Update on the girls

Last week, Claire was sick again with a virus. Unfortunately, this time we discovered it while at Home Hippo (her name for Home Depot). I am guessing they will remember us when we go back. As usual, though, she got over it pretty quickly (within a day) and so far, the rest of us are clear. Seems like that is all going around....

Claire is at such a fun age. She has really started to enjoy and understand games - and especially loves Candyland. We have begun to use that as an incentive for her to finish dinner now! Or even just simple games, like tonight, we played the opposite game. You know, where you name something and they name the opposite. I have gradually made this game a little more difficult, but tonight I asked her what was the opposite of "before," and she said "be-five!" Hilarious! It's so easy to find joy in the little things if I just take time to really BE PRESENT and PLAY.

She loves to sing. In fact, much of the time, she sings her sentences. We play along sometimes and sing back. And sometimes when I tell her the correct word in a song, she loves to purposely sing the wrong word(s) again to see if I notice and get a little giggle. She also loves to sing lullabies to Ava. She of course sings the ones I sing to her.....so sweet.

She has recently learned to write her first name, and we are working on the last name now. She doesn't really understand why there are so many Gs!

Ava is changing so much as well. She is starting to get the hang of her exersaucer and is starting to reach for things now. Just today, she realized she could jump in her little jumper, which was really cute. I am a little surprised that she is still not rolling over, but oh well. That is something I would've really been worried about with Claire. I am just going to savor this little baby phase as long as I can this time! She is babbling (pretty loudly at times!) and laughing a lot now - music to my ears! She has just discovered that she can blow bubbles, and she just loves to do that now when her bottle is in her mouth. Already a messy eater! Speaking of bottles, she is pretty good at holding hers already.

Seeing the girls interact is really sweet. Claire can just smile at Ava and she gets so excited - flapping her arms, making noises, grinning, etc. Ava's eyes will just follow her around a room. Claire is a great big sister and is pretty gentle and loving with her (most of the time)!

We are also getting excited about Thanksgiving and Christmas! I so love this time of year! It's especially fun this year because Claire is old enough to understand everything and, of course, because they will be Ava's firsts. I do believe the season has snuck up on me though!