to layer with. Vera had this one and I loved it**


**the kimonos are so adorable on a litlte little one. Vera had one with the starburst/dandelion. I want to get her something with the horse :)**
**the little tees are so soft and perfect for layering under stuff**

::take a look::

www.speesees.com

don't forget the code: redbutte

*el artecito

I love the idea [from Montessori] of bringing things down to your children's level - literally. Small tables and chairs and shelves they can reach. I tried to follow Jenny and Tara's lead in putting artwork too at Vera's level. She just loves the little pictures Sam & Amelia have by their table! You can see it makes them all feel special to have such pretty things to look at [things they are interested in, like kittens and birds and farm animals].

Isn't it kind of funny when we think of a child's room - all the pictures at the adult's eye level? Vera's room is sure like that. The other day I pointed out the cute print of an elephant and bunny above her crib - it occurred to me she'd probably never looked up there! So anyway, I've hung one by her table and one by her kitchen. Not too sure she's into VanGogh's bedroom chair [it was the only postcard art I had. I love Van Gogh's bedroom :)] I need to find a cute bunny or puppy for her.

I also bought these plastic frames for pictures of her with me, ben, both sets of grandparents and her best buddies. It didn't turn out as well as I'd hoped and looked a little cluttered. Three of them fell off the wall that night anyway. So I'll keep working on it, but thought I'd share a fun idea. Look at the twins' for a more successful example to follow :)

*la cena

It's funny how you [I] fought and rebelled against things your parents enforced when you were young. My parents were always strict about eating dinner as a family and I of course was probably the one who gave them the most grief about it. In and after college though I really started appreciating what a good thing it is to eat - together. I miss all you roommates/friends who would come over and let me feed you!!

However, Vera goes to bed between 7:00 and 7:30 and it's just easier for us to eat after. For most of her demanding life I had to start making dinner after she went down - at least now I can get it going before! I'd really like us to get the eating-together tradition going. The few times she's eaten with us were so much fun. You can just see the enjoyment she gets from it, sittin' up with mom and dad. So last night we sat down for a delicious dinner [real quick I will mention that I learned from a SouleMama post to add a few glugs of balsamic vinegar to your tomato sauce! It is so so good!!]. I even put out placemats, thinking she'd think it was fun. Well within a minute she put the placemat on her head and whined for her tray, only to dump her milk and swish it around with the bits of pasta.

[milk!!!!]

Tonight was going to be a second attempt, but dinner was ready 1 1/2 hours after her bedtime. Man though it was good!! I made Ina Garten's [yes, her again] chicken pot pie from this great food site. Wow, it was amazing. Please please make it. Be forewarned it has a ton of butter. I didn't add as much as it called for and substituted a little olive oil - I'm usually all for full-fat, but this one was over the top. ok! Sorry, long post. By the way, if any of you good friends have some good recipes you want to email on over, I'd love it :)

*more bunny

I can't get enough of Vera and Bunny. Here she is a year ago clutching her little friend - before they really got to know each other and he still had a face.

It's just so darn cute to see how happy she is when she sees Bunny after a long day - she laughs and oooohs and buries her face in kisses. She holds him out to see what's on the TV, makes him kiss Peter Rabbit or the other bunny in Goodnight Moon and usually shares some of her milk with him. I don't know why it makes me so happy. Anyway, here she is [bad picture, hard to see] holding the cell phone up to his ear:

*cansadita

I'm tired. The past month Vera has been in a serious I-want-my-mommy phase. I think it may have started when she was sick and I kept her out of the church nursery and most other such situations. Or maybe she's just in that phase [in which case, someone please tell me that it will pass!]. I can't even go downstairs to check on the laundry without her freaking out [she loves daddy, but just needs me there too.] On one hand it's really sweet and flattering that she wants to be with me, and on the other it's just exhausting. I've thought a bit about why it's so exhausting - I mean we do a lot of playing and walking and hanging out with our friends. All fun things, so why am I so tired?? I read a dear-abby type article on a friend's blog that explained it pretty well: you're responsible for every bit of the care that dependent little person - keeping them fed and dry and safe and clean and happy and [constantly] held takes a lot of effort and constant attention. I've also really been trying to be a better housekeeper and not waste precious naptime on .. um .. the internet. So anyway, when she goes to bed I just want to sit. and sit and sit. and watch tv and do nothing at all. and then I feel guilty. and then I vent it on our [my] blog :)

{an unrelated picture of Vera in her little fort between the couch and the wall. this little girl tires me out, but i love her so so incredibly much: it's beyond worth it.}