Christmas Cheer

Merry Christmas!

It was grand watching Miss Ayla open presents and play with the shiny bows and wrapping paper. She had the most fun shredding paper and tissue.....forget about the toys and presents!

There were a billion pictures taken but we managed to filter down to a select few- enjoy!   

 Sweet grins for the camera!

 Laughing at Ryan blowing bubbles- she enjoyed attempting to "touch" the bubbles and would shake her head when they landed on her face 

 AdOrAbLe tu-tu her Aunt Jodi made!

Ayla wasn't too sure about the funky texture at first....

 Ayla 'tasting' a Skittle candy- she would very briefly place the skittle into her mouth, pull it out and toss it onto the floor (note all the candy scattered on the floor in the background). Awesome that she initiated the 'taste' all on her own!

 This is Munkin's 'growly-face' at the tissue...her fisted hands and fierce expression is quite entertaining!

 Her most favorite activity- shredding tissue!

This was Ayla's gift from Santa and she had a blast making HUGE piles of tissue paper and then shredding, shredding, shredding.....evidence below....

 The video below is amusing but don't mind the giggles in the background- we are easily entertained!

We hosted Christmas Dinner (which was super delicious!) and had a great time visiting with family and friends- the best part of the Holidays!

• A time for remembering the important things in life- our purpose upon this earth and our divine heavenly heritage  
• A time to cherish family and recall our blessings- giving thanks to Him who made those possible
• A time for us to truly savor this experience with Ayla because it isn't guaranteed....22 months ago, we were not sure she would even be with us

Busy Bee on the Go!

Miss Ayla is constantly on-the-go...she was blessed with her father's energy and prefers to be doing something at all times. It has been a busy week for the Munkin!

Such fun watching her explore and learn new things- she is a texture/tactile girl and so very curious about everything.  

The video below is Ayla rockin' her rocking horse- it must be difficult to constantly maintain all that cuteness!!

What else has Ayla been doing this week......pictures speak for themselves.....

 She found some Christmas gifts and promptly destroyed/shredded the tissue paper (one of her most favorite activities). By the time she was through with the tissue paper it looked like pink snowflakes scattered over the floor!

 Caught in the act of vandalising diapers and wipes (she likes to shred wipes into teensy tiny pieces as well).

 Playing with cousins!

 Reading books and turning pages- one of her most favorite activities.

 Her tongue is another "new" discovery- she sticks her tongue out when she's concentrating or excited.

 "Oh look- more presents to destroy and unwrap!"

Caught Ayla trying to get a jump-start on the Christmas loot.....

 Drinking water from a water bottle- a first! Peanut is improving with her "drinking" and we are thrilled with her interest!

Sweet cheeser grins! How can one resist that face??

Ayla's latest and greatest:

• Ignoring the word "No" - she definitely has selective hearing
• Discovered the dirty laundry baskets and takes delight in tossing out ALL the clothing onto the floor
• Pointing with her finger
• Pointing to her nose (YEAH!!) and hair (double YEAH!!)
• Walking along furniture...sometimes one handed though she refuses to walk with us holding onto one hand
• Occasionally talking gibberish to herself what sounds like "Ya, ya, boota, boota, yio, yio, lou, lou"
• Shutting doors and locking herself into rooms
• The toilet- she discovered the toilet and stuck her hand inside the bowl once (ICK!!) so now we keep the doors closed
• She will sometimes "rock" to music; get onto her hands and knees and rock back and forth to the beat
• Temper Tantrums- still new and we're still adjusting
• Refusing to let us comb her hair or touch her hair in any way, shape or form. She shakes her head back & forth quite vigorously
• Morphing into a toddler- she is no longer a little baby! (sniff..sniff...)

A positive spin on "The Temper"

Miss Ayla has developed QUITE the interesting avenue of expressing herself in the form of temper-tantrums.

Real, live, loud, rolling-around-the-floor-kicking-and-squealing-tantrums! Oh my....this level is new....and completely unacceptable...a little bit funny...but worrisome (oh no- do we have one of 'THOSE' children???)...and sure that it's reminiscent pay-back from my angelic childhood days.

Seriously, it is amusing if not for the fact that she's a bit early in this? She isn't two until February!

Video below is one of her mild tantrums- and it is a mild one. We have dubbed these "The Temper".

