Vocabulary Explosion

Almost 17 months old and they are so much fun! 

They both have outgoing personalities with different approaches to how they greet new people. Annika will say 'Hhhiiii' to pretty much anyone who walks by. Luka gives a look of suspicion to new people but, within seconds, flashes a beautiful smile and says 'Hhhiiii'. Sometimes one or the other will bat their eyes at a new person with a bit of coyness with smiles and greetings quickly to follow. 

Both have extraordinary vocabularies and we find ourselves wowed every day. Here is a sampling of how they communicate - 

Words they sign: milk, eat, help, please, papa, butterfly, bird, banana, brush teeth, and frustrated (our most helpful sign)

Words they say: papa, mama, hi, bye bye, ball, bus, diaper, right back, shoe, turtle, bear, truck, plane, book, eyes, and they will repeat back most of the words at least once if you ask 'can you say _____'

Animals or objects they can make the sounds of: cat, dog, cow, horse, chicken, duck, rooster, frog, sheep, goat, bird, crow, truck (we taught them the old school sign for a tractor trailer truck to honk to go along with the sound), plane

Body parts that they can point to if asked: head, hair, eyes, ears, nose, cheeks, mouth, teeth, arm, hand, fingers, belly, belly button (their favorite), leg, knee, foot, toes

They already have some words that they know and will happily locate pictures in various books. For example, ask them to find the cat, truck or banana in one of their books and they will turn to the page and point to the picture and say the word. Blows our minds every time. 

They also LOVE music. They will do signs with 'wheels on the bus' (round and round, open and shut, move on back, shhhh, wiper swish); dance to songs that André plays on the guitar or songs on the radio; and they really love playing music too. They will strum a guitar, shake a shaker to the beat, blow their kazoo, and they really enjoy playing harmonica. They also like playing different rhythms on the electronic keyboard and have recently begun dancing to the rock music when they hit the right button. 

And, as if all of that isn't enough, if it gets too quiet one of them will start singing - laaaa, laaaa, and the other quickly jumps in to harmonize. FUN!! :-) 

Here are some fun pictures from the past few weeks. 

Carrying bottles for snack time. Luka really enjoys helping and is quick to help clean up or share. 

Wearing her "hat". Annika loves wearing hats and carrying purses. 

Playing at the park. 

Annika and Luka "winking". 

Annika and Papa walking on the sidewalk at our house. 

Luka and Mama flashing a smile after a successful dinner out at a restaurant. 

Helping with the Laundry

Luka loves climbing in the laundry hamper and curling up with the (clean) laundry. May he always enjoy helping with the laundry!

Not to be one upped, Annika was quick to climb in with him. Which got a little cozy!

I guess they spent many months together in even tighter quarters before moving up in the world into the drawers they shared as newborns!

O

For love of the Caribbean

Both Annika and Luka really like rice and beans; it must be the Boricua in them. 

But Annika especially loves, loves, LOOOOOVES black beans and rice- perhaps a culinary taste that acknowledges her Caribbean-American roots and the unthawing relations between Cuba in the US?

After all, aren't we all brought together by our mixed roots and heritage through sharing food across cultures?

Just can't get enough!

Don't forget the mango!

More please!

Astronaut food? MRE's? Yes!

Although we mostly make the kids meals and food from scratch, we have experimented with different degrees of unsuccessful attempts to also introduce some packaged foods. We figured when we are too behind on things, for occasions when we are on the go and to have some backups in emergencies that these ready made baby MRE rations could prove very useful. 

But who would want an MRE...

When you are used to caponata?

Well, as it turns out, if you give home the chance to eat it on his own, Luka would!

Looking more little boy-ish

Yum! And now we are ready to hit the zoo with rations at hand!

High chairs

The kids have been spending a lot of time learning to eat all sorts of fun new things in the high chairs as we build solid foods into their diets.

Here they are experimenting with the texture of Greek yoghurt:

And Annika, especially, loves to eat!

One of her favorites is the Giant Jam Sandwich book, although this one about the beard isn't bad either!

Trying on mom's hat...

Not so sure about that!

