Madeline on the Move

Poor Chops. This was only his nose...
You should have seen his other friends.
Thank goodness for HOT soapy baths... x 3...

She is always doing something...
Our sixth sense given to us after the birth of our first child (eyes on the back of the head) has come in handy most every day.
"It's too quiet" often lead us to find Madeline doing something. A while ago in Victoria, it was her big stuffy dog "Chops" COVERED in Vaseline and zinc. Both of the full containers were empty when she was done. There was one day when I decided to check on Madeline during her nap as she had been restless and making play noises in her bedroom. SHE WASN'T THERE! Where did she go? She was asleep, FAST asleep in "mom and dad's bed" with a pillow over her head. I don't know how long she had been there, but all her toys were there. Just a good thing she held her fluid over this nap...

The Many Faces Of Jenna

For so long, Jenna has been the quiet one, the relaxed one, the snugglebug. Recently she has been on a quest to express her inner voice, to practice her operatic technique/ air raid siren and to assert herself regarding her needs. We are starting to see her vivacious spirit emerge (with help from her older vivacious role model). "NOOOOOOOOOOOO" seems to be the word of choice, especially when she doesn't like how things are going for her or if Madeline takes something from her (Madeline likes to tease, but as I recall, that is what older siblings do.......) "No Madnih....... MOMMY!!!" *cue loud crying*

Her vocabulary is coming along very well and even though the speech therapist says that she is about 6 months behind as far as speech development, it is wonderful to hear how she is communicating. Actually now that I think about it, she has been vocalizing all along, we were just unable to understand her. She is still using her signs for some things, but mainly is using her words and Madeline has been very helpful to 1) teach Jenna new words; and 2) interpret for us. She even goes as far as saying the words slowly and phonetically for Jenna just as we do for Madeline. I really don't give my children enough credit for what they know. I have VERY intelligent children! This isn't a bias, it's a fact.

Jenna, still a snugglebug but turning 2.......

buddies

It kind of looks like Madeline is putting a strangle hold on her younger sister, but in fact it is a hug. And Jenna is liking it too. Madeline will often "strike a pose" and ask me to take a picture. This is one of those times...

Canada Day 141 (BC 150)

Here we are at Fort Langley. The actual place where BC became part of Canada. Papers were signed, men smoked pipes, children picked flowers... and women birthed children out in fields...

This is Jenna letting go of a balloon and watching in excitement as if flies to the ceiling.

More of the same...

Uncle Coo-Coo and Auntie Alley came with us (daring folk) as we went the the Fort for Canada Day festivities. It was just the girls and I as Stew was working at Summer camp. There were tense moments... low blood sugar, M walking away from us defiantly because she wanted to go in one of the houses, mosquitoes and hot sunshine. There was one moment while purchasing a scone for the girls to eat that Jenna ran up to the GIANT "Happy Birthday Canada" cake and yes, you guessed it, put her finger into it. I am so proud... And as there was no way of tasting the cake otherwise (line-up tooooo long), I happily licked the frosting from her salty little fingers. mmmm, being a mom is so great.
They'll sleep well today...