Pretty Green Eyed 2 Year Old Love

All the wonderful things about Deia these days... I don't even know where to begin! I want to suck on her skin, chew her up...or just swallow her whole. So madly, deeply in love it hurts some times! What she is saying a lot these days.... More gelato please, I want the whole thing...bubbles, I can't like that (meaning I don't like it), I want to talk to - insert name here, I need to leave a message, Come draw with me, Daddy get to go surfing, Mommy going to class?, Tutti coming over?, I want to go to Gigi's house, Tal is so cute, Magnus coming to my house?, More manu please, I want a lot of bubbles...a biiig one, I want to go in mommy's car, Where's the moooon? - I can't reach it - I can't see it - It's clowy out, We go to the beach, I need my helmet, I need to go pee pee on the potty, I need to change baby diaper, baby is sad - she need a nappy, that's amaaazing, no way, I want Alex and the zebra (aka Madagascar), I want the beast (aka Beauty and the Beast), I have 2 booty marks, kiss attaaaack, kiss my back, we go to a-cation (vacation), h i j k I'm a little p, I want my princess (dress), don't close the door - it's beautiful out, make my tortilla warm please, I can't like it...(means I don't like it), I want to do it myself, look at my wings, want to be a butterfly with me, shishy (for fishy), mommy - I made Quinoa! The list goes on and on and on. Deia is such a talker! She has complete and understandable conversations with just about anyone who will talk with her. It is SO much fun to have this verbal little buddy around! She even tells people in the market check out line that we have to buy deodorant for daddy :) Deia is still loving the beach and the ocean and loves being on the bike. She likes to take her dolls out for walks and look for moki's (squirrels) and miso (the cat). Deia loves the bran muffins from Abbots Habit and her new favorite fun food are Amy's Mini Pizzas...aka Pizza Pockets. She'll put down 10 asparagus spears and loves the truffle cous cous from Lemonade. Deia is an incredible mommy to her baby dolls, making sure they are dressed, fed, napped, danced and loved. And Deia is now dressing herself. She has very specific, favorite items of clothing...all of which she believes are "princess" items. Her purple ruffle tunic, her green pokadot dress and other tops with billowy sleeves. She has also worn her princess costume out a few times already...once with the heels. Love that girl.

Us

Just a pic of the 3 of us. I am always taking the photos, so these images are rare. I am going to make a point of changing that in the new year. YES, I am always around...now we just need more proof.

2010 Holiday Card

Happy Everything - The Campodonicos ~ Dominique, Corey, Deia & Blubo.

Cavallo Point Picnic

Anne & Tony set up an amazing picnic overlooking the bridge, bay and city. This spot is just above Cavallo Point, which we love and have fond memories of. We actually spent New Years Eve 2009/10 at this very spot with Mikyo, Trina and La! Spectacular day, incredible views of the bridge and city and plenty of space for Deia to frolic. ...and I love the picnic tables we sat at! Note to self, must buy and have on hand to pull off such a great spur of the moment meal outside!

Christmas

Another wonderful, cozy, rainy Christmas at the Campodonicos. Deia is now old enough to understand that Christmas means presents, a tree with ornaments and has some idea of who Santa Claus is. Among many amazing gifts, the big ticket items were her tricycle and trampoline. We spent almost all of our time in San Francisco with family - Chelsea, Laura, Steve and the Campodonicos. We had a picnic at Cavallo Point, took a gorgeous hike in Marin, went to John and Joan's for the annual dinner and made a couple stops along the way to see the Armels and the Maks. We later took off for Lake Tahoe with Mikyo and Trina. Always a fabulous time up north!

Ojai Thanksgiving

This year we spent Thanksgiving Weekend in Ojai at the Dent house with a LARGE group of new friends and some very close ones. We stayed at the gorgeous Dent House, way up in the mountains and way out of cell range. It was a gorgeous weekend! Deia spent most of her time playing with Tal and Henry and giving a lot of love, maybe too much (?), to baby Lev.

Deia & Mommy

Deia really is my best friend. Although sometimes she is as defiant as a 2 year old would/should be...she is usually full of love and has a genuine desire to spread joy. Lately she has decided that MOM and MAMA are funny options to MOMMY. I sit there thinking, ok it's a phase...she's not really dropping the y yet! She caresses my face constantly and still runs into my arms with total abandon. Feeling her body weight slung on to my chest with her arms tucked between us, is one of the warmest sensations in the world. We still play games where I asked her to blow right on my nose and when she gives me a small kiss..I ask her for a big one, which she plants on me SO hard and for SO long. I find Deia absolutely delicious. The smell of her breath, the softness of her skin, the sweetness of her earlobes, the squishiness of her tushie! It's all yummy. I love feeling the size and shape of her hands as they thin out, change and grow. I notice they are different now. I often stare at her toes, so I don't miss out on the slow eroding of pillow top. I squeeze her thighs and calves and kiss the back of her neck many times a day. Thankfully Deia is a natural little lover. She giggles when we "kiss attack" her and gives back equal physical love. She is kind in the way she reaches out to gently touch the cheeks of other children.

