Valentine’s Weekend

Isla got a special Valentine’s present when her Grandpa, Grandma GiGi, and Aunt Anna came to see her this weekend. Aunt Anna brought her new puppy, Leo, and although it took Isla and Leo some time to warm up to each other they soon became best buds. It looks like it might take Hank a bit longer to warm up to Leo though. He kept looking at Ryan and I this weekend as if to say “are you kidding me, what is this dog doing here?” He is slowly turning into a grumpy old dog, but we still love him.

Miss Isla wasn’t feeling 100% due to her non-stop teething, but she managed to have a good time with her visitors. GrandmaGiGi and Grandpa got to go to Little Gym with Isla and to the zoo. She even showed them how she can walk and play ring-around-the-rosie.

Here are pictures of Aunt Anna and her cute new baby Leo:

Much to Ryan’s chagrin, Leo is a golden-doodle. Although I have to say the no-shedding thing would be a great bonus.

Isla enjoying her Valentine's Day doughnut with Grandpa:Sunday at the zoo. I can’t believe this was Isla’s first time to the zoo. I really need to get it together! She loved all of it:

The bald eagles:

The penguins:

The giraffes:

But more importantly, the carousel. Isla went for two rides on the carousel and when we took her off she started crying because she wanted to go on more rides. I have a feeling we will be back to the zoo many times this spring and summer.

Talker Not A Walker

Lately it seems that everyone we talk to asks us “So is Isla walking yet?” The short answer is no (well kinda – she takes about three to four steps on her own and then is done). Ryan and I have discovered that our Miss Isla is more of a talker than a walker. This is sort of funny considering that Ryan and I are both quiet people – of course we get the child that talks non-stop! Every day it seems she comes home with a new word. For example, this weekend Isla and I were sitting on the couch playing when she stopped, looked at me, pointed to her elbow and said “elbow” and then went back to playing with her toys. I tried really hard not to giggle, but how random is that? Even her daycare providers comment on how impressed they are with her vocabulary. She also likes to sing songs (Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star and Old MacDonald are among her favorites).

When it comes to walking she loves to be able to hold on to one of my hands. If she has a hold of it she will walk anywhere. Once I let go she just stands there and either takes a couple of steps or sits down. I know she could walk if she wanted to, she just doesn’t have the desire to . . . yet.

She has also turned into a climber. She loves to climb on anything she can. At daycare the other day she actually climbed into one of their Exersaucers. I think Little Gym may have something to do with this. Thankfully she knows how to get herself down from the objects she climbs onto so I don’t worry about her too much.

Since getting her first tooth at 13 months they have been coming in non-stop. She now has eight teeth and is currently working on her ninth. Those darn molars have been giving her some trouble, but I think she is handling it as well as any other toddler can.

Isla continues to be a great eater (surprise, surprise) and is now using utensils. Although does it count when you use your fingers to put the food on the spoon and then eat it? Meals have definitely become a little bit messier as you can see:

We are so in love with Miss Isla and can’t wait to see what she will be up to next!