It was dinner time, so I fed Avery and then put her in this activity center / exersaucer / piano thing in the living room. It's a great way for her to stand up (which she loves to do) and when her feet hit the piano keys, it plays music. It's hard to explain, so obviously, I should have a picture to accompany this post, but I don't ... I promise to post one soon as a follow up, though! Anyway, it kept Avery busy while I went into the kitchen to cook dinner. I kept Reagan occupied at her little table in the kitchen with some paper and her favorite watercolor paints. After about 20 minutes in the "piano," Avery was getting bored (and probably lonely), so she started making some small cries. I remember when I used to put Reagan in this same piano and I would feel so guilty for doing so ... even though she was happy, perfectly safe, and entertained/stimulated in it, I felt like a bad mom. As soon as she would make the smallest cry, I'd pull her out of it. Everyone tells you how different you are as a parent to the second child, and sure enough, it's true. I have no reservations about placing Avery in the piano and I certainly don't pull her out the minute I hear a whimper! So, Reagan was painting and when she heard Avery cry, she said, "What was that?" She's been saying this a lot lately ... whenever she hears a sound in the house, she looks at me with a very thoughtful expression and asks, "What was that?" Sometimes she'll answer her own question, as she did tonight. She said, "Avery's crying. She's sad." I watched Reagan get up from her table and go into the living room to check on her baby sister. I followed her and felt lucky to witness her giving Avery a dose of sweet sisterly love. She gently touched Avery on the head and said, "It's okay, Avery. I'm right here." My heart melted as I listened to my 2-year old repeat the words she's heard me use when consoling Avery. Reagan is SO good with her baby sister. She is kind and loving toward Avery and always makes her smile. I feel so lucky to have both my girls and I look forward to watching them grow up together.
2/28/08 ~ Happy Avery
I had been sitting on the couch, using the laptop, while Reagan was standing in front of me, eating some Ritz crackers. I found it funny that only one bite had been taken out of each cracker. These are the moments when I wish I had a glimpse into her cute little brain ... does the first bite taste better to her? Or does she like the shape it leaves? Was she thrown off because these happened to be "Roasted Vegetable" flavored Ritz? Did she not like the flavor and think the next one might taste differently? I tried asking her why she only ate one bite of each cracker, but I couldn't get an answer out of her. Hence, I'll just keep trying to figure out the logic of a 2-year-old, enjoying each and every puzzle she throws my way ...
Avery with her parents and her godparents
John, Reagan, Amanda, Nelly, Avery, and Jose 
The reason we were all smiling in the two pictures above is because Avery broke into the biggest grin when the priest poured the water over her head! Since she was so happy and content, I assumed the water was nice and warm, like bath water. When her little hair bow fell out and sunk to the bottom of the baptismal font, Nelly offered to reach in and retrieve it ... she was shocked when her skin hit the water, for it was ICE COLD! Nelly couldn't believe that Avery had been all smiles while the frigid water was poured over her head several times. I have a very easy-going little girl :)
John, his mother Nila, and Reagan
The bruise on Reagan's right cheek was from her fall down the stairs the night before ... I was taking both girls upstairs for a bath and I told Reagan to wait at the bottom of the stairs while I took Avery up. Our stairs are made of slippery wood, so we always accompany her on the stairs and make her hold onto the rails. Of course, she loves stairs and it's been difficult trying to teach her they're not something to play on. By the time I was at the top of the stairs with Avery, I heard her crash (what a horrible sound!). She had only made it up to the small landing, so luckily, she only fell down two steps. Her cheek had direct contact with the tile floor at the base of the stairs, hence the big purple bruise. When I was dating John, I once slipped on one of the very top steps and then tumbled down the entire staircase. Slippery socks and our staircase are a very dangerous mix! 