Branches Toddler Program

Every Friday morning Deia and I spend an hour and a half at Branches Preschool in the toddler program. This is a wonderful Reggio school in Santa Monica. We actually took a 6 hour Reggio workshop from the director of the school and fell more in love with the philosophy. So whether or not Deia were to ever attend the school, we are THRILLED to have time there once a week for Deia to be exposed to this approach and in such an inspired environment. It's free play, so to speak, for the first 45 minutes. There are easels and paints set up in various places, water tables, gardening tools, plants, climbing structures, kitchen sets, magnet boards, babies, trucks, balls, sand and more and the children explore. Then it's time for snack and we all sing an adorable song greeting all the children at the table. The kids actually sit together and eat! It's amazing. Then they bus their own plates...whoa. Then there is 30 minutes where the parents separate from the children and enjoy a chat with a children's developmental psychologist. We discuss topics pertinent to this age group. The kids play in the house with the great teachers. Deia is very independent here, rarely coming to me during the time away from me. Always playing with the babies, of course. She is such a good mommy :)

Deia 2nd Bday

Deia's 2nd Birthday party was amazing! We had planned a great TOMS charity event called Style Your Soul. All of the children were going to decorate white canvas TOMS. And for each pair purchased, TOMS gives a pair to a child in need. It's a wonderful organization. Unfortunately, and of course after I cashed all of the checks from our generous friends, TOMS couldn't supply us with a single toddler size!!! They clearly need to have a look at their stock before encouraging people to get involved this way. ANYWAY, it turned out for the best. We met Ruth Steinberg of Little Saplings. She showed up with buckets of soil, gorgeous, colorful flowers, magnifying glasses (for worms and insects) and little planter boxes. I brought decorating supplies for the boxes and the kids had a blast making their take home gardens!! We were actually surprised by what a hit it was. Ruth was so patient and wonderful and the kids gravitated to her and her planting station between pizza, cake and playing at Ozone Park in Venice. For a late October date, we were blessed with a sunny, spectacular day!!! Deia seemed very happy and sang happy birthday to herself :)

Halloween

PocaDeia (little indian princess) was on fire this Halloween. We thought she might be 1 year too young for the madness of trick or treating, but no. Deia completely understood that everyone wore costumes, that you could say something and get chocolate (everything was chocolate...as far as she is concerned there is no other candy than that), and that daddy looked silly in his fear the beard Brian Wilson getup. Mommy was a black cat...with balck wig, ears, whiskers and a tail. We went to the Vadas home for the pre-party and Deia freaked out over the first mask she has ever seen. It took some coaching to get her to be ok with the many other masks she would see. We called them "funny hats" and she would tell the funny hats to go away. We went up and down Rialto with Tal, Shelley and Stephan. We spent some time with Chris and Flynn too! Alecs hung out most of the night when we were home and papi and noni showed up to trick or treat! Trick or treating did get hectic, as Rialto Ave is a hot spot and gets very crowded. So returning home to dish out candy was the best idea of the night. We gave away every last piece of about $350 in candy!!!!!! That's how many people showed up! The most fantastic part of the whole night was Deia taking the initiative to pass out candy. She was in heaven seeing all of the children, she would talk to them, give them a fist full of candy and then wish them a happy halloween. It was remarkable. We were surprised by her enthusiasm and hysterical by the site of her sugar rush. Great night altogether!

Pumpkin Carving

We had a pumpkin carving party with Misty, Chris and Flynn on Deia's actual birthday, Oct. 28th. We had stencils and carving knives, big trash bags for the insides and a big bowl for collecting all of the seeds. We carved about 6 pumpkins that night, all large...some designs more ambitious than others! Since 505 Rialto has been THEE house to see on Halloween for so many years, our multiple pumpkins (plus netting, huge spiders, blacklight, cobwebs and giant eye posters in the upstairs windows) made the house look good...enough ;) Yes, Deia carved in the princess tutu outfit that Flynn bought her for her birthday.

Pumpkin Patch

This year we went to the YMCA pumpkin patch at Temescal Canyon. No tractor rides, no petting zoo, no choo choo train. It was slim pickin's over there, but at least we supported a good cause. Deia ran around among the haystacks and creative celeb scarecrows.

First Sort-Of-Sleepover

We went over to Chris and Flynn's for her 4th bday party. Deia and Flynn wreaked havoc, like usual, but until 11:30pm! Deia was trying really hard to keep up with her 2 years her senior buddy, but made herself at home amongst Flynn's stuffed animals and passed out before midnight. I went in to check on her and Flynn had covered her and was awake keeping watch! Flynn said, "deia's sleeping over, her daddy said it was ok. this is what i have wanted all day long." I mean, how can you mess with that! Of course, we took Deia home about an hour later. Poor Flynn woke up around 3am and started screaming. She woke up to check on Deia, and when she wasn't there, Flynn thought she had wandered off. Chris talked her off the ledge and then she was sad that it wasn't a "real" sleep over. Long story short, she's excited to come spend the night at our house soon :) We are so enjoying the love affair between them. It's cute to see them both so comfortable with each other!

Flynn Skye

Oh the love Deia has for our neighbor Flynn...and only overshadowed by Deia's love for her daddy Chris. Flynn and Chris live directly across the street from us on Rialto. Flynn just turned 4. Deia isn't mildly obsessed with Chris, she's a lunatic about it! She calls his name from the upstairs windows with a yell that probably wakes up the neighborhood. And even though Deia cannot pronounce the letter F yet, she screams "schylnn" on the top of her lungs and idolizes her new friend. We feel so grateful to have such an awesome duo over there. It's added to, if not made, our experience here in Venice. Life would look very different without the open arms and home of the Husbands and seeing these girls play together just fills your heart with pure joy. They are that...pure joy.

