February 2011 Pics

Please click on the link to see our February 2011 picture collection: February 2011 Pics of Talley & Maverick

Bathtime Bliss

Nothing brings me more blissful contentment than a nice warm bath.  (And nothing brings me more stark rage than getting out of it, but we'll focus on the positives for this post.)

If you want to see some fun kicking and splashing, please click here: Maverick Taking a Bath

-Maverick

Who Says The Twos Are Terrible?

There's so much to do when you are two!  I sing, dance, and play to my heart's content.  Some of the things I enjoy most are playing with Barbies ("Can you hold Steve?"), building block castles with windows for Barbies, being a little mommy for my baby dolls, coloring, playing with stickers, swimming, and wearing toot-toots and dancing like a ballerina (I know how to arabesque, plie, and pirohoutte!).  I love everything princesses and animals, especially horses.  I really like to talk too.  I can speak in complete sentences and I even crack a few jokes ("Is that funny?").  I make funny connections to things based on the books I read and games I play.  I've started calling our toilet The City of Yuck and when Mommy drives over speed bumps I say, "Whoa Mommy!  Bucking bronco!"  I still choose to do some baby talk here and there, though, because Mommy and Daddy think it's so cute.  They especially love it when I say, "I hold you?" when I want to be held.  Gets 'em every time!

My favorite songs right now are "Barnyard Dance" and Jesus songs.  Today I have been singing Kumbaya My Lord.  (Did you know that means "Come By Here?")  I have been very interested in God/Jesus lately.  I ask Mommy and Daddy to read my Bible books a lot. 

I've been getting more into the whole big sister thing too.  When Maverick cries, I ask him what he wants (milk? yogurt?) and then I tell him it's ok and to stop crying.  I also like to tickle him and show him how to play with his toys.  Sometimes I don't like it when he's being held a lot.  Then I ask that he be put down and that Talley be picked up instead.  Sometimes I pretend I'm a baby too. I lay down on his play mat or in his crib and kick and flap about while grunting and squealing.  It's fun for a little bit and it usually gets a good laugh.  Then I like to get up and do fun two-year old stuff again. 

Anyway, I don't see why being two gets such a bad rap. It's not been terrible at all; in fact, I think it's pretty terrific!  I'm excited to see what else this terrific year will bring.

Ringing the Bell Once Again in Swim Class

I've graduated to the next level in swim class!  I am very comfortable in the water now.  I can easily swim underwater for 10 seconds and grab a target.  I can also hang on the wall and almost climb out by myself.  This means that starting next week, Mommy and Daddy will no longer be taking class with me.  It will just be me, one other kid, and the instructor.  I'm such a big girl now!

To see a video of the bell ringing ceremony for my graduation, please click here:
Talley Graduating at Swim Class

To see a video of me swimming underwater to get a ring, please click here:
Talley Diving for a Ring in Swim Class

-Talley

Er-ic! Er-ic! Er-ic!

Recently my best friend, Eric, and his parents, Jon and Leslie, came to visit us.  They drove all the way from LA through stormy weather with two-wheel drive and with Eric's future baby sister, Natasha, in utero.  I was so excited to see them!  I have been sporadically chanting "Er-ic!" while pounding my elbow since we last visited in October.  I have even been trying to teach Maverick how to do it too.

While they were here, we went to the nearby park and we played in the snow.  We also hung out at our house in my playroom (aka Talley Town).

What I love so much about Eric is that we can be silly and dance and sing and play together, but then we can also sit down and have a nice conversation.  One of the nights we sat down to dinner on my picnic table and Eric got up with his plate from his place across the table from me to move and sit right next to me.  Then we proceeded to have fascinating conversation.  See sample dialogue below:

Talley: Eric, are you eating?
Eric: Yeah

See what I mean?  I consider myself very blessed to have such a great friend.  It's hard to find the whole package these days.

Thank you so much for coming to visit us.  That was so awesome of you to make the trip.  We're looking forward to seeing you again in LA over the summer and meeting Baby Natasha!

- Talley

Maverick is Two Months Old

I'm getting so big and strong!  At my two month well visit to the pediatrician, I weighed 12 pounds, 12 ounces and measured 23 and 1/4 inches long.  I am getting better at tummy time and I can lift my head for prolonged periods.  Although I still spend most of my time eating and sleeping, I am also starting to communicate more with social smiles, gurgles, and coos. 

-Maverick

Snow Days

We got another snow storm here in Reno. When the skies cleared up, Daddy and Mommy took me to the park nearby to try sledding on the little hill.  I must say I didn't care much for sledding. However, I did enjoy walking in the snow and making snowballs.

I also loved seeing the wild horses come out.  Don't they look pretty in the snow?

-Talley