a family sport?

Sweet sweet little I who always watches from the bleachers and is a most loyal fan to her older brother is now on the field herself. My sister tried to sign her up for dance a number of times and each time left the studio with a very uninterested little I at her side. But softball, a sport so similar to the one her big bro plays is one that she could step up to the plate for. Little I so quiet and shy at times now the center of attention when she's up to bat. She has no bigger fan than Vale who can now say the first part of her name and the last, just not together. I wonder if Vale will also take a liking to this sport....

Just one of the perks of having your cool uncle on the coaching staff :)

1.6

Happy 1 1/2 years Kiddo....you're sooooo no longer a baby (although you'll always be our baby) with those tantrums you throw and with your preference for wearing your favorite shoes and sweaters, your new tooth that's coming in must be a sweet one I'm certain, you're also willing to sit on your big kid toilet and pretend you're actually going (you're not yet) and your new hobby, to pat your chest and say Vale point at dad and say papa, and me and say mama. we couldn't be more proud of you. Somewhere along the way you've also learned to identify red, blue and green and yesterday picked up a yellow marker and announced, "amarillo" holy hell kid, you're making other moms wonder how I do it...I don't... you just pick it up from hearing it a few times. You crack us up by repeating words like cool, cya and later.

will the real kiki please stand up

So a few says ago while running in her crib from one side to another in a baby frenzy Vale started screaming at her dad "hi kiki, hi kiki, hi kiki," Kiki? we asked ourselves. what the hell? what happened to papi, dada, daddy, all so cute and pronounced so clearly. Ah well, but then she started using is throughout the day. Referring to her tita Kristen as Kiki, calling little I's red mercedes that, pointing at Dora on t.v. and yelling out kiki, I think she even said it to the dogs. So who or what is this mysterious Kiki? Somehow I think It'll remain Vale knowledge. In other news, we went to the beach a little while ago and since its been a while from the last time Vale saw the ocean it was like seeing it for the first time...the sand, the waves, the birds all too much for our little one, she was ecstatic!

1.5 and looking like a big girl

A grey haired women once caught up with Vale and me as we took one of our many daily walks around the block. Vale was just a few months old and in those sleepless nights and solitary days while Kevin was at work, I welcomed a person to talk to, she was so curious to hear about this new little person I held in my arms. She shared with me how she had several grand children but that they lived too far and she rarely saw them. She stared at Vale with so much fondness in her eyes and before going on her way murmured " the only bad thing about babies is how fast they grow up." I love watching Vale play and am in constant awe at how quickly she IS growing up, every month that passes Vale becomes less of a baby and more of a big girl. She's got 6 teeth, she can string two words together making it as close to speaking a full sentence as she's gotten. She can imitate a squat, leg lift and wide step strut. She says "no" about 100 times a day and "ew" at least 50. She fights back when another little one tries to take a treasured item from her. She's fast, real fast..She's taken to running away, to the farthest corner of the apartment when a diaper change is needed, and she'll sweetly deny a dirty diaper every time. She squeals and snorts in delight when she sees the ocean. She has a preference for which shirts, pants and shoes she's gonna wear and likes to pick a pair of shoes for everyone. For Mr. K, it's his work boots, for grandma, its her clogs, dad should wear his house slippers or high top vans. Abuelita her slippers and for herself, well, she likes to change shoes bringing me one pair to put on her, only to bring me another pair a short while later. Lately it's her pink salt waters. She would play outside all day with her pink car or stroller if she could. Next month will be her half birthday, I think we'll celebrate a little, maybe just cupcakes and "agua" but a little recognition for sure, after all, we're our own little family now and starting our own traditions sounds like fun!

She's wearing still-too-big cords that mom insists she wear, after all, they are 9 months, and she's 1.5 geesh! She turns the corner, I turn the corner and see her trying to pick her pants back up, they fell, I laugh out loud, causing her to roar her own dose of baby laughter, we laugh until we've had our fill. Thanks for these adorable pants tita Kalani, this sweet memory will live with me forever.