22 Months

Somehow time flies and monthly updates are less and less on time, almost forgotten...oops. So as we near 23 Months, I figured it was time to update some stats. There are so many special developments as of late, and the rate at which her vocabulary is expanding is almost hard to keep up with. We're talking sentences people. What?! Pajamas off, clothes please. Mommy, go upstairs and change d diaper. More Manu please. How about the other one. I like gelato. You're my best friend. etc. She knows exactly what she wants to say and, in as many words as she has, she speaks her wishes, demands and love very well! And she loves to talk to everyone. Fortunately, she is very polite...saying please, thank you and you're welcome at the right times. She also uses her words for a bunch of complaining... Mommy, no sit down. Daddy, no go inside. Mommy, no barrette please. Daddy, no pantalones. She also throws some pretty awesome tantrums...usually for no important reason. She asked for a cracker the other day, so I brought her a cracker. To which she started screaming, "No Cracker!" Then she threw herself down on the ground, always a little scary, and kicked and screamed like a fish out of water, flipping herself all the way from the bottom of the stairs, through the living room and dining room, through the kitchen, down the back door steps and on to the back deck...without ever getting up to walk! It was impressive, really funny actually. So I let her know that I was sorry she was upset and told I would be right over in the kitchen when she decided she was done. She located her Manu and laid on the floor drinking for the next few minutes. It's amazing how irrational little kids can become! So, we are averaging a couple tantrums a day...not quite as big as the cracker blow up. Supposedly it's normal :) But when she is not beating herself up, she's the most kind, adoring, snuggly person. She performs to evoke laughter and smiles. She hugs and kisses to let everyone around her know that she loves them and includes them. She thanks you when she's happy and says I'm Sorry when she thinks she's done something to upset you. We feel so lucky to have such an outgoing, silly, sweetheart of a daughter. Everywhere we go people tell us how special she is...and we agree :) Her favorite foods these days are gelato (aka yogurt pops that I have put in the freezer), guacamole, carrots and carrot chips, chicken, bran muffin, frozen peas and water. Manu is still the most important thing she could ever imagine having and she probably consumes 40 or more oz a day! We joke about her water empire one day, but it would make so much sense :)

Tiara Day!

Ballet might be both of our favorite activities of the week! Much practice occurs between classes and Deia frolics confidently into the dance room and ready to show off her moves. She is definitely improving and adores her teacher Miss Taylor. She talked about her aaaalllll the time. And everywhere we see an orange cone, she lifts her toes to it and says, "tondue." It's still as precious as the first day when that tutu goes on.

Frida?

We went to the Paint Lab in Venice where we received an easel with an endless supplies of paint and paper. Sure, the brushes were used...but hands and fingers were preferable. We shared this morning with Magnus and left there with many masterpieces. That includes the pants and shirt Deia wore that, even after a wash, remain a reminder of that fun and messy day.

Carnivore

We always knew that Deia liked Turkey... But when Corey bought a cave-man style drumstick at the farmer's market in Vail, we found out exactly how much she loved it. She attacked this animal, which was bigger than the length of her torso, and wouldn't stop eating it until the bone was almost dry. Of course, it was way too heavy for her, even when she tried to use both hands. So we held it up to her mouth and she tore at it like a lion with it's prey.

Vail!

Our old stomping ground, Vail, Co. It was surreal to bring Deia to a place where I grew up skiing and where Corey and I went on our first ski date in college! There she was, with her snow cone, at the base of Vail Mountain, near the Vista Bahn lift that took me to greater places for so many years.

Flower Girl

Deia had the honor of being a flower girl, for the first time, at Amber and Todd's wedding in Colorado. We stayed at Codillera Lodge, just beyond Vail, and the ceremony was in Beaver Creek. The setting was gorgeous, the day was perfect. Amber so kindly had the florist create a boutonniere for Blubo...knowing she likely wouldn't let him go before walking down the aisle! So cute. As it was, the onlookers were a little intimidating for her and Corey, clad in an accidental groomsmen-matching suit, walked her happily down to where I was standing at the altar. I held her for about 20 minutes of the ceremony and she played quietly in my arms...until she started poking at my chest and blurted "Boobies, mommies boobies" during a special prayer. Fortunately it was mostly unheard and when I said that it was then time to go to daddy, she sweetly yelled for him and then ran into his arms. She loved dancing to the jazz band at the reception and devoured wedding cake. It was so fun to be a part of Amber's wedding and to have that memory of Deia as that little girl you always see and coo over :)

