Little People

Andrina was playing with her doll house and put a doll in the highchair. I pointed out to her that she put a baby in the highchair, she then started saying "highchair" then went over to her own highchair, got the bib and tried to put it on the doll in the highchair! She's growing up...

Potty Time?

Actual potty training is still a ways off but here's a pic of Andrina sitting on her potty for the first time today! Way to go!

Socks

I'm such a push-over for my child. Isn't this cute, she's trying to put on her own sock!

Sleep Over

Here's some pictures from Andrina's first sleep over with her cousin Anne. It worked out really well!

Playing together

Eating dinner together
Taking a bath & brushing their teeth together

Stories before bed

Less Baby, More Little Girl

It hit me today: Andrina is really becoming a little girl. Even when I look at her, I see less of the baby that she was and more of the little girl that she is becoming. Sigh..... I've really enjoyed her baby phase and a part of me is sad that it is ending. But at the same time, she's becoming a wonderful little girl and I love this emerging part of her too. Her development is very evident in these photos:

Andrina looks like a little girl, not like a baby anymore...

She's actually having the dolls do various things, playing like a child, not a baby...
Andrina wants her doll to have her hat on or off, and her pacifier in her mouth.
She's showing preferances in her play like a little kid instead of just carrying the doll around like a baby would...

Cognizant of her Growing Independence or Just Naturally Affectionate?

Andrina is so affectionate lately! She's always been a cuddly baby and will give me a hug whenever I ask for one but lately she's inviting so much affection on her own. Two days ago she melted my heart (again!) by spontaneously saying "night night" to me and kissing me. Yesterday and today she has been coming up to me and giving me many hugs too without me asking her to. Today we met my friend Meredith and her daughter Amelia at the children's museum and Meredith noticed how affectionate Andrina is. So many times Andrina would be playing then come and give me a hug then go right back to playing. So is she just ever more aware of her own independent state from me and therefore is needy as a reflection of her current emotional development? Or is she just a sweet and loving child who really loves her mommy? I'll just say it's both and savor all of her sweet hugs and kisses that I can't get enough of! I hope they keep coming!

All the Things I Love

My daughter said and did something so wonderful today that it melted my heart and I fell in love with her all over again. There are countless reasons why I am so in love with her and here is the newest one. Today we were on the floor playing with her blocks together and I was laying on my stomach playing with her like this. She went to go play with something else so I rolled over onto my back and had my head turned and was watching her when she stops playing, sees me and walks over to me, squats down over me and says "night night" in the sweetest little voice and kisses me right on the mouth! Andrina saw me lying down and was saying goodnight to me and kissing me like I do for her when she goes to sleep every night! I continue to be amazed by Andrina and how everything about her is so adorable and makes life so meaningful. I am so very, very fortunate to have such a loving and sweet little girl who gives me all the love back that I give to her.