Munkin's first "real" tantrum manifested itself in public (of course). On Sunday we brought her to a live Outdoor Nativity Scene and Ayla would have nothing to do with bundling up in her coat, hat and gloves. Nope- she was having NONE of it and much to our embarrassment, had no qualms about expressing her displeasure in front of a group of 24 people. Screaming, whining, kicking, ect. A few of those people turned and gave us "the look" because Ayla was being sooo disruptive. We simply looked at each other at a loss....not much we could do at that point but try to distract her during the tour. Since Sunday, she continues to practice at becoming a pro at "The Tantrum".


All bundled up and ready to go!

 

Ayla NOT appreciating the live animals at the Nativity scene- annoyed that she still has her hat, gloves, and coat on!

On Tuesday Ayla decided to show her physical therapist how proficient she is at "The Temper" and put on quite the show- twice! Ayla was apparently, NOT in the mood to cooperate for her therapies. The therapist merely watched Ayla roll and scream across the floor and then said, "Well, she had great muscle tone!" and proceeded to spin a positive note regarding "The Temper" by praising Ayla's strength and agility. There is always a positive!  

In other news; we are teaching Ayla how to roll bouncy balls back and forth (not yet mastered), sit on a bench, drink from a sippy cup (ha!), play with stickers and her most recent discovery: the "fake laugh". Hilarious!

In the video below she is fake laughing at the ball being thrown around by Ryan- her 'excited' open-mouth facial expressions are priceless!

Miss Ayla's latest and greatest:

• Fake laughing
• Crawling up to us and laying at our feet
• Flapping her arms and smiling when she wants us to pick her up
• Temper Tantrums
• Blowing spit/'raspberries'
• Kicking her legs like a maniac when we change her diapey (sooo not funny when she's poopie!!)
• Playing in her crib for hours when it's time for bed...then getting tangled up in her tubing and squealing until rescued
• Temper Tantrums
• Opening drawers and cupboards....all of them
• Shredding paper into teensy, tiny pieces (this goes along with her biting and chewing all the stickers off her toys)

 Enjoy the pictures!



FUN playing with stickers! This kept her occupied for many minutes....



Excited Face!!!



Ayla expressing her displeasure at sitting on the bench. Note her slumped shoulders, fisted hands and yes, she is hollering at me!



Biting on the tires of the toy. The tires spin and Ayla likes how it feels against her teeth and tongue



Laying at Ryan's feet while he cooks. She will do this when she wants to be picked up...so sweet!



"Fake laughing" at the bouncy ball Ryan is tossing around!



Sitting at my feet 'begging' to be picked up- she loves to be carried around!

{ Drinking Therapy }

We have been working with Ayla for many, many, many months in teaching her to learn how to "drink".

Check out the video below!  

She isn't drinking like you or I would 'drink' but she is leaning forward towards the glass, showing an interest and SWALLOWING the majority of the water. Very exciting! This is cause for a "happy dance" celebration!

We are so proud of our little Munkin!

In other news....

 We may have a future organ player on our hands!

Ayla recently decided that she did not mind the noisy, old organ and she and Ryan played a few songs before she was ready to get down and play. Previously, she didn't like the noise and would whine and crawl away when we turned it on.

Look closely...see how Ayla is KNEELING?

This may not seem like a big deal but to Ayla this is an accomplishment! We have been teaching (attempting to teach, anyway) Ayla how to kneel and play for some time. The magnets on the door encourage this activity...and she loves her magnets!

Because Ayla was born extremely premature (she missed out on the entire 3rd trimester +) she did not receive the fetal position "tuck & curl" inside the womb- which is why inside the NICU she did not like to be restricted and swaddled. She wanted to sprawl and be free! 

To this day, she currently sleeps sprawled out on her back or stomach with arms and legs sprawled. Too funny!

For interesting insight read this about a babies third trimester development and then look at Ayla- truly amazing! She was born at 25 weeks and as a twin, was even more at risk for serious complications. 

What a blessing and inspiration she is in our lives!

Squeals

Introducing....

The "Ayla Squeal"!

Ryan built Ayla a bench to sit upon but there are two issues;

1) she despises the bench

2) once we actually get her to sit on the bench she wants down, immediately

Being the great parents we are- we recorded Ayla expressing her displeasure at being abandoned on "the bench". 

What a cheeser! She looks likes such a big-girl on her bench.

 Funny-faces

 Peanut is such a good girl; she loves to 'help' vacuum which can be challenging when she's chasing the cords. So I placed her inside her crib to 'play' for a bit. Ayla laid down, grabbed her Zoey-blankie and played in her crib while I finished cleaning. Not a peep! Such a sweet girl!

 Staring at the washer- she is fascinated watching the clothes swish around....entertaining!

