As I was thinking about what I was going to write for this post, it occurred to me that we/you have several "special friends." SO many! I keep writing about your special friends, and they are all different people, but they are all very special. These are the people who aren't family by blood, but family by choice. And we were very lucky to have spent the past month surrounded by them. First in Puerto Rico, then at home for a week and then again for a few days in Seattle. Here's the re-cap:
We arrived home from Puerto Rico to a semi-unpacked new apartment. We spent a few days unpacking, building furniture, getting our old apartment cleaned out, getting our new place baby proofed, etc etc and then it was family time! We had the mamas over to check out our new digs and we hosted your first ever Seder!
Ah, Seder! Sweet Pea, Passover is my *favorite* holiday, by far. I have such fond memories of Passover Seders and my Uncle David and Aunt Kathy's house-playing with all of the younger cousins, hunting for the afikomen, Uncle David sitting on a big pillow. And from later years at our FamilyFriends houses, preparing a special vegetarian dish for me to bring (I wouldn't eat meat for a long time), angling to sit at the grown ups table, drinking wine once I got there...So, it is very important to me that you get to have Seder, too. Last year we were still trying to get in the swing of you, so we didn't make one. But this year, Daddy got me two haggadahs as an anniversary gift (we've been married TWO years now!) and we had special friends over to the celebrate. It was kind of a shit show Seder, as I'm not used to leading, we forgot poor Elijah and I don't know how to make matzoh balls, but it was just absolutely perfect. You loved the charoset and parsley and tried to shove a fistful of horseradish in your mouth before we stopped you (I had grated fresh beet into it and it was an alluring magenta color-silly mama). You had a ball playing with your guests. I was so happy to have you participate in the rituals and next year I'll be more organized. Everyone has already been invited back!
And then, we went to Seattle! Daddy had some work there, so we tagged along. You were such a trooper on the very full flight, happily playing or sleeping for the entire time. As soon as we arrived, we had lunch with Bobob. Technology is really really amazing. You have not spent a whole lot of time with Bobob in person, but because we FaceTime with him so frequently, you totally know him. As soon as you saw him, you lept into his arms, just like you do with your NY grandparents, who you love to play with all the time! Then Daddy took a nap and you and I went to visit special friend #1: Winnie the pooch! (Okay, and Winnie's mama)
We played on the playgrounds in Seattle and Bellevue, we visited so many friends and family, we even had another super special friend drive 100 miles just to see you!!
after a LONG car ride for him, you and BBB check out the playground
And then there were your aunties (and one uncle)! Oh, my, you have very special aunties!! None of them have grandchildren yet, but they think you are quite the delight and very much enjoy spending time with you. As a result, you are the lucky recipient of much adoration, toys and treats. You take it all in stride, happy to be surrounded by people who love you.
you are obsessed with stairs and want to climb up and down every chance you get
on the move in a spectacular toy store!
clowning around
You have expanded your vocabulary considerably in the past few weeks. You now say "GO!", "nose" (when pointing to someone's nose), "chocolate" (pronounced chalk-at), "head," "hat," "night-night!"and, my favorite of all, "mama!" Finally! I'm not gonna lie, you said chocolate before you said mama. But now you refer to me as mama and it's very very sweet. You say bye whenever we leave a location or when you're finished with something-no more sign for "all done", now you simply wave your hand and say bye! You nod and say yes when you're approving of something and shake your head and say no when you're not so agreeable. It's really lovely. I mean, there are some times when you say NO when we really need to you do something, but it is so cool to witness your autonomy. And to know how much you understand. Now I'm working on the signs for emotions: happy, sad, angry.
Okay, here's just some more cute shots of you! You are quite the monkey and love to get yourself into small spaces and on top of toys and equipment.
totally unbothered by the fact that you're sitting on this guy backwards
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