Continuing a three-year tradition, a big group of us went to the horse track this weekend to (belatedly) celebrate Q’s birthday. Q had a lot of fun, and so did Zoe – who made some good picks and got to hang out with some new friends.

-M

One thing we’ve never had trouble with is getting Zoe and Avery to drink milk. (My only milk-related regret is that we didn’t wean Zoe from warm bottles; she still insists that her milk be microwaved.) At various points throughout the days the girls can be found enjoying a sippy cup together; here are some recent shots.

-M

I was talking to the director of Zoe’s preschool today, and she made a comment about Avery. “It will be lovely to have her here next year,” she told me, “and she seems very ready.” Her words made me smile but also made me think about how old my “baby” is getting. Before we know it, she’s going to be a preschooler!

Q laughs when I fret over Avery growing up: She’s not even two, he’ll tell me, and she’s many, many months (eight, to be exact) away from starting preschool. He’s right, of course: She’s still little. But little is a relative term, and it still sometimes takes me off-guard how big Avery looks and acts. Whether she’s playing with her sister, taking a stroll or just sitting around, Avery is clearly no longer a baby!

-M

As mentioned here before, Zoe’s best buddy from school last year recently moved to Palo Alto. The two have managed to get together every month or two, and a few weeks ago Zoe mailed him a little letter. Then yesterday we came home to a package containing a poster-sized, hand-drawn picture with the words:

I love you, Happy New Year.
I want to keep your picture forever.
You’re my best friend, the sweetest one ever.

It would seem that Zoe is in a long-distance relationship!

-M

We’ve taken so many pictures in our living room that the girls now identify our brown chair as the place to get their photo taken. Like her sister before her, Avery now often climbs into the chair and says, “Cheese” (even if the camera isn’t around), and Zoe usually joins her. Here are the results of an impromptu photo shoot from this weekend.

-M

Zoe loves birthdays: She’s always pretending it’s her stuffed hippo’s birthday, making him cards and presents and throwing him elaborate parties. This morning she didn’t have to pretend, because it’s actually her dad’s big day. The first thing she did when she woke up was sing to him and give him a homemade picture (“Zoe, Mom and Avery heart Daddy,” it read); she’s got something else for him (thanks to PopPop and Safta) later today.

In honor of Q, I’m re-posting one of my all-time favorite pictures of him and the girls. And I’m also wishing him a very happy day!

-M

Avery is more open to people than she used to be, but that doesn’t mean she’s warm and friendly in all situations. When we met up with Dan and Jenny for breakfast yesterday, for example, she looked suspicious and on the verge of tears for the majority of our meal. (She was hesitant to make eye-contact with Dan and Jenny and even shot her uncle a few dirty looks.) But then, out of the blue – as if it suddenly hit her that Dan and Jenny were family and just fine to hang out with – she started smiling and acting like her normal at-home self. She even let Dan hold her as we walked out of the restaurant. Progress indeed…

-M

Aside from playing together a lot, Zoe and Avery are also increasingly sweet to, and affectionate with, one another. The other day when we picked Avery up at Elena’s, the first thing Zoe did was turn to her and ask, “Did you have a good day, Avery?” (“Yeah,” was Avery’s reply.) And since she’s too little to ask her sister how’s she doing (or say comforting words when she’s upset), Avery instead gives Zoe a lot of hugs. A few nights ago, for example, when Zoe was crying about something, Avery ran up and threw her arms around her. And now, whenever Avery misbehaves (by pushing or taking a toy from Zoe) and is asked to apologize, she grabs her sister and gives her a big squeeze. (Needless to say, Zoe doesn’t stay mad.)

-M

As mentioned below, Safta and PopPop came out to babysit the girls for New Year’s. (Thanks, guys!!) It was a pretty great thing – the girls got to bond with their grandparents, and Q and I got some much-needed time away – and it also represented a real turning point for us (and Avery). Our little one, once hesitant to hug or be left with anyone other than her mom or dad, did just fine away from us – which means more get-aways are likely in our future!

The kids are still little and needy, of course, but less so than they were a year, or even six months ago. (We couldn’t do this trip in the fall, for example. At the time of Dan and Jenny’s wedding, in Oct., Avery was still majorly clingy.) The fact that both girls are growing so quickly usually makes me sentimental and sad, but not these days. I’m too excited about moving away from the being-needed-every-moment (and totally exhausting) phase of parenting.

-M

Zoe and Avery, who have been interacting a lot more lately, are closer friends than ever before. Their closeness makes it easier to take photos of the two, and I’ve been doing plenty documentation of their recent sisterly activities!

-M

Goofing around:

Playing on Daddy:

Skyping:

Snuggling:

Posing:

Admidst all the holiday travel and visitors, I neglected to report on Avery’s 18-month appointment. We went last Tuesday (Zoe tagged along, too), and her doctor said she looked nice and healthy.

She was up to 28 pounds, 12 ounces and just over 34 inches; Dr. Fernandez said she’s the size of a 3-year-old. (What is it, I wondered yet again, with our inability to have petite children?)

Avery may be the little sister, but she’s getting awfully big!

-M

Before heading to the airport the other morning, I turned on a little video to get pumped up for the Rose Bowl (which, by the way, was quite fun, despite the loss). “Hey, Zoe, Teach Me How to Bucky,” I sang to Zoe, who shook her head. “It’s ‘Teach Me How to Dougie,’ Mommy,” she corrected me. She was referring to the original song (one that I’ve played for her many times), and I couldn’t help but feel proud at her hip-hop knowledge.

-M