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Mother's Day pict

Solvi had her 1 year check up at the doctor's yesterday. The big news is that she is NOT the tank her brother was. Weighing in at 21 lbs 9 oz and 29.5 inches tall, she's only slightly above average for weight and height. (So we can stop buying her super big clothes.) What the doctor agreed was NOT AVERAGE was her ability to charm and engage. Even the seasoned pediatrician seemed impressed and delighted with Solvi's attempts at and feats of conversation. Every time I said a word she knew Solvi would either say it, demonstrate it, or sign it herself. "Well she certainly follows along!" the Dr. exclaimed.



Solvi is also sooooo proud of her walking. She now just toddles from room to room with no particular aim other than to prove that she can. She's also a particular daredevil with climbing. Today she ascended to the top of the highest slide in the playground, right after her brother!

Oliver really enjoys his phonics these days. One of his favorite new activities is to inquire, "What starts with a....(insert letter)" As he makes the sound of the letter, he'll look around the room for something, such as "...t t t t t TOWEL, t t t t t TOILET, t t t t t t TURTLE!" On and on and so on.

My new favorite picture of Oliver. This is soooo him.

Here are my favorite Olie-isms of the month:

After bath about a week ago:
"Oh there's some water on the floor. I'll take care of that matter." And bending down with towel, he mopped it up. Where does he pick up expressions like I'll take care of that matter?!

That same week:
"Mom when I grow up I'm going to have 5 children."
"You are?!" I answered.
"Yes and then I'm going the show them to you. And then I'm going to GIVE them to you."
Yikes!

Future paleontologist

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRIGHT GIRL! and other strides...

Stacking rings in her Mom's baby dress

Solvi is 1 today!!! I can’t believe it. So much has happened in her first year and yet it flew by. So far she’s been an absolute delight – charming the world with her easy, friendly nature.

Such personality!

The big new development for our birthday girl: she’s walking!!! This weekend we witnessed her unsteadily toddling a few paces from one object to another. But yesterday she purposefully strolled clear across the living room. That’s a definite walk. More long sojourns today confirm she’s on a roll.

Also continuing to makes strides in communication, Solvi will basically copy any social gesture after only seeing it once. Thus last week she surprised me by blowing kisses back to a teenage girl on the subway and by signing “hippo” right after I first signed it. And her communication skills are not limited to humans. Last wknd’s trip to the zoo had her “Ooo, Ooo, Ahhh, Ahhhing” to the gorillas and growling at the lions. This last vocalization is one of our new Solvi favorites. She now identifies all dinos or other carnivorous beasts with a fierce “Raaaaaarrrr.” New spoken words include many “b” sounds: bus, ball, bottle, balloon – which all come out “ba.” Signs include: car, shoes, change, book, water, train, worm, flower, dog, and apple. In dance class Solvi is one of only one or two babes that actually bounces or bangs sticks together to the beat. Last week she actually started imitating the adults’ moves, nodding her head along as we did our exercises. She is also VERY active in Oliver’s circle time at the end of school. This is when all the parents come in and we sing songs. Solvi “sings” “ahhhhh” and gestures right along to Itsy Bitsy Spider and other tunes, which is more than I can say for her brother, who by that point has usually had it with school.

And lest you think Solvi is all play and no work, she is surprisingly good at "spacial relations" exercises like shape sorting and putting rings on a stick (see above).

Silly girl!

Birthday Party!

She liked her first cake!

Olie helps.

You know you're only 1 when the wrapping paper is still the most fun.

New scooter

Happy, happy day.