New tricks

Here are a few of Holland's newest "tricks" that she has recently mastered (or at least trying to anyway...):

Eating with a spoon

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Walking Modoc around the house




Riding her pony like a bucking bronco

Going "nigh-night" anywhere, even on her changing table!
















And... trying on mama's glasses!















(there are a lot of other little things that she comes up with daily, I'll try to think of at least a few everyweek)

another week (or more!) and more changes!

Goodness, I suppose I could do a better job keeping this updated! I guess that life just flies by far too quickly....

Well, much has happened in the last 10 days. Holland's Granny (my mom) came for a visit. I think that they both had a lot of fun spending time together. It is too bad that we live way in the middle of nowhere and get so infrequent visits from family!

We had a little scare- we were worried that Holland might have gotten lead poisoning. A week ago on Sunday Holland decided that she would try to eat the window sill while watching Modoc play outside. So, we had to had a lead test (since our house is so old!), which luckily came back negative. But, since hospitals are a breeding ground for viruses, Holland unfortunately caught a cold while we were there for the testing. She is getting better, but still has the runny nose and bad cough at night. We are doing all the homeopathic remedies we know of and think that the end is near!

It is amazing how quickly she is learning new things and changing daily! She now often signs for "more" (we should have been more pro-active in teaching her so many more signs!) and just obviously understands so much more. I can ask her to go grab anything and she will bring it back proudly. It is so entertaining to watch her decide what she wants. She will go over to her little pony and grab it and try to move it and look up at me telling me, "hey mom- I think I want to ride this"..., or she will pick up her little piano and walk over to a spot that looks nice and sit down and play it. She really is just so amazing! I know that everyone says how exciting having a baby/toddler is, but now we are actually understanding it. (and also starting to understand the sleep deprivation thing, but that is another post entirely!!)

My silly block-handed baby!

So, yesterday Holland realized how she can scrunch her fingers into a fist and fit them into the circles and triangles that are in the middle of her foam blocks... She has found comfort having her hands in blocks over the last few days. It is the cutest thing! She does everything with her hands in blocks now- eat, push her wagon, read books, play with a ball- you get the picture! So, of course I need to post pictures because how can you ever picture in your head a block-handed baby without the real thing?! I wonder how long this fascination will last?! I am afraid I am going to get some strange looks at the grocery store- but she does NOT want you to take them off!!

Bathtime fun!

Lately, Holland just LOVES taking a bath. I think that she would stay in there for hours if we would let her, but I am too afraid! That girl is just wild in the tub! She loves to stand up and then splash as hard as she can as she slams herself into a sitting position. We have lots of bath toys, but her favorites are usually just the cup we use to pour water on her and a washcloth. Go figure!! And what would a little post be without at least a few pictures??!

A fun day at the park...

We have a park about a half mile from out house... Most weekends (and some weeknights!) we walk there. Holland really loves just exploring, going down the slides, climbing the stairs and swinging. Here are a few pictures from this past Saturday.

where has the time gone?

Well, as with most things, I got so excited to start something new and then apparently have let my enthusiasm dwindle. I apologize for being so slow to add new posts!

Holland amazes us more and more daily! She learns so many things each day. Right now she is rolling the ball to me and now she is trying to crawl IN the box that is used to keep her from going into the hallway. Wait, that has changed, now she came back over here, trying to add her own blogging and is doing her back and forth "hi" with me. Each time we say it with more and more gusto. A favorite game around here! I just asked her to go get the book and of course, she happily walks over and starts "reading" the book to herself. So much fun! Well, I don't want to do play by plays all night long! I think I will add a picture or two now. Sorry again for taking so long to post anything on here! I'll try to be more consistent!!