Science Day

We had a science day today--we were supposed to have friends over (X calls them "the rest of the Ricardo's", but really, they are the "other Rodriguezes"). Unfortunately, friends ended up needing to cancel and reschedule for next week, so it was just me and the girls!

We didn't do a lot of the experiments planned (we'll save them for next week with friends), but I found an old shoebox size tupperware, and drilled holes in the top while Xaris and Ilane hunted rocks, sticks, leaves, and started digging up some dirt.  We dug up some grass and plants too, and built a snail house.

Then, Xaris was very brave.  I pulled out the first snail and put it in the house--but she did every other one after that.  Her only question: "Will they be mean?"  When I told her that they wouldn't, she just went ahead and gave it a try.  So proud of her.

After nap, we made Cloud Dough for the first time.  Yes, loads of fun, very soft, and very moldable.
Yes, also very messy--the small amount of baby oil in the flour meant that the flour dust "stuck" a little better--to clothes and skin.  It wouldn't just clap or shake off.
It was still lots of fun, and since we were outside it really didn't matter that we were getting cloudy with flour.

let's play catch up

ilane had her 18 month well-check, and Xaris had her 4 year well-check since I've last blogged.  Here are the updates on both girls!

The good news: Xaris weighed in at 27 lbs, which PUTS HER ON THE CHART for the first time in 2 years!!  She's in the 5th percentile, but hey, that's better than negative!  She's 38" tall (25th percentile) and healthy in every other way.  We might need to get her eyes checked--it either took her awhile to figure out what she was supposed to do with the eye chart, or she really did have some difficulty seeing it.  She doesn't have great genetics for eyesight, unfortunately.  But, it would be fantastic if she inherited her father's eyes and has perfect vision.

iXy weight in at 21.4 lbs (15th percentile), 31 inches (30th percentile) and head was 17.5 inches (5th percentile).  Quite the opposite of her sister--who has a big ol' head!  She's doing well, but is still not talking much so we're trying to make it not quite so easy for her to get what she wants without using words (or at least trying to use words).

They are both just great fun!  

They are each other's favorite (except for maybe when papa comes home) and prefer to play together.  When iXy isn't in the room, Xaris complains about being lonely, and typically ilane will follow Xari around the house playing with her.  Of course, they complain about turns and sharing, but most of the time they're fine and play well together.  Part of me is waiting for the other shoe to drop.  :)

Xaris has her ballet recital soon and just got her costume!  This is her with her two best ballet friends and her incredible teacher Miss Sarah.  

She loves these friends, and really enjoys her ballet class...and ANY other kinds of crazy dancing she can manage!  Case in point--this video I managed to capture when she jumped down from the bench in the middle of lunch at the zoo.  It was completely random, I'm not sure where it came from, other than she decided that she just had to dance!

And this from one of our before-bed dance parties

Beach Vacation

My parents came back to Houston for a wedding, and came a few days earlier so we could see them too!  They rented a house on the beach and we joined them for a lovely time.  Unfortunately, I was sick with a NASTY upper respiratory infection that nearly prevented us from going...but, I was one and a half days into antibiotics and feeling like I could possibly manage it so off we went.  I did start to feel a little better as the trip went on, but couldn't sleep because of the horrid cough that accompanied my illness.  Nastiness aside, we had a grand time.  iXy needs more time with her grandparents because she was suddenly kind of shy and a little overwhelmed!  Good thing they get to come for a long visit in May!

ballet

Xaris loves her ballet class.  Technically, it's ballet and tap, but I think the ballet part is the only part that really counts for her.  She loves it.  And her teacher Miss Sarah is pretty fantastic.  It's not easy to get 3 year olds to pay attention and follow directions...unless you are Miss Sarah.

I have tons of photos and videos...but am having trouble figuring out how to upload my iphone videos to the blog.  If anyone has it down, I'd love advice!  This was the experiment...but I had to e-mail it to myself and download it from there, and it was shortened in the process.  Anyway, I'll keep trying to figure it out!

Azeltika & Ainka

I am still learning who Azeltika (ezeltica? Aziltika?? Who knows....) is.

Sometimes she is one of X's small dollhouse dolls, sometimes who she talks to on her play phone, and sometimes neither, but the name still comes up.

Imaginary friend? 

I can't think of where she might have heard that name or word or anything close to it before--but we've heard Xaris say it often enough lately I've started asking questions. What I've learned:

Azeltika has long yellow hair

Her nickname is Zelki 

She has a friend named Ainka

Is this sounding familiar to anyone? Some kids' show that I don't know about or a character from a book I haven't read yet? 

Or---do your kids have imaginary friends? Anything I need to know/be aware of/prepare for/try to prevent? 

:) this is fun so far! I'll keep you updated on azeltika's fate. And I'll try to blog more often. 

instigated....

Ilane offered kisses for the first time tonight.  She has given kisses lots of times, if we ask.  We'll say "dame beso" or "dame muah" (kissing sound).  Tonight, she started saying "mmmmmm aaaaah"  (not mama, because she mastered that one a LONG time ago :)
After a few times of her saying mmmmm aaaaah, she leaned into my face, and I got it!  I gave her a kiss, she laughed, and repeat.  And repeat.  And repeat.  And repeat.  :)  

I love it.

that which is not to be forgotten...

Xaris speaks in very full, long, complicated, complete, and even bilingual sentences.

However, as iXy is beginning to use more words and communication, I was reminded of those early days when I wrote down all the words she was learning, and how they all sounded....

Nowadays, there are very few words remaining in her "toddler-ese"...so, before I start forgetting them, here is the list, and I will hopefully remember to add to it.

Cupake (exactly what you think it is...she just doesn't pronounce the second C.  It is TOO cute)

Somomo or Somomin.  (telefono--for some reason when she started talking, she started calling telephones "somomo".  Maybe a mixture of cell phone, and telefono??  The thing is, now she can say telefono or telephone without any problem, but we've all adapted to saying "somomo", so she continues to say somomo since mama and papa do too). 

Ponit  (this is a combination of "put it" and "poner"--she just blends the two verbs with the same meaning and uses them both)

Diecivente (twenty-teen)...still working on counting

Lessings (Blessings--that one is kind of interesting theologically)

Lemalade (lemonade) also: lemalems are m&m's

buppa buppa uppabove (For the Father up above---when she's singing "Oh Be Careful Little Eyes What You See")

Jesus in my tummy (she gets "heart" and "tummy" mixed up.  Maybe because she's so tiny, they are basically in the same place.  But she usually talks about Jesus in her tummy, or tries to calm her baby sister by telling her she'll be ok, Jesus is there...while patting her tummy)

fairywinkle (periwinkle)

kemi (can i.  as in 'kemi see?' 'kemi try?' etc)

massive and overwhelming

amounts of cuteness!

 

While we were in Seattle, we had Sarah take our family pictures (we did this 2 years earlier when X was a toddler, so it seemed perfect to do some new ones with the new one).

 

Could not be more pleased with the results.  We absolutely love our photos, and I have a hard time deciding which ones to order copies of, and which ones to put up on the blog...hence LOTS of pictures here.  enjoy!

 

 

 

In case you can't see the watermark on the photos, it's Sarah Ellen Photography, www.SarahEllenPhoto.com