We had no plans last Saturday – a real rarity for a weekend day – so we decided to head downtown and do some exploring. We wound up at Yerba Buena Gardens, where we rode the carousel before coming upon a (free!) gardening class for kids, which Zoe especially enjoyed. Afterwards we went to the Embarcadero, did some shopping, grabbed treats and watched the ice-skaters.

It was the perfect winter-type day, and it served as a good reminder that sometimes having no plan is the best plan of all!

-M

I’ve mentioned before that we give Avery a lot of positive feedback about her speech (which is really coming along). The other night Q commented to her that she does a really good job of communicating. “You do too, Daddy!” she sweetly responded.

-M

Wow – Avery is so grown up compared to her first Hanukkah! Here she is last night, lighting her own candles.

-M

When Avery was smaller, we often had Friday playdates with kids her age. Though I didn’t write about it much here, Avery usually seemed more interested in being with me – sitting on my lap, for example – than running off with her (seemingly more outgoing) friends. When we found out about her hearing issues last spring, I thought back to those days and it suddently clicked. Of course she was quieter than the other kids and liked to stick by me: She probably couldn’t fully understand what was going on around her, and I was her security blanket. The thought of her being in her own little bubble of sorts, and potentially missing out on things that other babies and toddlers got to experience, made me terribly sad.

Fast forward to this past weekend, when Avery and I were at a holiday party at one of her classmate’s house. Avery knew all the children – and a lot of the moms and dads – and I figured she would feel totally comfortable and run off to play right away. That wasn’t the case, though: She still stuck by my side for most of the party and told me at one point, after I asked if she wanted to go off with one of her friends, “I just want to be with you, Mama.”

And so it clicked (again): Avery taking time to warm up to new situations and new environments (despite being super bubbly and playful at home and school), and her being quiet and clingy at times, is just who she is. It has less to do with hearing or age than it does with her personality – and I need to remind myself that being quiet doesn’t equate to being unhappy. (And I need to let go of my sadness over those playdates from one and two years back. She probably would have sat on my lap even if she had heard just fine!)

At some point, I assume, Avery may feel comfortable enough to run off with her friends as soon as we arrive at a party - or maybe she never will. Either way, it’s fine. I’ll just plan to be on stand-by in case she wants to be with me…

-M

Several times last week, Avery woke up very early in the morning (or the middle of the night), called her dad in her room and then told him it was a special day – because Hanukkah was starting. She was clearly very excited for it, and I’m sure she felt like saying “Finally!” when the holiday officially began Saturday night.

Here are some pics from the girls’ first night.

-M

One of the events I referenced below was the preschool’s annual Hanukkah dinner, which we went to on Friday night. (Like in past years, the party was loud, chaotic and tons of fun.) Getting a photo of the dressed-up girls before we left proved challenging – but they finally cooperated!

-M

‘Very busy around here lately, with lots of birthday parties and holiday events. One recent highlight: a holiday craft party at the Randall Museum, where the girls made a wooden toy train, scented lip balm and little soaps. Here they are in two of the workshops.

-M

During Zoe and Zachary’s recent playdate:

“I love your laugh, Zachary.”
“And I love your laugh.”

And later, while they were playing with paper dolls, Mommy Zoe told Daddy Zachary, “It’s a lot of work to have a baby!” (You can say that again, Zoe.)

-M

During a recent day off of school, Zoe and her good friend Zachary spent the day together. When Avery joined them later the three decided to rest in bed and read – and I had to laugh at how Avery treated their guest. (See :24 of the video.)

-M

Another funny story: Avery told me yesterday (quite out of the blue) that she wanted to take “ballerina class.” “Oh, you’d be cute in a tutu,” I told her, and she burst into laughter. “Hey!” she cried out, clearly thinking I had said two-two. “I’m three!”

-M

Avery wasn’t feeling well – a stomach bug – early yesterday, and I was naturally concerned. After being out all day with Zoe, I came home and asked her if her stomach still hurt and if she was feeling better. (It didn’t, and she was.) Not long after, I asked again how her stomach felt. “How many times are you going to ask?” Avery replied with a semi-exasperated tone and then laughed.

Wow – it’s like we have two teen-agers in the house now!

-M

We watched Wisconsin play in (and win!) the Big Ten Championship tonight, and the girls – while mostly running around and doing their own thing – periodically glanced at the game and chimed in about what was going on. “They’re watching baseball – yea, Giants!” Avery called out to her sister at one point, causing me to gently explain that it was actually football. And after she heard her dad cheer, Zoe asked, “Oh, did the Redskins score?” (“It’s the Badgers,” Q told her.) I had to laugh: The girls definitely know about sports, but we clearly have some more educating to do!

-M