Squishy Kid!

It's been a pretty big week around here - Willa learned how to CRAWL! She's still brand new at it but every time she tries she gets just a little further and a little more comfortable with her new mobility. She was doing so good scooting so I'm a LITTLE used to leaving her in once place and finding her in another, but she sure can go much FASTER if she crawls.

This has all been so much FUN. See, we didn't really get to do this with Violet. She was in a body cast at this point and even though she did learn how to army-crawl pretty good, she wasn't really able to do what Willa is doing. We didn't KNOW so we didn't know to miss it! But we are absolutely LOVING having a "squishy kid" (which is the opposite of one with a "hard candy shell" as Jon used to put it). I love how she can now go from crawling to sitting up. How if I'm sitting on the floor with her she loves to come over and climb all over me, or play with one hand on me just in case. And the clapping... oh the clapping. Violet did clap, but she didn't do it nearly as much mostly because she had to use her hand/arms so much to get around. Willa claps at oh-so-many things and we just love watching her get excited about things like Violet dancing around, or Daddy coming home from work. It's GREAT!

Here is a video of Willa demonstrating her latest tricks. Crawl. Sit up. Shake maraca.

And for comparison, here is how Violet crawled at this age:


And here is a picture of Violet in her cast at this age:
Another reason we're happy Willa is not in a body cast - you can't get pictures like the ones below! Here she is showing off her tutu.


And finally, a little video of Violet. I just realized that I don't have a lot of her TALKING and she sure does talk a LOT lately! Here she is counting how many puppies she wants.

Sisters!

We put up the Princess Tent and the girls had fun crawling around...
Willa clapping in the tent
Bathtime!

And a video of Willa clapping!



Late last week Violet was playing with her play-doh (homemade - and it was pink and purple but is now this lovely greyish brownish color) and made her own little birthday cake complete with candles. Willa also got to taste her first play-doh. She was making a VERY funny face but kept on eating it!

Zoo Trip!

We braved the "balmy" weather this week and took a trip to the zoo. It was in the 40's and it wasn't that bad (the sun always helps!). Willa is getting so big - now I can put her in the stroller sitting up and not in her carseat anymore. She loves to look around and see what's going on. I got this adorable picture of her while we were eating lunch (Willa had some Puffs).
Violet and her two best buddies Jordyn and Piper rode the baby hippo.
And Willa fell FAST asleep holding tightly to her toy on the way home.Willa in the back yard. I can't WAIT for the weather to really warm up - I think this summer is going to be a blast with the girls in the big back yard! Violet has already asked if we can get her pool out (on a day it was FREEZING!). Judging by how much fun the girls have taking a bath together, I think we'll be spending a LOT of time in the kiddie pool in the warm weather!
Violet has a new best friend. As she says, he's her "Best Porter Friend". Aw. He really is worth his weight in gold... he puts up with a LOT and actually seems to enjoy the attention. It helps that I taught Violet how to scratch his tummy. Today she made him a bed in the living room complete with blankets (Willa's burp cloths) and her pillow.

Violet wanted Willa to join her in her bed today (I am not sure what her obsession is with making a bed for herself on the living room floor... maybe because she's not napping anymore?). We got this cute picture...
And this adorable video:


And last, I have been keeping a little book of all the funny and cute things that Violet says. I'm going to try to post them here when I remember because some of them are just too cute. Here are the most recent ones:
• "Me RIGHT be back, guys!" (instead of "be right back")
• She calls Jon "Jon" instead of daddy. If she does call him "dad" she pronounces it "dat"
• restaurant = wrest-wraughnt
• Cowboys say "Knee-Haw!"
• She has an imaginary pink kitty named Purple-Purple and an imaginary pink horse named Neigh-Neigh. They both like to eat pink garlic bread.
• spoon = foon
• ice cream = aash-ream
• "Tank you guys!" or "I wuv you guys!"
• Almost all sentences start with "because".
me: "Hey Violet, do you want some breakfast?"
Violet: "Because I WANT to eat breakfast!"
me: "Let's get your shoes on and go"
Violet: "Because I don't WANT to put my shoes on!"
• When Jon and I are having a conversation, she often interrupts with "Hey guys! Let's talk 'bout PRINCESSES!!!!"