Aurora Wells

Yes, folks, that’s broccoli. She’s not actually eating it, it’s just a teether for now. But since she was reaching for my lunch while I was trying to feed her hers (applesauce), I figured, what the heck, let her see what grownup food is like. She loved it! I guess it’s not the flavour of her food that bothers her so much as the fact that she’s not feeding herself, or that she actually has to ingest it. Maybe I’ll give her some cooked carrot to gnaw on next.

This past weekend, the Wells grandparents, Bill and Shauneen, visited us for a couple of days. Coincidentally, Aurora, who seemed to lose her ability to speak syllables after our Christmas visit with Grandma Shauneen, has now got them back, the day after Grandma left. I found her talking to her teddy bear this morning when she thought no big-heads were listening!

Aurora shows off her walking skills with Grandma Shauneen.

On Saturday night, Grandma and Grandpa were game enough to try sushi for the first time, under Brian’s careful tutelage, but it was not at all a hit. So in the interest of dining at a place that would be enjoyed by all, on Sunday night we went out to dinner at Athene’s on Broadway, the site of Mommy & Daddy’s first dinner date, lo these many years ago. Aurora likes to grab things off of Mommy’s plate, and as we discovered last week with Alex and Selena, she has a strange fondness for lemon wedges:

Yes, she makes the typical lemon face, but then:

She goes back for more! I swear to you these photos are in the order in which they occurred. We’re racking up an impressive list of Aurora’s taste in food (as follows).

Yucky: Rice Cereal, Yams, Carrots, Oatmeal

So-So: Bananas, Apples, Pears, Avocadoes

Yummy: Lemon, Fingers, Cardboard, Paper, Shoes, Electronics.

I’m afraid of what will happen when the weather warms up and we venture out into the Great Outdoors (dirt, grass, flowers, bugs, dog poo?)

Teddy bear sets a good example of sitting up.

Where’s Aurora? I don’t see her!

PEEK-A-BOO!

Even though she can’t talk, Aurora is pretty good at making her wishes known. She holds up her arms and looks pleadingly at us when she wants us to pick her up, but when she stiffens her back and legs, that means she wants to stand. Or it used to mean that. Now, when we pull her hands and she levers herself up to standing, that’s not enough. She alternates feet, swishing them around, hoping to go somewhere, anywhere. This kid always wants to be on the move! Yesterday, Daddy took her on another circuit tour of the house. Mommy’s hesitant to encourage this too much because it is pretty hard on our backs, but felt obligated to publish this video for posterity.

walking-in-nursery.MPG

Note: Because some people have objected to my posting Aurora videos on YouTube for all the world to see, I am now posting them exclusively as links in this website, which is no more private, but allays some of their concerns. Also, the resolution is better this way.

Check out the new link (at right) to Kid Videos, Mommy & Aurora’s YouTube playlist. They’re almost all Sesame Street, and roughly in order of how much we love them. Captain Vegetable Rules!

Many people have remarked to me how ladylike Aurora seems. “She’s such a little doll!” They say. Well, they don’t know Aurora like I do. Aurora’s favourite sport is, shall we say, a bit macho? She seems so sweet and dainty, but what people don’t realize is that she loves to do… Bear Wrestling! Here are some eye-opening photos of her in action:

It’s a close match between Aurora and the current contender, Benjamin Bear.

At first, he has her pinned on the mat, but then she plays dirty and bites his paw, catching him off guard.

Although unorthodox, the trick works, and she throws him over on his head.

Aurora, the victor, takes a rest on the body of her fallen opponent.