23 and 10 Months

Quite a few rather momentous changes and happenings around here.  First of all, a delay in blogging because of illness.  Gigi and I both got food poisoning a couple nights ago, so we are gradually recovering and getting back to eating normal portions of food.  It wiped me out!  So sad to see little Gilana terrified of illness coming, her Daddy was an awesome trouper, sitting up at night with her and   cleaning the mess after it was all over.  He took incredible care of us all.  He sure is sittin' up high on that white horse of his!

Camelia.  My sweet little flower is growing up. It is lovely to watch, but a little sad at the same time.  Toddler-hood will soon be upon us and the baby-stage is leaving as I pack up all the baby gear for hopeful future use.  Camelia can say "Mama" as of the last two weeks.  She has taken four or five steps on her own.  She can sign "all done" when she is through eating.  She drinks through straws, sippy cups, tries to climb.  She has a sensitive spirit and is quick to protest some perceived injustice by an instant pout of the lower lip, crying out, then falling over and wailing.  She is our drama queen. Camelia requires a great deal of cuddles and gentle attention and is STILL a total Mama's girl!

Camelia enjoys her morning task of saying good morning to Gigi... and the girls adore each other with hugs, kisses, tackles, exclamations of delight and sweet countenance.  Precious sisters.  Gilana likes to look out for her little sis.  Any request for a morsel of food from Gilana is accompanied by a second request for "Ma," (Camelia).  Gilana likes to shake the maracas, but when she wants to use them, they become "Gigi-racas" rather than "Ma-racas!"

Gilana continues to amaze us with her daily increasing vocabulary and sentence structure.  This morning Gilana spoke of "Camelia's bread" instead of how she previously would have expressed "Ma brea."  She is growing up so much!  Gilana likes to try and put her own shoes on, pick out her clothes, open doors, stir batter in baking prep, instructs her sister on what is right, and give orders around the place.  When she (or anyone else for that matter) is injured, she immediately requests her "Boo boo Buddy" (pink cat-shaped ice pack) from the freezer and up receipt of the item, declares the injury "All better!"  Instant heal!  Gilana is quite free with her kisses and will readily kiss an "owie" to receive the same results.

We love these precious blessings.