Aurora Wells

Lots of Kisses

Aurora’s fondness for reading knows no bounds!

This afternoon Aurora woke up from her nap in that way that is typically described as, “getting up on the wrong side of the bed” but is really more similar to “hurricane in training”. She screamed on the change table, she screamed on my lap, she screamed standing on the floor, and so on and so on. I thought it was because I’m weaning her off the mid-afternoon nursing, and she didn’t want the sippy cup. However, when she’d flung herself backwards off my lap and I got a good look through her wide-open mouth at her upper gums, I saw the distinctive atoll of a new molar, her first, breaking through. Well, then, no wonder.

So, what else is new?

Aurora is such a good walker now; arms down, carrying things, picking her way over rough terrain (like paving stones). She can go up stairs all by herself, although she prefers to hold onto the wall or railing rather than crawl up with her hands on the next step. Going down is more of a problem, and causes Mommy heart palpitations, because she doesn’t like to turn around and go backwards. We practiced a lot at the Nestor grandparents’ house. Last week she started pushing herself up to standing without holding on to anything, thereby achieving the final step to self-mobility. You go, girl!

We are still (for almost three months) working on dropping that mid-afternoon nursing, and sometimes when she’s teething hard, I consider cutting her off completely, cold turkey. After all, if I was going back to work like most of the other moms, there’d be no option to keep nursing five times a day, would there? Aurora gives new meaning to the word “stubborn”, but I’m learning to find my inner Nestor, too. I’d prefer more peaceful afternoons, but it would be nice if she was weaned before she can write the word breastmilk.

As for toys, Aurora is now very attached to her teddy bear, although she is also fond of Bobby and Susie, the Duplo Lego people I named when I got tired of referring to them as “little boy” and “little girl”. Her favourite game is, on the count of three, to be flung (very gently) into her crib atop a pile of stuffed animals.

We also did a bunch of fun stuff in Long Beach while we were there. Here are some moments caught on camera, such as visiting El Dorado Park with Grandma:

Great-Grandma Ann knit the matching hat and sweater for Mommy when she was a baby. Trés chic, non?

Playdate with Rafael Squire:

Aurora was not crazy about sharing her stuff (and her uncle Steve) with this newcomer.

That’s better! Uncle Steve and Grandma Gail all to myself, and on the swing, to boot!

Learning how to play cards with Great-Grandpa Harold. And of course, the best fun can sometimes be found in the trash or recycling box, and that’s where we found this plastic page protector:

And some things just can’t be captured in still photography:

musical_chairs

I was planning on waiting until Aurora was at least three years old before taking her to Disneyland, because kids really can’t appreciate it much younger than that anyways. However, Aunt Ash asked if we’d like her to sign us in to Disneyland free so we could see her in the Christmas parade – AWESOME!

I think there’s some kind of law that you have to take a picture at the entrance on your first visit, and since I didn’t want to get in trouble, here it is.

We brought the stroller, but Daddy ended up carrying Aurora most of the time – she can see better that way, anyways.

This may sound maudlin, but my heart really does swell as I walk down Main Street, because of all the happy memories I’ve had at the park over the years. Now I get to share it with my daughter, too. I’ll probably bore her to tears with my stories about “the good ‘ol days at Diz”.

And here’s something a little different: real, live reindeer!

Then, finally, the reason we came; to see Ashleigh in the Christmas parade. She let us choose whether to come on a day when she’s playing a Wicked Stepsister or a Rollerskating Snowflake. Such a tough choice!

ash-in-diz-parade

Can you imagine if this was your job?

It’s always fun visiting Aurora’s cool uncles Steve and David. Here’s a little treat they put together for the holidays:

Aurora and I watch this one together almost every day.

If a picture’s worth a thousand words, what’s two minutes of video worth?

Get the ball!