Swim Lessons

We signed up for parent and child swim lessons at a public pool in our old neighborhood. Despite the students' young age, the instructor is teaching the children freestyle and back strokes, as well as how to blow bubbles in the water. The instructor is even having the parents dunk the children underwater! (AJ doesn't really like that!) AJ enjoys being in the water and has learned to "kickie-kickie," as my Mom used to say. The above pics show AJ before and after the first swim lesson.

Amusement

We decided to hit the beach this past weekend. We were hoping to spend a day at the beach, lounging in the sand and playing in the surf. Well, our plans changed a bit when we checked the weather in the morning and the highs were in the 60's . . . not necessarily beach weather. Luckily, Santa Cruz has a totally cheesy boardwalk, complete with a full amusement park. AJ loved to boogie while walking down the boardwalk! She also got to ride on her first rides. At first, AJ enjoyed a train ride with us. After getting comfortable with the rides, she rode on a few rides all by herself. I couldn't help but turn to AJ's Dad and comment how grown up our little girl is getting! She had a blast, and so did we, watching her.

Our New Little Friend

Our good friends had their baby last week and we got a chance to meet the little one. He was so precious and tiny . . . I forget how little newborns are! And, he has a full head of hair. He has brought tons of joy already. AJ was particularly fascinated with his little toes! Congrats N and J on your new arrival!

My New Maid . . .

Mid-Week Play Date

We had a play date today with our Moms' Group friends. The kids had a great time running around, playing with things they shouldn't, and eating homemade cookies (yum!). I even got the chance to put my teacher skills to work entertaining the little ones with a good book.

Fun-Filled Weekend

We had a great weekend. On Saturday, we had some friends from our old neighborhood over for some snacks, beer (with me drinking O'Doul's, course) and playing outside. It is always fun to watch AJ interact with other kids. She had a blast playing in the sun and eating delicious cool treats.

On Sunday, we gathered with my Moms' Group friends and their families for a picnic. We finally got to introduce the husbands to the kids and moms with whom we spend some of our time. For me, I loved being able to put names with faces. The kids got good and dirty playing in the dirt and fighting over toys. (When will they learn to share?)

Daddy's Girl

Every time the phone rings or a door opens, AJ shouts, "Da Da!" and looks expectantly around the corner for Da Da to appear. It's adorable!

And, it looks like there is going to be another Da Da's girl in the family, as AJ will be a big sister to a little sister! Two girls . . . watch out, Da Da!

A Few Words

AJ is 16 months old and she is definitely becoming an independent little girl. She is literally ALL over the place. One moment, she is playing happily with her Baby or Sweet Pea and the next moment she is dangling from the ceiling (well, maybe not the ceiling, but I have definitely caught her dangling precariously off of the couch).

As I wrote about in a previous post, AJ is also saying many new words. It seems like she is learning a new word or two a day! It is very exciting! Here is a list of some of the words she knows and says:

• Hello,
• Hi,
• Da Da,
• Ma Ma (although, more often than not, she calls me Da Da too)
• Elmo (by far, her favorite!),
• Various animal sounds, like baa, quack and roar, but my favorite is coo-coo for cockadoodledoo, she worked really hard to get that one,
• Bye-bye,
• Boop = book,
• Baby,
• Berries,
• Cracker,
• Dat = cat,
• More-more = more,
• All done,
• Idono = I don't know (with a shoulder shrug and palms twisted upward),
• Up,
• Down,

I am sure I have missed a few, but as I said, the list seems to increase every day!

Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall . . .

AJ has become fascinated with her image in the mirror. She has realized that the image is her, so she makes specific movements to watch herself in the mirror. Here are some pics of AJ enjoying her own image.

Music is Everywhere!

Yesterday, we went to a music class with some fellow friends from our Moms' Group. AJ and I learned some new songs and got to sing some of our favorites. We also got to play music with sticks and play peek-a-boo with scarves. It was a a really fun way to spend the morning!

Then, later that evening, we went to a concert in the park. The music wasn't really my cup of tea, but AJ had a blast dancing and clapping with all of the other kids. They even had a little petting zoo area and balloon animals!

Water Games

On the 3rd day of Daddy's weekend, we went to Almaden Lake Park. As always, AJ loved (and was mystified by) the fountain!

Happy Independence Day!

It must be the 4th of July - AJ gnaws her first corn on the cob!