Ah, *this* is how to make that funny noise...

Now mommy, *I* am allowed on the dining table (after all, you put me here), but doesn't Ava get a "tsk, tsk"? She climbed up here, and proceeded to eat the cat food and feed the kitty (who is hiding behind me, but is very excited about Ava feeding her by hand). Ooooohhhhhh, this is going to get very interesting!

Santa seems to show up *everywhere* I go, woohoo!

Peekaboo, from my sissie's crib...

Mommy watches *very carefully* when Ava plays with me. Ava thinks I have superpowers already... give it time sister and I will be able to climb with you! I love it when she plays with me :)

Mommy is very proud of me - I seem to know not to accept food from anyone but a grown-up :) It *is* very nice of my sissie to share her favorite foods with me, though...

My sissie heard me complaining because I dropped my toy, so she looked at mama with a twinkle in her eye, and picked up my *favorite* toy, and then gave it to me. I gurgled my thank you to her :)

We started a new "thing" - Ava always wakes mommy up first (to mommy's chagrin, completely!). But then when I start making noise over the intercom an hour or so later (and I talk very *nicely* at firsts, thank you) then Ava rushes in my room and asks if she can go in my crib with me, and mommy lifts her in and we have a party. My sissy will comb my hair (and my face and my arms and my....), she will hold on to the railing and use my mattress as a trampoline (and I giggle and giggle and she laughs at my giggling), and she will lay down next to me and pretend to be a "baby" too, and then mommy will "baby" us both for a little bit. I really enjoy this new wake-up routine. Mommy is just hoping that I do not enjoy it TOO much, and want to wake up early for it :)

Look at me squealing - I *love* jumping!

My daddy put my sissie's Santa hat (the one that my birth mommy Val gave her) on my head! Silly daddy!

I am showing my sissie how nice it is to sit on Santa's lap. She was a little bit nervous, but not me! Mrs. Claus was nice too... They gave me a gift, that was so nice. Mommy says I deserve it, I am SUCH a sweet girl.

It is hard to get us all together at the same time, here is our best shot :)

ooooooohhh, so *this* is what a Christmas gift is! I think I will chew on it...

Ava was trying to explain about Santa, but I was more interested in what mommy was doing :)

I am in awe of my big sis sometimes - she can REALLY play with toys. I am working very hard to catch up... and I am!

I really enjoy playing with THINGS now, and I will fuss until I mommy gives me a toy (or picks up the one I dropped). Today, Ava played "peek-a-boo" with me... she put my dress over my eyes, and said "where is she?"... and then when she uncoverered my eyes she proclaimed "Kee-ah"

Wir sagen euch an den lieben Advent, sehet die erste Kerze brennt.
Wir sagen euch an eine heilige Zeit, machet dem Herrn die Wege bereit.
Freut euch ihr Christen, freuet euch sehr, schon ist nahe der Herr.

A German tradition in my mommy's family... Happy 1st Advent!

(for a translation, just "copy" and "paste" into www.babelfish.altavista.com and then hit the button for German-to-English translation!)

I had my *four month* checkup yesterday, I a soared through it! I got 4 shots, ouch, but I did alright with them, and I have 2 very cute "jungle" bandaids on my legs to show off now. Here are my stats:

weight: 15 lbs 8 oz (80% for my age)
height: 24.25 in (50%)
head: 16.75 in (90%)

The nurse asked mommy a bunch of questions, including whether I can hold things for a few seconds yet. Mommy answered that not only that, but I can hold things for *minutes* and even transfer from one hand to another. Then Dr. Hertz came in and witnessed me doing this with my sock and she was happily amazed! She said it is unusual that a baby my age can do that! If I could have talked, I would have told her that I practise a lot at home, because Ava and I have SO many toys. Plus, I have some catching up to do to be able to play with Ava and the pets :)

Mommy remembered that Ava did not fit into the Bumbo seat until 6 months old, so she did not try it on me until now - oh no, I will soon be too BIG for it! But for now I love it, I feel so big and capable. I am playing with the yellow roses (my mommy and daddy's wedding flowers) that my Omi brought for Thanksgiving.

I am still holding that flower and watching mommy on the computer...