Christmas time is near

The girls have been super exited to participate in Christmas activities of all kinds.  As you can see above, despite talking a big game about being friends with Santa, Nina had another terrifying experience with him.  Vivian did alright, but they both loved the parade.  Vivian was so excited to hear people singing and Nina waved at every float and every person.  She would lean into the street to see what was coming next and then give a look full of excitement and joy when she told us about what she saw.

 

 

They both loved decorating the tree!  Vivian grabbed on to ornaments and the tree, and Nina abundantly decorated the bottom branches.  Nina also got her own mini-tree with decorations of her own - and not just any decorations, Toy Story and Finding Nemo ornaments!

Nina has taken to randomly calling Vivian "Vivi" and occasionally helps with bottles.  Our daycare provider, Barb, says Nina is the best big sister and she protects her, talks to her, and tells other kids to "watch out for my sister!"  Vivian is trying to catch up to Nina is all aspects of life; she tries taking Nina's toys, she tries to talk, mimics eating food, and now she is wearing a size 3 diaper to Nina's 4.

 

How your day, mama?

One of our favorite things Nina does now is when she reads or retells stories, she uses different voices.  For instance, when she re-enacts the Billy Goats Gruff, she uses a big loud voice for the troll that's gonna gobble you up and a tiny voice for the smallest billy goat that is simply precious.

Play-doh haircuts

Spinning like a princess

Nina also talks a lot in the car these days.  She points out different things and loves pointing out Christmas lights.  A common phrase of hers is, "Look at all those..." lights, trucks, trees, whatever.  An interesting twist on the phrase is when she saw the collage below she said, "Look at all those me's!"

On a frustrated side, Nina has started jumping on furniture, on the positive side, Vivian thinks it's hilarious and gut laughs whenever Nina does it.  We'll see if the girls continue to be bad influences on one another. ;)

Building together

It's cold out there   ------    Rare sleeping moment

Five Months

Vivian is five months old and she's using her hands, kicks a ball back and forth with her sister, and tries to sing.  She is starting to eat cereal and watches intently whenever anyone else eats.  Sadly, she still sleeps like a 1 week old at night, despite only napping for about an hour and a half during the day.  She laughs and follows her sister constantly and is lucky to have Nina to play with her and care about her.

hodge-podge of pictures

 

Vivian is trying to roll more lately while continuing her usual chatter.  She has taken to singing along with music.  Both girls have enjoyed Christmas carols and Nina's current favorite is Rudolph.

Thanks to Nana for taking care of our sick girls

And sorry for making you sick, too!

Nina has been a lot of laughs lately.  While dad and the two girls were letting mom get a bit of a lie-in, Nina was loudly marching around and then, when Vivian coughed, Nina shouted, "GOTTA BE QUIET VIVIAN, MAMA'S TRYING TO SLEEP!"  She likes talking about her big-girl underwear, although she's not wearing it yet.  While playing with her little nativity set, Nina insists that the gifts the wise men bear include cake for his birthday.  Every time we go anywhere she tells us, "We got to put on jackets 'cause it's snow-time.  Nina might freeze!"

Stole Papa's hat     ----------     "That seal splashed me!"