Dayvia's First School Performance

The preschool puts on two shows a year. For the winter show, the kids are on a stage and they showcase all of the things they have been learning. They sing in Spanish and French and they dance and sing songs. I should have recorded the whole show, but I was also taking pictures. I was so overwhelmed with the cuteness I didn't catch everything. Here is the link to the pictures and videos.

https://narventures.smugmug.com/Dayvia-School-PerformancesFunc/Dayvia-At-School/

This was Dayvia's first performance- and we are pretty certain we have a performer. When she walked out on stage- her face LIT UP. I recognized the expression. The pure joy to be on stage in front of everyone. I have never seen her smile like that. Sure- she smiles and laughs hard all the time! But this was a different smile- this is the smile of someone who has just discovered a passion.

She walked down stage center, found her light, and did the robot dance. 

It was amazing. 

Dayvia's First day of Preschool

This post is long overdue. It's December 15th, and she started school in August!

Dayvia was SO excited to go to school. She picked out her own outfit, got her backpack on, and when we dropped her off- no tears, just ready to go!

So proud of her.

August 2015Den

Funny stories from August!

At two years and five months old she is just now starting to sleep with a stuffed animal and a blankie. She alternates the stuffed animal or doll nightly, but most nights it's a Minnie Mouse stuffed animal and a small baby doll. Her blankie is a soft, purple cotton blanket that Aunt Ellie got her from our registry for my baby shower. It is the softest blanket in the world and she loves to cuddle with it. 

She also still likes to make a fort (a "pillow house") out of the pillows. We have 5 pillows on her bed for this reason alone. 

She has been into 'dress up' for a few months now, but we have now entered a new realm. Now she wants to wear her dress up clothes for meals and even sleeping. She hasn't insisted on wearing them out yet… but I'm pretty sure that's coming soon. 

August 4, 2015

At the park. She is playing with a little boy is about 2.5. He's pretending to be a lion and she is chasing him around saying, "come here lion! come here!". Every once in a while he gets close enough and she-- pets him. lol. 

At one point he picks up a stick and pretends it's a sword and says to her, "FIGHT!". She picks up another stick, looks at it, and says, "ABRACADABRA!". 

:)

August 12, 2015

First dentist appointment!

Ok-- this was a dream. I can't believe how well this went! We went just for the two year old "meet and greet" appointment, to set her up for when she's three and has her first real cleaning. But she was SO SO SO into the dentist and the tools that the Dr went ahead and did a cleaning. She opened her mouth said "ahhh", spit, held the cotton in there--- I mean-- when I say she loved her cleaning… she LOVED it. She didn't want to leave!

Maybe she'll be a dentist!!!

August 14, 2015

Davy in the bathtub:

Day: "I have a tummy ache"

Mommy: "Oh no! What do you need to feel better? Want to get out and I'll wrap you in a towel?"

Day: "And a skirt. And a headband"

August 15, 2015

Today at mommy/me preschool class (our last one!), we were outside after class and we had this convo:

Mommy: "Did you have fun playing with your new friend Cree today?"

Day: "yeah!"

Mommy: "you know- when you start school on Monday you are going to meet a lot of new friends!

Day: "No-- I don't want new friends. Just Roma and Lia."

August 22, 2015

Today is the first day Dayvia starting calling herself DAYVIA. She has been saying DAYDAY for a year. I mean, she's been able to say her full name but she has always referred to herself as DayDay… until today!

August 23, 2015

She gets annoyed if I say "school"-- she corrects me and says, "no-- PRESCHOOL".

August 29, 2015

Dayvia told her first sarcastic joke this morning!

Every morning our routine starts with-- potty, then she picks out her outfit for the day. It's always a dress or a shirt and skirt. This morning as she was sitting on the potty to pee, we had this convo:

Day: "I need pants mommy. I want to wear pants."

Mommy: "You want to wear pants today?? Ok!!!"

Day:  "Noooooo…. I wanna wear a skirt."

 (with a sarcastic tone and a smile, like, come on Mom, me??? pants??!!!)

Grandpa Howard showing her how to play the electric guitar

Dentist's waiting area. She is so excited.

Just a two year old holding cotton in her mouth patiently-- what??!!

Picking out her 3 treasures from the Dentist's treasure chest.

Last day of Parent & Me preschool! I had to go to the bathroom to cry in private! She is growing up!!!! This is a little girl in her class, Cree. 

Montessori math

Her cubby is ready for her next week!!!

Beach day! 

Cousin Justin makes the best tide pools

Snow White

Snow White sleeps on Aunt Rachel

Snow White naps

Princess Merida dines

Visiting the Berners- playing dolls with Anne!

Aunt Ellie and Dayvia 

Story time with Bubba

July2015

Funny stories from July!

July 1, 2015
We were in her bed at night time. She was doing her usual tossing and turning, moving her pillows around, adjusting herself, talking to herself, singing, flailing about…
She swung her arm out and spilled a whole cup of water. I let out a sigh and got up to get towels. She said, "I'm sorry Momma. My fault. Are you frustrated??"

July 2, 2015
Dayvia woke up at 5am crying and saying, "I had a bad dream! I had a bad dream!"
Mommy: "what was your dream about?"
Day: "Strawberry shortcake"

Omg! I used to have nightmares about Strawberry shortcake!!! What IS IT about that character?!?!


July 30, 2015
We got back from Atlanta and a few days later she said, "Mommy-- where did Ay-yenta go?"