Sardinia, Italy

We flew from Milan to Sardinia. We drove our little Fiat to Capo Testa on the northern tip of the island and stayed there for 4 glorious nights. It was interesting to see such arid, desert like landscape fall into such clear, sapphire Mediterranean water. It reminded us of Greece. This beach, Capo Testa, was absolutely PERFECT for families. The water was about a foot and a half deep for a hundred yards out and 300 yards wide, no waves. Deia could walk chest deep on her own and she loved it! The pools at this resort were also all kid friendly, not a single deep pocket to be found. We loved her half naked, in and out of the various bodies of water. And here she fell in love with Santino...our waiter for the trip. She would wake up asking for more "Tino." And she would take his hand or let him hold her when we needed to scarf down some food. It was wonderful. In true Campodonico fashion, we rented another boat and road out to the islands between Sardinia and Corsica. Deia was more than happy to be in her life vest (thankfully we brought our own), and we bounced in the ocean...making a couple stops to marvel at the gorgeous water and cool yachts surrounding the tiny islands. We make a quick stop in Puerto Cervo, the "it" spot on the island. While it boasted top designer shops and a marina packed with some of the most insane (sized) yachts we have ever seen, it wasn't our cup of tea. It lacked authenticity. Short of it's location on the globe, it was a brand new development of hotel on top of hotel and a high-end outdoor "mall," it could have been Orange County. Many would disagree, but we aren't the Channel clad couple nor do we want to shop while on the island of Sardinia. We wanted the real deal. We wanted to be where the Italians were. Thankfully we met a wonderful fellow, Italian, mom on the beach one day. Her family lived on the island, as did her husband's family. She made us a reservation at an Agriturismo called La Tegghja...one where the locals go. It's a farm stay. So we went, as the only Americans. We watched an incredible sunset from the cliff top farm and sat down at our assigned table. There must have been 30 other Italian families there! No menu...they just kept bringing course after course of pure Sardinian food....thankfully they spared us the horse meat. With endless refills of house wine, we stuffed our faces into the night. We left fat and happy and having felt like we delighted in one of Sardinia's pure experiences.

NUUNOS

Nuunos, otherwise known as "noodles," were a staple in Italy. The every dinner go-to item that kept Deia happy and allowed us to eat in piece...without taking shifts while she ran around the restaurant. This of course meant that she never wore the same night time dress twice...it was fun for me to pack with that in mind. She was my little doll and her ever-changing outfits were precious.

Lake Como, Italy

Lake Como is a sight to behold. Large, luxurious, divine. We had 3 days to indulge here and, oh boy, we did. We stayed at the gorgeous Grand Tremezzo where we had asked for a room with a terrace, patio, balcony...some kind of outdoor sitting area...NON lake facing (the prices for those would have been obscene)...so that we could have somewhere to hang out while Deia took her naps during the day. This was the first place we had parked it long enough for Deia not to take her naps in the car. The hotel told us they would give us a rear facing, bottom floor room with a terrace. Perfect. Well....not only did we have a terrace, we had a 40x40 swath of grass with 2 lounge chairs, direct access to the garden pool, and to the right was a straight shot view of Bellagio! Not too shabby :) Of course, we rented our own boat so that we could explore the lake solo and Deia enjoyed a cold smoothie on the floating pool of the Villa D'Este. She showed her signs as a budding boater while belting out all her songs as she drove the vessel with daddy. She also sat happily through a 3 hour meal...and a couple others. I can can credit at least 30 minutes of each of those to the wonderful souls who waited on us. The servers in Italy had a way with Deia, and she was putty for them. They would all get on bended knee, eye level with her, say a couple nice things in their gorgeous accent, and she fell in love. They would ask her if she wanted to go into the kitchen and meet the chef...to which she stared and nodded in agreement. Then she would be gone...for 20 minutes or so... ...Corey and I would then open a new bottle of wine...and she'd come back smiling and content. It was brilliant. Deia frolicked through the pathways of Bellagio and through the main square of Mennagio. It was amazing to see her so carefree in this environment. I think it was great for all of us to stretch our legs for a few days after spending so much time in the car. We had visions of what summer holidays would look like if we could rent any of many of the waterfront villas. It was all so truly awe inspiring. ....wouldn't mind an invite from Richard Branson or George Clooney. Yes, we know where they live.

Lake Orta, Italy

Aaahhhh, home. We have always felt that way in Italy. The jagged, magnificent Swiss Alps softened and sang when they led us into Italy. Again, another border crossing that was a game changer. It's like we could feel life, flavor and amore the second we entered the country. We passed by Lake Lugano and on to a little gem called Lake Orta. Thanks to Kristine Setareh, we would have never known about this epic, magic spot with a tiny island in the middle. We went to bed late on Lake Orta because the main square was beneath us and full of the sound of glasses clinking, laughter and very rich, exuberant story telling. We woke up lake front, the sun shone (and consistently then through the lakes and islands on the remainder of the trip) and we settled into a new rhythm. ...One Deia might call Noodles & Gelato. Oh, her European diet consisted only of: milk, cheerios, apricots, gelato, ham and pasta...with messy sauces. Yum. We enjoyed a boat ride and short visit of the island and later made our way out of town.

Zermatt!

We drove through the spectacular Swiss Alps to the base of Zermatt, where we took a train into town. We spent Father's Day on the Matterhorn and Deia tasted her first snow. The gondola ride was especially fun for her and then the mid-mountain alpine restaurant with it's giant slide was surely a highlight. This is the only time she has wanted to wear a hat in....as long as she has been aware of one being put on her head :) She also hasn't seen the Ergo since she was a year old and had no problem taking her nap in one on Corey's back as we hiked down the mountain for a couple hours. This is a good time to mention that Deia slept everywhere and anywhere we needed her to on this trip! The car, the stroller, the ergo, and her pack n play...which saw a different hotel every night for 10 nights. We were shocked, impressed and thrilled! She is a true travel buddy.

Montreux, Switzerland

We finally made it to Montreux on Lake Geneva. It was interesting to feel quite a difference between France and Switzerland just upon crossing the border. The opening of the Alps was stunning and the lake was huge and deep blue with the crazy rise of steep mountains bordering it. The weather was so-so, but the views made up for it. One of the site highlights of our entire trip was a walk through Chateau Chillon, a castle on the eastern part of the lake and made popular by the Lord Byron who was a prisoner there. Being able to explore every nook and cranny of this place was a real treat. Deia loved the echo of her voice in the large rooms and loved the arms holes in the towers...she would peek out of all of them. This is where she learned to say umbrella, and, of course, wanted to hold one herself.