And they are at a stage where they are really aware of each other now, and  interacting, playing together and talking to each other. They will often turn and look at each other, grab each other and coo and babble at each other too.

If only I weren't such an old, technologically inept parent, I'd know how to post a video to show you and not just pictures, because it's really cute!

Want to join us for a snack? It's so fun!

Synergy Pals

Annika and Luka both love, love, love these musical plush toys that Doug, Helene, Hannah and Maddie have them on their birthday. They get so excited and dance, bounce, hug and nuzzle them so sweetly when they come out. 

Enjoying some porch time before dinner with Wise Owl.

Playing with the new train-walker

Grandma's choo choo train walker was a huge hit! Both kids have enjoyed pushing each other around, playing the various games with the blocks, and their practicing walking skills, which Annika, especially, is quite adept at.

Train maintenance and ABC's

Practicing her mad walking skills.

Not to be outdone by the other local train conductor.

And after a long hiatus...

It has been a while since our last posting. We've had a busy six months, and both kids (and U.S.) went through a really rough six weeks with everyone really sick. 

We kept holding off on posting to try and catch up, but have instead decided to start posting some of the current pictures and catch up later if we can.

Annika and Luka are both crawling, using some signs and words too. One of Luka's favorites is "bah boo," for a balloon left over from there birthday party that he just loves, and he has been working on "ah-ish" too (ice). 

Annika and Luka both say "hi" and "bye-bye" very sweetly and Annika especially gives André a big "hi papa!" When he gets home.

On to some pictures. Here we go!

Hanging out with mom and dad

No, that's not a horn. It's a Mohawk! How cool is that?! How cool is she?!!!

Say hi to everyone who's been waiting rinse you, Luka!

8 months!

It's been a while! The kids are amazing and loads of fun. More to follow...

Thank you Aunt Sarah!

Annika and Luka have been showered with love from all of their aunts and uncles in NC. Aunt Sarah (Kristin's mom's sister) was recruited by André to help Diane babysit in the mornings so Kristin could catch some extra zzzzs. Sarah arrived 3 days this week at 6am bearing gifts of lox, capers and bagels and a desire to cuddle with the kids. As a result Kristin slept in until almost 10am, she ate really well, and the kids had a LOT of uninterrupted cuddle time with Aunt Sarah and Diane. 

Here are some of our favorite pictures of Aunt Sarah and the kids. Thanks so much for all of your help this week and especially for all of the love you have shown Annika and Luka! 

Early morning naps are the best!

Luka's smile is infectious!  

Play time on the awesome animal blanket that Aunt Sarah made. 

Uncle Jimmy even stopped by for a visit.  I think Annika may have won him over with her smile. 

Saying our goodbyes to Uncle Jimmy and Aunt Sarah with a reminder to "come see us in Portland!!"

 

We love y'all! Thanks again!! 

Sunday was a FUN Day in NC

Annika and Luka got to see Mt Moriah Lutheran Church, where Kristin grew up going to church, and meet about 100 of their closest NC relatives. 

They also got to spend some quality time hanging out with Aunt Kim. 

Luka wondering why someone woke him up during his morning nap. 

Ohhhh...it's Aunt Kim. Well, that's just fine. 

Aunt Sarah meeting Annika for the first time. It's hard to tell who is happier. 

A grand introduction - Luka, meet Garrison. 

Instant friends and proud grandmothers. 

Meeting Linda Ann for the first time. 

Our ladies man - Luka, with cousin Marisa...

and with Marisa's beautiful mom, Jennifer. Look at those smiles. 

And Annika gets her turn with cousin Marisa. Winning over her Uncle Jimmy from afar. 

Meeting a new cousin, Solei - who was absolutely great with the kids. 

Annika's turn having some fun with Aunt Kim. 

Some nursery time, hanging out with cousin Alan. 

And nap time with Aunt Kim. 

Hanging out with Auntie Sonya and Todd at the White Owl Antique Fair in Concord, NC. 

Supporting June Bug Bees - Annika & Luka both think you should check out JuneBugBees.com

Wrapping up the FUN Sunday with some yummy lasagne dinner and lots of love from Uncle Dave and Aunt Val.