Initiated

Lauren has completed her official initiation into the Rodriguez' clan.  

Baptism Celebration

After the cousins' baptism, we all headed to the Aliso Viejo Country Club for the Baptism Luncheon.

Happy Baptism Day!

On April 13, 2013 at St. Catherine's Catholic Church in Laguna Beach, Lauren and all her cousins got baptized together.  It was a special day as KALLL (Kirra, Ava, Lauren, Liam, and Luke) will now share this special day together.

Getting ready

Lauren saw that I had rollers in my hair and insisted on putting some on her hair.  And since her will seems to be a bit stronger than mine,,...... here she is with rollers in her hair for the first time. 

She has also learned to say "cheeseeee".  So here she is with her cheese smile. 

5 months home

Five months home and she can say "Mama"!

And here are the other highlights:

• Besides "mama" her other new words are peanut/nut, snack, ball, on, sit and Kirra
• Beginning to repeat words
• Can now sign: all done, thank you (when she feels like it) help, and music
• Loves, loves, loves music.  Will be mesmerized when she hears new music
• Favorite toys are still her puppy and match box cars.  
• Loves to wear sunglasses in the car
• Does not want help in feeding during meal times.  Still a good eater.
• Learning to throw a ball over her head
• Can clear both feet when jumping.  Loves, loves, loves to jump. And climb up and down stairs
• Wakes up in the morning and says, "Hi!"
• Still not a morning person.... once she's awake needs at least 15 minutes to lay around before getting up
• Loves the park!  Likes to swing high and now goes down the big slide alone 
• Has a great sense of humor and loves to laugh

Twin power in the form of...... L&K

Kirra spent the week with us for hspring break so we had double the fun and double the love!  Kirra is only two months younger than Lauren so we are hoping that they will grow up as close as siblings just like we did with our cousins.  We were also hoping that Kirra would speed along Lauren's speech while she was here.  While Lauren did pick up some words, mainly to say "Kirrrra".  It was so sweet to see whoever woke up first look for the other.  Kirra slept in the crib in Lauren's room for bedtime, and would ask, "Is Lauren awake?" when she first wakes up.  And Lauren would hear Kirra on the monitor, look at it and say, "Kirrra".  

Two sleepyheads in the morning

The girls played well together for the most part with the occasional fight for a toy.  But as the week went on it was as if they had negotiated who had which toys first and which toys were to be shared. There is a high chair and a toddler chair and somehow they decided that Lauren would sit in the high chair and Kirra in the toddler chair.  When Kirra is not here, Lauren usually alternates, on her own choosing, between the two chairs. 

Fighting for the lotion bottle.   Kirra won this one!

We spent many hours in the back living room with the girls pulling out every single toy and negotiating how to share.  At one point I heard Kirra speaking Lauren's jibberish made up language.  I asked her what she was saying and she said, "I talk like Lauren."  When asked what it meant she said, "Ask Lauren."   LOL!

Pretzel truce

Afternoon snack time

"Let's play chase on the couch!"

Camping in the living room

Finally... quiet time reading.  (3 minutes)

.... and coloring (another 3 minutes)

Many days were spent taking walks and going to the park.  And what one monkey sees the other monkey will do. 

"Let's take our socks off!"

Peek a boo with Bali dog

Making wishes (aka making weeds)

 Thank you Kirra for spending the week with us!  Come back soon!  We already miss you.