Clos Du Vougeot

The nicest vineyard and Grand Crus winery we went to was at Clos Du Vougeot. Deia ran through the vines, played in the gravel, and smelled every single flower...about a hundred times :)

Arbois, The Jura

Deep in the mountains of the Jura, in Franche-Comte, we stayed at Castel Damandre in Arbois. Such a different landscape than all of the vast farmlands we had just driven through. It was hilly and lush. We hiked to this beautiful waterfall right from our hotel! Arbois was the home to Louis Pasteur and seemed like such an interesting choice...being so far away from any bustling city. If we had had more time in the area, we could have gone rafting, fishing, canoeing, horseback riding, and, of course, wine tasting. It's an adventurous part of France that we never knew about until we needed a stop-over place on our way to Switzerland. Ah, what road tripping opens your eyes to.

Chateuneuf

We took a side trip to see the castle at Chateuneuf. On the cliff's edge of a hilltop town, this magical castle stood tall and proud. Deia ran from room to room, looking at the models of the castle in it's various eras and saying nigh-nigh when she saw the beds in every bedroom.

Beaune, Burgundy

From Avallon we drove to Beaune. We arrived in the evening with little time to get settled at our adorable B&B and to get out to eat. So we went to the historic city center with a long list of restaurant recommendations...and a short list of those to absolutely stay away from. After getting denied, with child, at one place (our first true taste of French arrogance), and finding about 10-15 more unsuitable for a little one, we ended up stopping at ALL three awful spots, only to end up with horrible take-out panini's and fries... that we ate in our car! Deia was on my lap in the front seat, happily dipping fries in ketchup, while we laughed hysterically about our botched plans. We we a little underwhelmed with the hospitality in Beaune...people seems slightly less enthused than anywhere else we were. Then again, we're judging on a 24 hour stay. We did enjoy the old hospices. Deia threw coins in the wishing well and jumped in puddles between the cobblestones.

Chateu De Vault De Lugny, Avallon

Everyone should stay in a real Chateu at least once in their lives :) Chateau De Lugny is an entirely restored Chateau from the XIII & XVIII centuries on 100 acres of private grounds, with a trout fishing river and impressive vegetable garden. We especially loved the few resident peacocks, turkeys and house dog. The Chateau was nearly empty, so it was wild to feel like we almost had it to ourselves! We had an 8 course gourmet meal in the original Gothic vaulted ceilings of the former Chateau kitchens. Somehow, Deia lasted the entire dinner and was such a good date! Our walk around the land was breathtaking. The old dungeon and watchtowers were available for exploration and we walked through the gardens to see where all of our dinner food had come from. What a special experience. I really hope that we can recommend this amazing place to another family. It is incredibly family friendly!

Noyers, Burgundy

We discovered Noyers by accident and it was, hands down, our favorite medieval city in Burgundy! Off the beaten track and barely mentioned in the guidebooks, it's easy to miss the farm road that winds to it. Noyers is a storybook town of surreal, half-timbered houses, mini squares and chalky cobblestone streets. It reminded us of a Hollywood back lot, it just couldn't be real! We went to the local market to buy some fruit and walked into the patisserie to grab a couple baguettes. We then sat, alone, in a tiny square and wondered when someone would yell, "cut!" Deia played with local chatte's and ran around smelling flowers on window sills. It was charming and inspiring. Such a happy accident!

What I Love About Deia

...aside from every little thing...i love the way she bounces when she runs, how her curls bounce with every hop, how she wants 2 rounds of kisses at bed time, and how many times she says mommy until i get her out of bed, the way she says "hi" to everyone, the way she says ee-u-laler for see you later, how she gets blissed out when you kiss her back and puckers for kisses on the mouth, how she says mommydaddy when we are all together, the way she is starting to say our morning goodbye mantra and how she waves her little finger to draw hearts in the air, how she knows that mommy's coffee is hot and that my water is usually fizzy, the way she passe's and plie's, how she loves putting on her own shoes and how she thinks her toes always smell peeyu, the sounds her mouth makes when she eats, the way her pinky is in the air when she holds her bottle, how she calls every source of water manu, the way she uses an electric toothbrush, how she pretends to push when she sits on her potty, the way she naps her fingers every time she starts dancing, the way her breath smells when she whispers near your face, the way her eyelashes look when they are wet and stuck together in the pool, the way her face looks after a dunk under the water, the way she says boing whenever she sees a belly button, how she asks for certain songs at bed time, how she lets you know you aren't playing or singing the song she wants, the way she says meow, the way she tells you she wants to put on lipstick and how she rubs makeup brushes on her tummy instead of her face, how she only eats bananas with the peel pulled down and how much she loves to eat the bread she is supposed to feed the ducks at the park, the way she says her friends names, the way she loves Magnus so tenderly, the way she says "ok," the way her little thumb looks when it slides the unlocking bar on an iphone, the way she makes faces in the mirror, the way she likes to hold multiple objects at once, how she loves to dance, how she loves her music class, how she sings while sitting in her little car en route anywhere, the way she wants everyone around her to be happy, how she loves bracelets and barrettes, how she says Corey, how new layers of bangs keep growing in, how she still tries to drink the bathwater, the way she says and does absolutely everything....she amazes me.

