Isa explores art, nature, and friends

Here Isa is contributing to a mural public art project in Pullman Historic District, Chicago. 

Isa makes friends wherever she goes. He social and emotional intelligence is ever expanding.

She always has the attention of others.

Here Isa is exploring nature with her Papa. She is kayaking on the lake at Gram and Poppy's house.

This is an old photo, but Isa loves to make art, and here she is exploring colored chalk art.

Isa drawing/writing September 2017

I plan to start using this blog to capture more of the girls' development and learning. Here are some photos of Isa's writing and recent drawings (4 years, 2 months old).

 From Isa's first day a Kennedy Park preschool: She wrote her name and drew herself.

This is a drawing of an elephant in a zoo cage.

This is a drawing of a 'scary guy.'

This is a picture Isa drew of Papa.

Isa is 4 and Viv is 1!!

Ok we got our birthday doctors appointments and new stats:

Isa
Height: 111cm/43.2 inches, 94.5%
Weight: 36.4 pounds, 58%

Vivian:
Height: 30 inches, 86%
Weight: 26.8 pounds, 100%

vivian helene is 9 months old

She is a beautiful and happy girl. She has been getting quite a few colds, probable brought home from school by Isa. Other than that, she's a very content babe. She has been standing and cruising a lot, and has even taken a few steps unassisted, but she is cautious when it comes to walking on her own, so she doesn't do it - especially cause she can crawl much faster than she could walk! Honestly, I'd like her to hold off on walking as much as possible until we can get out of this house with all tile! I am worried about her falling and bonking her head on the tile multiple times, as she already has and when she does it's heartbreaking. She still has beautiful red hair and bright blue eyes. She says a few words, mostly in Spanish: hola, mama, papa, mira, and ta. Isa is working hard on getting her to say Isa.

9 month stats for Viv:
weight: 22 pounds, 90th percentile
height: 28.7 inches, 85th percentile

Speaking of Isa, she is an absolutely wonderful big sister. She is so kind and patient with her sister. Isa is doing fabulously at school. We are sharing rides with a neighbor, and she is getting to spend so much time speaking Spanish. She is already using full sentences!

3 years 10 month stats (for a school physical checkup)
height: 42.5 inches, 93 percentile
weight: 39.7 pounds, 86 percentile

I am one proud mama of my two girls!

Vivian Helene is 8 months old!

My pretty, pretty Vivi. She is crawling (has been since just past her 7 month birthday), and pulling up on everything and starting to cruise. She is big ad heavy and very interested in food. She has no teeth yet! She smiles and laughs a lot. She is still in a transition phase between 3 and 2 naps. Some days it is 3, but more often it is 2 longer naps. We've pretty much baby-proofed everything so she can crawl around as she pleases. Her favorite toy is a large plastic water bottle, ha! She is making so many sounds: ba, ba, ba; ma, ma, ma; da, da, da. Not quite forming into words or associated with something or someone specific yet. She is a lovely, healthy person! We are so happy we get to spend each day together with her!

Vivian is 5 then 6 then 7 months old!

Yeah. It's like all the stereotypes about the second kid. I don't post monthly blogs about her progress. Well, once every 3 months isn't too bad, considering we just moved across the world.

Vivian is a large and lovely girl. She absolutely adores her sister. Actually, all she really wants is to be touched/hugged/held by someone she loves, and for someone to smile at her. She is a very good human in that way. If she's fussing...hold her and smile at her! She will instantly smile back! She also looooooves food. In a way Isa did not. She is always grabbing at our food and she eats whatever we give her. It's super fun. We are awaiting a high chair from Chicago, because this girl could spend hours eating if we had one.

She is scootching around a LOT but not quite crawling yet. Was sitting up unassisted easily at her 6 month check up. She babbles a ton and is saying all sorts of combinations of sounds. She's an easy, happy, lovely girl. No teeth yet!

6 month stats:
weight: 20.25 pounds
height: 26 inches

Vivian Helene is 4 months old!

Vivian Helene is 4 months! New stats:

Weight: 17 lbs 9 oz, 93rd percentile

Length: 26.5 inches, 99th percentile

She is a big girl! She is very visual and tactile and is gaining good control over her hands to grab things now. She is a champ at rolling over and scooting around. It won't be long now before she sits up on her own. Crawling is right around the corner. She can stand comfortably in the exersaucer as well. We on the verge of a new life in Uruguay, so stay posted for updates!