Coloring

I initially bought crayons for Violet about 6 months ago.  It was a bomb--she really wasn't coordinated enough to hold them well and mostly just tried to eat them.  But we had been noticing that Violet has much better manual dexterity recently.  She will find the tiniest piece of paper on the ground and pick it up.  I noticed her interest in a pen when we were out to the lunch the other day, so I decided the pull out the crayons again.  This time they were a big hit.

  Obviously mommy drew a bit in there too.  In fact every time I stopped, Violet protested and shoved a crayon in my hands.  She really liked coloring in what I had drawn as well, so I think it's time to invest in a coloring book

OC Fair

We recently took Violet to the OC fair.  Violet loved the petting zoo.  The baby goats were so cute.

They also had the largest sand box ever.  Violet went to it twice in a four hour period and left completely filthy but having had a great time.  We knew it was time to leave when she laid down in the sand to sleep.

Big Faker

Violet often will fight sleep at nap time or bed time.  Even if she is tired, she'll run around and sing to herself.  Eric will often go upstairs and tell her sternly to cut out the monkey stuff.  Violet thinks she can outsmart mommy and daddy, so she will often pretend that she has been sleeping when we come in.  We've been trying to catch this on video for days.

Splashpad!

Violet spent over an hour in the splash pad at the mall.  There were a few plastic cups lying around and the kids were eternally entertained with them.  There were small fights over the cups (continuing the theme of Violet's lack of sharing) but luckily there were enough to go around.  A year ago she was a little fearful at this splashpad but this year she didn't even need mommy with her as she played.

Summer Weekend

Ah summer!  The weather has been great and Violet enjoyed swimming at Grandma and Grandpa's neighborhood pool.  She loves the water although she wouldn't let anyone other than mom hold her.

That was fun mom!

Sunday we met up with Eric's cousin.  It was the first time the kids had met and Violet was finding it difficult to share her toys.  I can't wait until she grows out of this stage and realizes that it's important to share.  The kids had a great time at the park together.

18 months!

Violet turned 18 months old today.  I can hardly believe it.  She is turning into quite the little lady.  She is starting to say two word phrases such as "Bye kitties!" and "More fish!" (aka more goldfish crackers)  She recognizes that the creatures in the aquarium are fish and the crackers she eats are also fish.  This week she started hugging and kissing like crazy.  Not just Eric and I either--she is hugging and kissing toddlers at the mall and the park.  So far the boys appear wary of her advances.  She understands smiling for the camera now.

Everyday its something new really.  She's turning into an independent little person and it's really quite fascinating to witness.

Happy 4th of July!

Happy belated 4th of July!  Violet is still a bit young for fireworks but we did go to a pot luck picnic at my parents cul de sac.  Later in the day near our house I saw people taking their toddlers in red wagons to the community center for the festivities and fireworks.  I think Violet will be old enough to go next year and I can't wait.  Besides being afraid of them this year, with her 6:30 bedtime she would never make the 9 p.m. fireworks.

Recently we went to Irvine Park to ride the train with some friends.

Violet saw the ponies and kept saying "Doggy!  Woof Woof!"  Too funny.

Happy 4th of July!