Keep Your Eyes on the Prize

Dear Avril,

'Auntie' Sharon took you to the zoo this week and you absolutely loved it! you came back talking about the 'monkeys' and 'goats' and even said 'animals'. Wish i could have been there to see you playing in the splash pool. I've been taking you out walking around in the park and in the front yard quite a lot (when it isn't raining, which it seems like it's doing all the time lately), and you love to pick the flowers and carry them into the house. Your mom is getting a bit concerned about your eyes - you tend to unfocus them and they go in opposite directions when you're drinking milk or juice. i don't think it's that unusual, since most of the time your eyes focus normally, but mom wants to take you to the doctor as a precaution. Hopefully it's nothing...

Coke

Dear Av,

you are a total sponge! today we learned Jump-Jump-Jump-Jumpy!!!! from Yo Gabba Gabba, and you totally love it! You pointed to my can of pop and said 'Milk', until i corrected you with 'Coke', which you repeated right back. You had a really good day today, except for me getting you a bit early - you seemed disappointed that you couldn't go swimming. you and ethan and mazlyn were so cute all lined up along the fence doing that little dance of excitement and impatience waiting to get into the pool. i'm feeling less comfortable leaving you there now and i worry about this situation constantly, but i guess we have no choice right now.

love you

Dear Av,

Or should i call you Adv, for 'adventurous'! you are so brave and so capable of encountering and conquering your environments! You made the change to the new daycare situation without even blinking, and have quickly come to love being at "auntie sharon's" although i don't think your mom is too impressed that you've taken to occasionally calling her 'mom'. you love to climb the slide, swim with your water wings (without anyone hodling on!) and love 'yellow', which is your word for crayons and pens. your vocabulary is well over 60 words now, and growing every day. you brought tears to mom and dad's eyes when you said your first 'love you' this week. so beautiful. The last few days i've been a bit worried about you - you seem a little out of sorts - you're finding it difficult to go to sleep and mealtimes haven't been the most fun. Maybe it's teeth, maybe it's just you growing. You also haven't been napping well during the day so it might be that too. I really enjoyed having 2 weeks holidays to spend with you, taking you to the park, shopping, running and walking the dog... back to work now, missing our time together, but looking forward to your smiling face when i pick you up from daycare in the afternoon!