Avi - 12/9/2016

I didn't serve Avilene any fruit this morning - trying to give her sore diaper rash a break!  (Just an FYI, she did have another big poop around 11:00.)  So for breakfast she had a big serving of oatmeal, no canned prunes.  For lunch she had a couple bites of hash brown casserole, and ate a biscuit.  No mandarin oranges.

I was using my electric tooth brush this morning in the Daycare Room and Sophie, Hudson, and Avi came running to see it!  Sophie was pretty convinced it was Lauralea's toothbrush.  And they are identical.  "That Lauralea's toothbrush?!?"  No.  :)

The last two days and again this morning Avilene has been giving mores loves than usual.  No complaints here!!  It's awesome!  For example during her busy play time this morning she stopped as she was passing by and laid her head on my leg two or three different times.  And after her morning bottle she snuggled with me for several minutes.  Yes, maybe she was just tired this morning, but I still loved it!  :)

We used a box and a blanket this morning and had a whole new place to play!  I took this picture when Avi was peeking in and that'a as close as she cared to be!  Sophie and Bubba were in there playing.  However, during Story Time when the "blanket house" was empty she checked it out.

Later in the morning Reid moved the box to a different spot in the room and started building a wall around it to "hide it," he said.  I took this picture when Avi was messing with the box and it was so cute because she was totally keeping an eye on Reid to see his reaction!!  Smart girl!!  :)

Avi - 12/8/2016

Avilene ate toast and cantaloupe for breakfast.  For lunch she ate some turkey, dinner roll, one green bean, and ate her mangoes.  This isn't about Avi, but I think you'll like it:  I was singing "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" at breakfast and Reid said, "Can you stop singing that!?!"  (After about the 6th time.)  Why?  "It kind of getting boring!"  LOL

These first pictures were taken first thing this morning.  (You can tell because I haven't taken her boots off yet.)  I'd set Baby Nora in this spot where she's less likely to tip over backwards and it's pretty safe for her to practice sitting up.  Avilene went to the opposite side of the legos table and took up residence there!  So cute.  In the 2nd picture she went to the gate at least 6 times this morning and yelled for Lauralea's attention.  Lauralea was in the kitchen preparing for her day and visited with Avi every time.

Reid was pretending to thump Avi and Hudson with the Big Bear's feet and they were getting a kick out of his attention.  Then he wanted to hide under the bears and asked; "Put bear on me so no one can see me."  (Not really "asking," but he said it kindly!  Ha!)  Avi and Hudson were looking to see what happened to Reid!!

Reid asked if we could play with the cars and ramps and he was sweet enough to let Avi play with his too.  Hudson had the other one.  We played Christmas music and read books at Story Time.  Avi sat for maybe 2 books, but for her age and activity level that's pretty significant!!  :)

Avi - 12/7/2016

Avilene ate some whole wheat toast and blueberries for breakfast.  She ate a little bit of everything at Lunch; ham, crackers, bean & bacon soup, and strawberries.  At breakfast I was hoisting Avi up to her highchair and had my arm around her middle.  Reid said, "Wth your arm around it (it?), it look like she have a big belly...with a bone in it!!"  Ha!  What a goofy sucker!  And that's another one of the things I love about children - all the hilarious things they say.  I have a journal of humorous quotes from many years of Child Care!

Here's another picture of the kids playing on the mattress first thing this morning!  Avi still has her boots on.  Reid is going head-first over a big bear and you can see Sophie's head poking out!  Silly kids.

Reid was "hiding" under the legos table when Avilene spotted him.  She'd been trying to take his toys and he was being so sweet about it.  He wouldn't give her the ones he had (which was good), but he'd find her another one just like it!  And take it to her.

Avi is beginning to figure out that you can manipulate the legos - at this point she's primarily taking them apart, but that's the beginning!  :)  She's such a busy little girl and it always interests me what causes her to pause, and maybe stop and play for a minute or more.  It's frequently been the legos pieces.  (Next week it'll probably be something different!)

Avi - 12/6/2016

Avilene ate cinnamon bagel and apricots for breakfast.  She ate some of everything for lunch: chicken, whole wheat elbow noodles, peas, and applesauce.

Sophie was looking through the books today and she made this observation on one of them; "Avi NOT chew on this one!"  LOL  Well I think there are actually several she's probably missed!!  Reid and Sophie have been helping me keep an eye on her book nibbling, but she's actually been doing much better.

I'm including a couple of "group" pictures today.  They haven't all been together for several days and maybe that's the reason they played in close proximity to each other for a long time this morning.  Avi is on the left, Reid is upside down, you can see the back of Hudson's head, and Sophie is in the background.

Avilene would wander off to do her own thing and then rejoin the group where they were playing.  She loves being in the middle of everything, but she also likes to keep moving!  Before I took this picture she was drumming for several seconds, but as soon as I had the camera is was time for her to be cheesy!!  Silly Avilene!  :)

I thought this was so cute how the 4 of them were all huddled around the legos creation.  Reid was mostly concerned about Avilene grabbing the legos but she did awesome and never touched them once! Reid said, "Avi might wreck it."  Then he looked at her and said, "You do your own Avi."  Ha!