Ryan decided to style Ayla's hair in an array of ponytails; it is getting long!

The video below is Ayla playing with the wheel-locks on the weight machine. She discovered a new trick!



A first: Pointing! and Cute Videos!

Tinkers-Bean has met a stage wherein she is growing and progressing rather quickly!

Today she pointed.... P-O-I-N-T-E-D!!! This may not seem like much but we have been working and working with her on dexterity skills and this is an accomplishment. The best part; she pointed while at the eye doctors office- a cute show off!

    Pointing at the lines on the flip-card

The eye doctor was pleased with Ayla's development and progression (especially the pointing!) since receiving her glasses and will see her again in 4 months. Yeah Ayla!!!

Ayls was evaluated by a Speech Therapist and received encouraging notes.

The therapists suggestions are;

• Continue to read to and work with Ayla regarding sounds
• Ayla needs to learn to 'jabber' more but it's great that she self-entertains and understands our directions
• Munkin's 'babbling' is delayed but progressing 

Ayla is delayed in motor skills which effects hand-eye-coordination, walking, muscle tone and speech. It takes a bit longer for her to learn and be taught "normal" baby/toddler skills such as;

grasping objects with her fingertips, walking, language, kneeling, sitting in chairs, pointing, ect. However, from where she began and to where she is....we couldn't be more thrilled!  

 Chewing on her shoe in the car- such flexibility!

 Ayla received a new bouncy-ball which lights-up and flashes. She LOVES it and will spend time throwing it around the room and chasing. It normally ends up underneath the couch or chair and needs rescuing....

 Looking so big in her rocking horse!

Gotta love the hair- Ryan dubbed it her "Antler 'do", after all, it is hunting season!

 How can one resist this sweet face?

 Playing with magnets- she likes to pull the magnets off the door and scatter them around the floor; making a mess is her speciality!

Peanut enjoys her baths and tries to 'drink' from her bath toys. Consequently, she mostly ends up choking on the water as the concept of breathing and swallowing isn't quite learned.

Recently, Ayla wants to walk. and walk. and walk. She'll crawl up to us and grab our fingers and tug as if to say, "Come on, let's go!" Very cute.

The video below is of Tinkers-Bean pushing her stroller around- all by herself! In the beginning of the video we captured the tail-end of one of her min-tantrums....yes, she has learned how to "throw a fit" to which we ignore (and it's been working...sort of). Her temper-tantrums seem fewer than before. She is learning to express her opinions for sure!  

This video below is Ayla making funny faces while playing with the phone- she is such fun and what a goof!

In this video she is pushing her rocking chair horse around the living room- such a strong girl!

Cuteness Overload!

Tinkers-Bean is saturated in cuteness- so much so, that it's difficult to determine which pictures to post!

For Thanksgiving she destroyed (but wouldn't taste) a piece of cake, granola bar, celery stick and carrot stick and she had a grand time flinging food all over the floor and herself! 

Ayla has a new therapy involving a large aluminum bowl and a stool. The object is to teach Ayla to sit on the stool and reach down to place objects in and out of the bowl. It's designed to teach her to grasp and 'let go' of toys rather than fling or throw them- which she currently does. Interesting that the inherent task of dropping and grasping needs to be taught.....she has been doing well and rather enjoys the loud bang of the toys against the bowl!

The video below is of Ayla banging her toys against the aluminium bowl- gotta love the facial expressions! 

*Note how well she in now transferring toys from one hand to the other- YEAH!!!!*

Munkin has the cutest tongue expressions!

When she's concentrating or playing she'll stick her lower jaw out and bite on her tongue.

 It's the "no-pants-washer-bandit"!

Any chance she has to run diapey-free she takes! In this picture she had received a diaper change and before we could grab her, she rolled over and took off speed- crawling! We caught up with her in the laundry room attempting to open the washer door.....

 Sitting like a big girl on her bench!

Ayla isn't quite sure she likes this bench "sitting" exercise- she cannot stand up without help and will get quite vocal if we leave her sitting there!

 These are her excited "open-mouth-silent-scream" facial expressions.

Ayla can get silly/excited when she plays and will grab a toy, squeeze it until her hands shake and open her mouth wide. It's hilarious! Note the white-knuckled death-grip she has on the remote in the picture below.... 

This Thanksgiving year we are very grateful for the awesome strides and progress Ayla has made and continues to make. She is such a miracle! Daily we thank our Heavenly Father for her and the opportunity we have to be her parents and raise her on this earth. 

We are blessed with loving neighbors, family and friends who provide countless acts of service. What a blessed life we lead!