She is getting very creative with names for her toys! Some of her toys' names:
"Henney and Googoo"- her imaginary friends
"Bump Bump"- a butterfly toy
"Gusto"- a stuffed doggy
"Snowy"- a white doggy
"Pinky"- a dragon toy with pink hair
"Siki"- a mermaid baby

Those are some LONG legs

This is her new way of sleeping. I make her a "pillow house" around herself.  

This was one of her favorite gifts from her 2nd birthday, from Margaux, Max, and Dashie. She plays this guitar every day and she ALWAYS puts this Jesse cowgirl hat on first. Hahaha.

The playhouse is still a hit. 

Trying cherries for the first time! She learned how to take small bites and spit out the pit. :)

Fourth of July neighborhood block party

Mimi, Day, Lia, and Roma

The toddlers got right up there to dance!

We were shopping at The Americana and it was sunny and she said, "Mommy, I need a hat!" So we stopped at JCrew kids and she picked this one. 

She continues to dress herself every day, complete with accessories! I don't even SUGGEST putting on jewelry and taking a bag. This is ALL HER. 

She loves a green smoothie

Bubba and DayDay jammin

Farmers Market day!!!!

First day back after two weeks in Atlanta. We missed Joan's breakfast!!!

The neighbors gave her a scooter. She loves this thing!

She loves her accessories so much that she sometimes asks to SLEEP WITH HER JEWELRY BOX. This is the Harrison blood coming through, lol!

Family dinner with Bubba and Grandpa

Little artist

Practicing for school! 1.5 more months

Princess DayDay

Atlanta/D.C. (July 2015)

We haven't accompanied Mike to Atlanta since Dayvia was 6 months old! This was the perfect time to go with him too. He has an apartment there with a full kitchen and a swimming pool, and the weather in Atlanta was perfect for spending the days by the pool.

The first week our friends from Jacksonville came to visit. We spent a few days just hanging out, swimming, having tea parties, playing dress up. And when the kids went to sleep- Emily and I had tea and ice cream and laughed like the old days! Emily and Seth's three kids were so so so sweet to Dayvia. The girls, Zoe and Teagan, brought all of their dress up clothes and their tea set to share with Day. They are the kind of big girls that like taking care of a smaller kid. They shared and held her hand and took good care of her. And little Richmond, just one month younger than Day, fell in love. He isn't much of a talker, and he usually takes a long time to befriend other kids-- but at the end of the day he was hugging Day and telling her, "I love you Dayvia". It was so cute!!!!
We were so glad to have a few days with The Carpenters, we hope to make it an annual visit!

Mimi and Emily having tea and treats after the kids went to sleep!

Over the weekend we traveled to D.C. to see the Narduccis and meet our newest addition, baby Cece!
DayDay and CeCe were fast friends. Day loved holding her new cousin and wanted to help feed her.
Cece is so delicious and beautiful! It was a short visit but so glad to have the time with family.

Omg we had a big moment on the plane coming back from DC this weekend. so she's flown 14 times (7 trips). wait no, 16 times, (8 trips), so she's pretty used to the plane.

BUT--she's used to sitting on my lap. just since March she's had to have her own seat. When we went to Vegas she still sat on my lap, and on the way to Atlanta she sat on my lap, and on the way to DC she sat on my lap. even though we had bought her a seat, she just didn't want to. On the way to DC the attendant told me as long as she's under 35lbs she could sit on my lap, but on the way back- they were stricter and said it's not weight, it's age. and if she's 2- she has to be in her seat and belted for take off and landing. Shit!

And we were in the first row in first class- so i explained to her what was happening and she started to FREAK. and the flight attendant is telling me they can't take off until she's in her seat, and everyone is staring at us. so Mike and I had to hold her down physically to belt her and she's screaming "i don't like it! i don't like it!".

So i pulled all her dolls out and I did the show of my life! I put everything I had in this performance! I did the voices and just said, "oh Dayvia. i see you are sad! why are you sad? are you scared? are you frustrated? i hear you saying you don't like this seat."

and then i went on with the doll about how she also- didn't want to sit in her own seat once and how she felt and yada yada… just related and empathized. and in 30 seconds she stopped crying. and she sat in her chair THE ENTIRE flight. so- MAJOR breakthrough.
Holy moly that was exhausting.
But the good news is-- since then-- she has sat in her own seat! So we just needed that one time to make it happen. 

When we got back to Atlanta we spent a few days just hanging around, visiting Daddy at work, some trips to Target…
My favorite thing about this trip (besides seeing family and friends)- was the change of pace. It was nice to go slowly- not have a schedule. People in Atlanta are SO nice. So so so nice. They are slow- really slow- but they are just taking their time and saying hello to everyone. I couldn't live there- but it is nice to visit.

Her blow up mattress bed with new princess pillow, made by Emily!

We found the one place in Conyers, GA that makes green smoothies! 

Grocery shopping was one of our "outings". Their carts are way better than ours in Studio City! 

"working" in Daddy's office

Lunch with Daddy at work

Touring the set of The Originals 

On Wednesday, our Karsh cousins came over to the apartment for a visit. Oh how I wish we lived closer! David and MZ are such great parents- they are so good together, so loving. Those boys melt my heart, and little Rachel Ruth is so beautiful! We spent the day making puppets, eating popsicles, and just hanging around.
I love our family so much!

**It's been three months since we got home from Atlanta and Dayvia still asks about once a week, "how about we go to Ay-yenta today? Where did Ay-yenta go?"
We had the best time. :)