Avi - 12/5/2016

Avilene ate bran cereal and raisins for breakfast.  For lunch she ate most of everything: cheese & canadian bacon pizza, corn, and tropical fruit.

Avi was her usual fun and busy self this morning.  And maybe even more-so with the toy and book exchange.  I was on the floor beside her (really wanting to give her a hug) and she leaned over and we touched heads momentarily.  I felt very successful!  Ha!  Thank you Avilene!  Avi was standing beside the legos table playing with the legos.  Hudson walked up from behind and gave her the sweetest love (a quick hug).  It was so sweet and so cute.  Good job Hudson.

Here are some pictures of the kids playing with the "new" toys in this toy set.  They had all the phones out and here's what their conversation sounded like.  "What are these things Hudson?!?"  So Hudson explained to her; "These are 'flip-phones' that were used by our ancestors!!  Ha!  (And still used by Gary, except he is in the process of getting a smart phone - meaning; I'm not giving out the number until I figure out how to use this thing so the Daycare Families can message me!!)

I thought this was a cute picture of the two of them sitting and reading together  (Sophie is not here today.)  The picture looks pretty peaceful right!?  Here's what happened as soon as I took this picture.  Avilene had just plopped down and sat right on his foot.  Bubba was trying to pull his foot out from under her and was saying, "Stuck, stuck, stuck...!!!.."  :)

Here's Avilene totally examining the "bear mask" on Hudson's face.  (We've had little kids her age that would cry when the masks were out.  So they had to go bye-bye!  The masks, not the kids!  Ha!) I like how Avi has her finger up to her mouth....hmmm...."What exactly is that thing Bubba!?!"  Here is an FYI in case someone looks at Hudson's Blog today.  Whenever the kids interact like these two did this morning I take advantage of that and their two Blogs will look very similar.  Anytime I can "copy and paste" I use it!!

Avi - 12/2/2016

Avilene ate malt-o-meal cereal and a few raisins for breakfast.  When she came out to the lunch room she headed right for the bib rack to get her bib.  I love how quickly this age group latches on to routines.  For lunch she ate some of everything: ground beef, whole wheat elbow noodles, apple pieces, and mixed fruit.

Reid is here today and the kids love having him.  (He'll be here very regular starting Monday as his Mom begins a new job.)  I took this picture when he was about to put one of the big bears over the gate.  Reid told Avilene to move and she whirled around and made a run for it. That shows good sense if you ask me!!  :)  Side note:  (See gate in picture.)  Yesterday I mentioned Avi shaking a big gate.  She stands in the middle of it and it's very shakeable!!  :)

Reid was playing with a toy and then put it on top of the igloo so Avi couldn't grab it.  That didn't stop her from trying to grab it!  She and Hudson have occasionally been after the same toy.  (Which is why I have 3 and 4 of everything!!  And that helps sometimes!  Ha!)  Hudson has mastered the favorite Toddler word "mine" and uses it frequently.  This morning he was trying to hold three phones and run across the room from Avi yelling, "mine mine mine."  Nope, they don't come with social skills and that's why I focus on the social-emotional aspect!  :)

Avi was so verbally expressive and happy this morning!  She came over to where I was at and said a few words to me; animated and with volume!  Haha!  Then she went on about her business.  What a cutie.  I'm so thankful to have this sweet little girl in my Daycare.

Avi - 12/1/2016

Avilene ate raisin english muffin and blueberries for breakfast.  For lunch she ate some of everything: chicken, crackers, sweet potatoes, and cherries.

Avi was standing at the big gate (entrance to rest of house) and shaking it while Hudson watched and laughed; which only provided more encouragement!  Then she was standing on the floor in front of the step and intentionally plopping down on her butt on the step.  It didn't look like it would feel pleasant!  "oooffff"..... stand up, plop down again..."ooffff"  Ouch! I said, "Be nice to Avi."  Then playing in front of the mirror she hit her head on the handle; Ouch!  I said, "Be nice to Avi."  (That one did hurt and it was the only time she cried this morning!)  Playing with the phone she accidentally bonked herself in the head.  Ouch.  I said, "Be nice to Avi."  :)

Hudson and Avilene were at the window just looking at the snow and watching it snow.  And smacking the window!  Apparently in unison too, right!?

Here's a couple pictures of Avi and Hudson doing what Toddlers do!  :)  Avi was opening the door to the oven and Bubba would close it.  Except he wanted her to leave it closed and wasn't thrilled that she kept opening it.  She would open it then look at him to wait for his response.  :)  She liked initiating that response!!  In the last picture Avi was playing in the legos drawer and apparently Bubba didn't think that was acceptable.  Ha!  I informed him it was totally acceptable.