19 Months!

Deia is 33 inches tall, 90%, and 26 pounds, 70%. She has grown this way consistently and her dr found her to be a very healthy little lady, and smart too ;-) Something happened in the last week and Deia has arrived on a whole new level. In a matter of days, her words have quadrupled, her ability to sing a complete song has increased ten-fold, she anticipates words and movements in her classes and executes them wonderfully during the lesson or perfectly in a call and response scenario, and she also really does repeat everything she hears. It seems like she is more alert and involved in all of her classes and shows enthusiasm for them unlike any time before. I am sure this is what comes when kids are old enough to begin communicating efficiently for the first time. She sings the ABC's all the way through and picks up most of twinkle twinkle, itsy bitsy spider, row row row your boat, mary a had a little lamb, little birdie on the tree, i've been working on the railroad, trot old joe, i love you and more. Deia has already mastered her first passe and seems to be enjoying her ballet class. We start swimming class tomorrow!!!!!! Deia is very polite too. She says please and thank you, a lot :-) She is still in love with Magnus and has a ton of fun with Baby Lee and Tal. We still make it to the duck or beach park several days a week and Deia is still touch and go with the slide. ...though she'll send Blubo down without her in a second. She likes to climb the jungle gym more than anything. On the topic of up and down, which she loves to say too, Deia seems to love steps and is very good at holding the railing and working her way up and down them. This is where we practice numbers and she can count from 1-10 in English and 1-5 in Spanish! The family names are currently Gigi, Papi, Lala, Cece, Tutti, Tatti, Papi, Noni and Ayreichshschch...which is her best attempt at Alecs. It's a tough one for her and we might need a nickname soon! Deia eats with a fork, and not so well with a spoon and is loving all of the new summer fruit. She especially loves holding her own piece of corn on the cob! It's been a really fun month with Deia and she is learning and growing so fast. For the first time, we can really hang out with her and share activities that inspire us all. ....does that mean it's time for Disneyland....hmmmm :-)

Fun In The Bath

Deia fiiinnnaaally loves the bath. It took her a while to be ok with the water being poured over her head. Thankfully we were turned on to this great water cup that molds to her forehead and pours the water away from her face. She loves playing with her letters and numbers and loves filling cups and buckets. And more than anything, she loves taking a shower with me and even washes my legs with soap and a wash cloth.

Shades

Deia is really into sunglasses these days. She has 3 pairs of her own that she asks for. She'll wear them for quite a while when we are out for a walk, unless she get's annoyed about something else and then they are the first things to go. I can't get over that little button nose peeking out from beneath the lenses!

1st Pony Ride

We went to the Main Street Farmer's Market and watched the pony's walk around in a circle. After about 5 minutes of saying hello to the horsies, I asked Deia if she wanted to ride one....and she nodded her head yes so hard that I thought she might hurt her neck! So we paid and I asked her again and again and she continued to say yes. She wasn't exactly happy when she was belted in, and she held my hand soooo tight. A little more whimpering when the pony started to walk and then she settled in, sort of. She would pet it and then pull away. Deia almost enjoyed it about minute into the ride and was basically ok as long as I held her hand and she kept talking. She must have said "hi horsie," "nice horsie," "okay horsie," about 100 times :-)

1st Solo Passe!

It took three classes before Deia actually did a passe ON HER OWN! It was a proud day for mommy and Deia was such a beautiful ballerina. The week prior, she was not at all into having the teacher guide her through her positions. But this day, she went with her and raised her leg and pointed her toes by herself! We picked up a hula hoop for home and she practices turning around and saying "ta-daaaa!" Deia also says plie and understands that that means you bend your knees and move down. It's truly adorable.

Jackie's Class Graduation!

Deia received her diploma after the class and their families sang happy graduation to you. It was a very sweet ceremony for all of the children and they all wore GRADUATE t-shirts. Mommy and Daddy were present for the first of many graduations :-)

1st Zoo Trip

We took Deia to the Los Angeles Zoo for the first time. We only had about an hour and a half, and blew it by not making it to the petting zoo...which is all we should have done. Sooo...we'll go back. She definitely noticed the gorillas, giraffes and zebras, but she was far more interested in the crowds of children everywhere!

1st Ballet Class!!!

We started Tots & Tutus at the Creation Station this week!!!! It's Deia's first Ballet class! The tutu was adorable, she loved moving in it and lifting the layers of fabric. She loved the other little girls in her class and seemed to really trust the teacher. Deia actually let Miss Taylor take her to do her first tondu, passe and glissade! I think this will be a wonderful place for her to enjoy movement and expression. The day, the outfit, her disposition...had me in tears. So, so special.

