Videos of Niya Walking... Finally!

The Potty

We got Niya a little potty seat, so she begins to be familiar with the concept. We are not potty training (as we don't care if she uses it yet), but we do put her on the potty some of the times that we change her diaper. Often she will pee when sitting there and then everyone gets to clap! Anyway... this is about the worlds smallest potty and we think it is super cute, so as dorky first time parents, we have to share these pictures of Niya. I'm sure she will be totally embarrassed by use some day... soon!

The first time on the potty!

Sometimes when things are new, it helps to have somebody hold your hand,

especially if you just woke up! :)

Still holding my thumb!

When things are familiar it helps to do something relaxing,

like reading the newspaper! :p

Or just staring into space!

See, pictures of some people on the potty are cute! :)

The Meows

Niya LOVES the cats... every morning and after every nap she looks around for the cat and calls "Meow?" to them until them come. When she finds them in their beds she has to give them a bunch of love. For the most part the cats put up with her and hope she will go away quickly. Although she seems to have a special relationship with Miles... he will actually look for her!

Here is how the love usually goes...

First we love this one...

Then we love the other one...

Like this!

Then we love this one again... and then...

Hey wait! Where are you both going?! I wasn't done!

Oh well... there is always next time! :)

I will try to get a picture of the kisses next time... I only caught the hugs this time! :p

Spring

Here are a few pictures of Niya all ready for spring (anybody notice she is finally WEARING her hat) :)

Pretty Flowers

I like them... I sort of want to eat them! :)

I love spring! :)

First Kid Quote!!!

This morning Niya is in the tub and overhears Kevin (in the kitchen) tell the cat "Miles, get out of there.". Understanding what Kevin means, she says (as if to clarify what Daddy is saying):

Mmmm... No.

Dada...(is telling you) No No!

( ) is me adding explanation to the pause. It was serious mimicry and it was super cute!

Niya Walking!

Niya on the move (with a favorite toy... the remote!)

See I can push buttons and walk!

Coming closer!

Here I go!

Almost there!

See previous post about blurry pictures! :D

Niya News!!

Okay, so it has been a while since I posted an update on Niya... Most of you know these things but for those of you who don't...

Walking: Niya is now walking!!! Around the house, completely on her own... when we are out and about she likes to walk holding at least one adult hand, she prefers two. The carpet gave her a bit of a holdup... it took her about two weeks to get the hang of how to walk on carpet (having no prior experience). But now she is up and (almost) running. She walks some of the time but will drop down and crawl if she wants to get somewhere quickly.

Teeth: Niya still only has two teeth... we are sort of starting to worry... but I am sure that the rest of them will come in soon!

Stats: Niya is about 29 or 30 inches tall (was 29 at her 9 month checkup) and about 20 lbs. She is wearing 18 to 24 month clothes because she has long arms and legs... but her pants fall down because she isn't wide enough!

Favorites Foods: She likes peas, "nanas", and blueberries above all other foods... Pepe's Pizza is taking a close fourth!! She is a fruit monster, but will eat just about anything... we joke that she is like "Mikey" because she really isn't picky! What she does eat is in huge quantity... to the point that we are afraid she might pop! :P

Communication: Mama and Dada are coming out loud and clear. she also says "That!, Go!, Meow, AaDone (with both arms straight up above her head and a big smile), she is waving for hi and bye-bye, she will hold out her arm and open and close one hand to when she wants you to come closer... her way of saying "come here", and is working on clapping... currently she does her own version of flailing her arms around to smack her hands together or brushing them together like she is brushing off dirt (is anyone surprised that she does her own version? We're not!)

New Skills: Currently she has peed in the potty 3 times! We aren't pushing potty training, but are just making a game of putting her on it some of the times we change her diaper, and she seems to be getting the idea! :)

She also gives loves (leans close for a snuggle) and hugs and kisses (spontaneously or most of the times she is asked). The cats get more love than we do whether they like it or not. :)

I will put up some specific pictures but like some of the other moms of kids this age have commented, all the pictures area starting to be blurry because the kid is moving too fast! :)

The Bunny

A package arrived the other day from Mom and Auntie Steph with some assorted stuff and some Easter goodies for Niya. Right away she LOVED this bunny. She carried it around and threw a little fit when I needed to hold it to take the tag off! So here are a few pictures of this little bunny being hauled around and loved on!

Aaaah! (Giving bunny loves)

See my bunny!

Wherever I go... bunny goes!

Hey look at that!

Thanks Auntie Steph and Uncle Tyson... this little guy was a big hit! :)

All Moved To Connecticut!

Well we are finally feeling like we have completed the move to Connecticut! We have unpacked and put everything away, we are finding grocery stores, parks, and places to shop and eat. Somehow I don't really have any pictures of our new apartment, but you can get the idea from this one. The building to the left side of the window is what the complex looks like, four huge buildings with four floors each (ground level garage parking underneath each building). We are in the middle of the city and surrounded by buildings, trees, and urban stuff. The area is mostly flat except for the huge rock thing that you see outside our windows (all windows face the same direction so we just see this view). Apparently this is West Rock (how creative) and then there is another one on the other side of town and that is East Rock, each one has a state park and assorted outside stuff since you obviously cannot build on them!

We haven't really met any of our neighbors, it isn't really that sort of place. Niya and I went to the story time at the library and made some (maybe) new friends. Kevin is busy with school and Niya and I just wander around here or at the park across the street or out and about.

Thanks to everyone for being supportive of this big adventure! We know we are crazy far away (trust us... we know!), but so far we are enjoying the adventure and all the new things to see and do. Hopefully we will see some of you soon!! :)