Aria

So I don't have any photos to go along with this post, but I just wanted to focus on some of the amazing changes we've witnessed in Aria lately. We're standing at the edge of 11 months, about to step firmly into the land of a 1 year old and a 3 year old, and we're about to be out numbered. Fascinating how 31 and 33 is not as powerful as 1 and 3. I digress...

Aria is, as stated before, living up to her name. Full of volume, song, reach and range, each day she attempts, and succeeds, at something new. She's eating anything and everything we put in front of her, thriving at feed herself with spoons and forks. She's extremely independent, and still adoringly fond of her brother - following him, mirroring him, laughing with him. He's been teaching her how to splash in the bathtub and it's pretty funny watching them take turns. She likes brushing her hair, and pretending to brush her teeth, and then brushes her hair with her toothbrush. She is attracted to anything electronic: remotes, DVRs, DVD players, lights, computers, outlets, anything with a switch, button, etc.

She's been barreling around the house lately behind her pink princess scooter - which Roland loves playing with - and it absolutely sends her into hysterics when she slams into the wall (or any other object). She's also showing signs of her strong will (also known as temper) and strength (stubbornness). She likes to drop her sippy cup over the side of her high chair tray...and watch for your reaction. When you tell her, "No." She summons all her inner-pout and scrunches her face and lets out THE most pathetic "whaaaaaaaaaa..." and then it's over. I can't tell if it is more of a challenge for us not to crack up or for her to put on this show.

She likes to dance, swinging her arms and rocking on her bottom and knees. She's learned how to say, "E-I-E-I-O", "Good girl", and "Go." She says go - alot. She'll point at something and say "go", ie. please pick me up and carry me to inspect that. Speaking of pointing - she's got no manners when it comes to her pointy finger. She points at EVERYTHING. If Roland investigated with his mouth, Aria investigates - cautiously - with her index finger extended.

She's getting better and better each day about sleeping through the night and taking naps - but it's just a mere 7 days till she starts school and everything goes topsy-turvy. We're really excited (and nervous) for her about school - but I know she'll thrive just like Roland did once she gets the hang of it. Who knows, maybe Roland can help out once and a while and show her the ropes?
Sigh, highly doubt it. But I do know she's going to be gobbled up with love from the teachers every day. They already adore her so, I hope they still say how cute she is after they've seen how that little mouth can ROAR!