18 Months!

She's 1 and 1/2! Whoa. That happened fast! Is it ok if I say that this is my favorite age?! As everyone says, it keeps getting better. But I feel like she is just enough of a big girl and still a little bit my baby :) Her words are getting refined, as in she finally throws in the "L" in Blubo now instead of just saying Bubo. And she is putting together many words, such as "I love you daddy," "bless you," "thank you," good morning," and "more manu pease." She is very into watching me put on make up these days and insists that I give her my tools and palettes as I am done using them. But for some reason, and every time, she immediately lifts her shirt and starts applying the blush brush or closed mascara to her belly! Don't know where she got that one, but it's pretty cute. Deia is letting us know when she has to go poo poo or that she has just gone. She says "poo poo/pee pee on potty" and knows that's what's happening when we sit down on the toilet. She also knows her toilet...which I intend to upgrade when we really get down to business. She actually told her first joke! I had just finished changing her diaper and she was quiet. All of a sudden she grunted quite loudly, and grunted again. I asked her if she had to poop. And with a belly laugh and the quirkiest little smile, she shook her head "noooooo," as if to say, "just kidding mom." It was very funny. Deia's little feet, still a size 4/5 (!), are slowly losing their pillow top! Shoes she couldn't even be stuffed in, she is sliding into with ease. There is still plenty of squishy yumminess in her thighs, but when you know them as intimately as my teeth do, you start to realize that they too are, slowly but surely, slimming down. But we have some time before they disappear :-) I am pretty sure that she is among the friendliest of the friendly children out there. I hear strangers on the street speak to that well after we have passed them on the sidewalk. She is a great greeter on airplanes too! Very enthusiastic "HI's" to everyone, usually expecting a "Hi" back. And very direct "bye's," always followed by a huge blown kiss. She is just the sweetest little love and it seems important to her to make those around her feel noticed, acknowledged and appreciated. She gives a great hi-five and delicious kisses. She is much better at puckering now. She seems to have taken a break from her toys these days and spends most of her play time rummaging through my drawers (where she finds and drapes my underwear on her arms like bracelets), reading her books, drawing with crayons, collecting as many barrettes in her hands as possible and dancing. Man she loves to dance! We have daily dance parties and we boogie down. Deia looovves a good beat! She started Ballet (priceless), starts swimming next week and still goes to moo moo musica at the Electric Lodge. So between those classes, her weekly playtime with Magnus, her almost daily trips to the duck or beach park and her other time with family and friends, she is a busy little girl! Mom is getting out a lot, thriving on her new environment and all of the wonderful friends around her. It's good for everyone :-)

She's Funny

Deia is a....collector. Which has become our nice way of saying hoarder! She...collects....multiple items in one or each hand and/or stuff as many things in her arms at once. She attempts the impossible when it comes to how many things can fit in her tiny palms. It has always been important to her to carry and collect a lot. I wonder what that means?! At the very least, she must have two of everything, so as to have something in each hand. Yesterday I watched her try to hold 2 crayons, a banana, blubo and her water bottle in ONE hand. It was hysterical watching her drop things and try to reassemble them into her holding hand. Deia has decided that her water and milk bottles are called Manu. No idea what that is, and she can say water and bottle.... But we are honoring it and calling it Manu for the short while that bottles still exist in our world. Deia thinks belly buttons are the best and must press her little finger into them, hard, and say BOING. Deia says "cheers" about 40 times a day and says hi to just about everyone crossing her path. Bye Bye is still accompanied by blowing kisses and her thighs are still her tickle spot.

17 Months!

Is Deia really almost a year and a half old!?! Holy wow. I cannot believe what a full person she is...so much soul and sweetness and smarts in such a tiny package! And from being a bean to the agile and vocal toddler that she is now in no time, it's quite amazing. Her vocabulary grows by the hour. Her latest words of wisdom are a perfectly imperfect "I luh nyuuu!" That's I love you, with a huge emphasis and pitch change on the yoouuuuu! It's precious. She says it in response and on her own. Deia continues to think that saying bye bye goes hand in hand with blowing kisses...which tends to make random people in stores, classes and on the street feel really special :-) Deia has on and off days at the park. One day she tosses blubo down the slide and immediately follows. Other days she thinks slides are the scariest things ever...back arching and screaming no when you take her to it. But she hangs, assisted, from the monkey bars and says "weeee" as we swing her. It's strange that she has been to 2 gymnastics classes and was petrified of both....I am going to wait a few weeks and try again.... But before then I hope to try Tots and Tutus!!!! Deia's favorite friends are Magnus, Tal and Baby Lee. She sees them the most and knows them by name. She often asks for them and if I tell her we are about to see them, she goes bananas! She and Magnus have a particular love affair...they have a deep friendship...going all the way back to when he watched her pee by the pool fence. You can say...they've shared moments :-) Deia doesn't really let us enjoy meals out anymore. It makes sense that all she wants to do is run around...and we have to be mindful of that when we make our restaurant selections. It's even more hectic now because she climbs so well and heads for every bench and chair. Deia has become quite the little helper these days! We moved back to the Rialto house and unpacking was made easier by her because she helped me, one by one, unpack and put away my shoes. ...only to take them all out and try them all on later! But I can ask her to grab me something or put something away, and she does it with joy. Deia has become very good at eating with her own fork and still has great pride in her efforts. She cannot get enough of veggies from any soup, her eggs, tangerines, bananas (which must be peeled down so she can hold them herself), veggie booty, chicken, strawberries and water. But she's getting adventurous and enjoys the occasional kale and seaweed snack too! She LOVES her grandparents and aunts so much. She knows them all by name...tuti, tati, papi, noni, la la, cee-cee, gigi and then the last two are a struggle...she is working on saying A-iccchh instead of Annie for Alecs and we are all working on trying to figure out what to call Tony, haha. Wise one isn't going to cut it, so it may just be some version of grandpa. Sorry Tony. Deia is very independent when she plays and will let you know when she wants you involved. And she loves telling people where to "shit," which would be sit, of course. The biggest compliment we get about Deia's personality is in the way that she shows love and affection. She really is so full of warmth and heart and she goes out of her way to show her feelings and gratitude. She is a kisser. She is a hugger. She makes sure everyone around her is loved equally and she nuzzles and snuggles and gets in your face with all that love! There is a sweetness to her that is really unique. It makes us want to give her the universe...and return all those yummy kisses. I think I might eat my child....so if there is no posting for 18 months, you all know what has happened :-)

Beads!

Deia is into water, sunglasses, bunnies, doggies, shoes, pbs, the beach, her car and BEADS! She has taken a liking to a few beaded necklaces and they have provided her with hours of fun! They have become a really fun way for her to learn how to count...she says one, two, three as she pulls each one over or off your head and neck. She often leaves the house with them on, which is giving her quite an eclectic look :-) Luckily she is just beyond the age where she puts everything in her mouth. She has lost interest in tasting these beads and I am sooo relieved!

Garden Girl

The only catch to our moving into 505 Rialto is that there was going to be a 2 week hiccup where we had to move elsewhere...so another family could pay an excruciating amount of money for their Easter holiday in Venice. And so we moved into, what we call, the shoebox on Electric and California. It's an adorable cottage, sort of. A 1 bedroom restored craftsman. Maaybe 350/400 square feet, on a good day. Perfect for a couple week vacation with a couple suitcases, and it exceeds all you wish for in a hotel suite. But when you move in with "stuff," it remains a cluttered and tight spot. The saving grace is a perfect, enchanted garden. It's a communal garden shared by the owners and 3 other rental properties and is a nook in Venice unlike anywhere else. You wouldn't imagine it to exist just off of the busy street of Abbot Kinney and over its hedges. But it's a world that was so consciously crafted over many mindful years. Every time you are in it you catch a new hidden statue, pot, plant or antique seat. It is so inspiring and Deia just loves frolicking down the pathways, jumping on the stepping stones and digging her toes in the gravel. She picks a different bench or chair to sit in almost every day. What a special space we get to enjoy for only a blip in time!

Moo Moo Musica

We started a new music class at the electric lodge in Venice. It's walking distance from our house and absolutely perfect. It's in a large dance room, where I take jazz and samba, and there are anywhere from 15-20 kids of similar age. Moms, dads and nanny's come ready to play and we sing in EVERY language you can think of. It's a wonderful class that inspires musicality, movement, awareness and silliness. The teacher is incredibly animated and captivates the children. Deia's favorite part of class is the magic carpet ride, where she sits or lays down at the base of a fleece blanket while I pull her around the room. The static that raises her hair is a priceless site!

Beach Days

The beach is warm in early Spring and Deia likes to kick back with a good trash mag and some cool shades. She loves the sand between her toes and the endless running areas. ...Only gets precarious when she bolts for the water. She adores the waves and has no fear in her approach to them. ...And so we get wet :-)

Farmer's Market

Just another sunny Sunday on Main Street. We went to the weekly farmer's market, listened to the banjo band, ate yummy snacks on the grass, shared balloon animals and watched the pony ride...from a distance of course. It's wonderful to have some happy stimulus around and to enjoy seeing an otherwise simple square come alive with food and families.

16 Months!

Well, I updated Deia's 15th month status in between months, so there is slightly less to blog about on this one. I am hoping to add new notes and not just reiterate what has already been written.... So. Deia is now very interested in using her fork. She rarely gets anything on the prongs when she attempts on her own, but when she is successful she has the sweetest look of pride on her face. She also likes we when arrange bites for her and hand her the fork. She's definitely getting more adventurous with her food, trying pretty much anything...but always spitting the bite out before she decides if she wants to continue eating it and then some. The only shoes she lets us put on her, without protest, are her uggs and she is ok with crocs so far. Tennis shoes take a little distraction. Deia is very much into stacking items. Loves putting her wooden discs on those posts, but loves wearing them as rings even more. She also puts the plastic stacking rings all the way up her arms. Soraya and Magnus introduced her to the recorder and it's her favorite instrument, for the moment. Although, we can't wait to take her to the drum circle on venice beach with her little djembe :-) Deia isn't into sitting in her stroller for long. She would much rather get out, get behind it and push it along. ...makes for a long walk for all of us. She is also very interested in learning how to go up and down stairs. Which is great! However....it frustrates her that we have gates prohibiting her from doing at her whim and she screams open while nearly breaking the gates down. Hey, at least now she'll throw in an "open please!" Deia is definitely adding more words to her vocabulary (lub loo = love you!) and makes very good attempts at saying some tough ones too. The coolest bit of progress is in the way that she responds with "ok" or answers with "no." She is getting better at asking for things she wants with words and sounds. Sadly, she still wants elmo/youtube too much and we need to stop the madness ASAP.Deia thinks that saying bye-bye must go hand in hand with blowing kisses. She even blowss a kiss when we sign off on a cell phone! I think she is headed into a single nap a day now. She has played in her crib through several 2nd naps this week, taken longer to go down for her 1st nap and that nap is shorter now. So we are going to see what happens when we push the 1st nap a little later...hmmm... Deia MUST have music playing in the car. She is very unhappy when there is a lull between songs and really doesn't want to have to wait out the 12 second silent interlude. No more bluetooth on speaker, for that interrupts her listening pleasure! Deia finally has some molars poking through and my heart goes out to all the little ones that endure a painful appearance of their molars. How awful :-( It didn't help that they showed up just as she was dealing with her worst illness to date and some strange, involuntary eye-rolling movement that had us visiting too many doctors in a single week. All is well, thank gawd, and she is healthy and lovely. She is getting more feminine by the day, showing true signs of being a girl, innately and socially. And when we walk on Abbot Kinney, she tends to bolt straight into the cool clothing shops and check out some of the fabrics. That's my girl!