What I want to remember...

What I want to remember is...

...how Michaela says in her little kid voice "wanna play in my woom"

...how Avery likes to hold tight to my finger when she drinks her bottle

...how Michaela always says "I wanna see Avery"

...how Avery looks up at my eyes and watches my mouth when I am talking to her

......how Michaela whispers to pink baby (that is what she named her) as she plays so that I can't hear what she is saying

...how expressive Avery's face is already!

...how Michaela "reads" books that I have read to her and is pretty darn close to the real book

smiling as we drive through the tunnel

...how alert Avery's eyes are when she is awake

...how Michalea's face lights up when we go through the new highway tunnel or when we tell her she can have a hot dog for dinner (the all beef kind of course)

...the glimpse of a beginning friendship between the two of them every time Michaela gives Avery a kiss on the forehead without any prompting from us

I just LOVE those girls!

And then there were 4...

We welcomed Avery Elizabeth into our family on February 13th, 2012.  

And now we are the Wilkinson 4!

Birthday Weekend

 This past weekend was my birthday weekend. It is always nice having a birthday that falls over a weekend.  Saturday was my actual birthday.  My big request was to have breakfast out.  There are few things I love more than breakfast out with family and/or friends.  The weather was pretty great for early February so we were able to play outside and make use of one of Michaela's Christmas gifts...her tricycle.  It was fun to watch her bike up and down the sidewalk.  She would drop her head close to the handle bars and peddle as fast as her little legs would go.  Occasionally, she would get so into going fast that she would even forget to look where she was going.  The fresh air and the biking definitely wore her out.   

Holiday Drawings

MJ's Christmas Tree

So, I am feeling pretty good that so far I am only one month behind on finishing my December Daily album...that is pretty good for me and for all the things we have happening at our house.  At any rate, December 16th marked my final day of work before Winter vacation.  Michaela must have been drawing at school because she had been coming home wanting to do some holiday drawings.  First she wanted to show me her Christmas Tree and then she wanted to show me her version of Santa.  Of course I loved both!  We had to take pictures because she drew them both on her erasable crayon board.  I also included a Christmas Tree Michaela made at school. 

MJ's Santa

   

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day 16 tag

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The Winter Sing

Thursday, December 15th was the Winter Sing at my school.  On days like these the Specials teachers have no classes in order to help the music teacher with the three performances that go on during the day.  The greatest part about not having class is that Michaela is able to come to work with me, explore my school, and participate in the program.  My Aunt did come as well so that Michaela is closely supervised while I do my part in the program (unfortunately due to my part in the program, I wasn't able to get any photos of Michaela during the program).  Our music teacher is so creative, she helped the students create a script for a radio show that some of the teachers presented to the families.  The radio show paused occasionally for singing performances by the different grade levels.  The Sing ends with a sing-a-long.  I love that I was able to sit and enjoy singing holiday music with my Aunt and Michaela.  After the morning program was over Michaela had the chance to explore the gym and throw bean bags just like she learned from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.  She also explored the reading lofts in the library and then it was off to my Aunt's house for lunch, a nap, and of course more playtime!  It was a busy, but fun day!  Hopefully we can do it again next year.  

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day 15 tag

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MJW

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Now that I have restarted work after a lovely two week holiday vacation, I know that keeping up with my December Daily album will become more difficult.  However, I am determined to keep up with it as best I can!  I have already surpassed my blogging from last years attempt (I am happy to say that at least I did a better job of completing the album than the blog last year).  At any rate, December 14th I took some time to write a letter to Michaela letting her know all the things she is up to at this point.  I love including this because I have not been great about recording the "little things" she does.  In the past I have relied on sent emails to family and friends to remind myself when she reached certain milestones.  I know in the future I will be very happy that I made note of all the things she is doing at this stage in her life.  Below is the letter...

Day 14 tag

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Michaela-

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Your Dad and I are amazed by you more and more everyday.  You are definitely becoming your own person, complete with opinions and everything.  You have started wanting to have a say in quite a lot, especially what you wear and what you eat.  Your favorite thing to wear lately is a summer dress from Grandma, despite the winter weather.  On the other hand, you also enjoy wearing your hat inside,  I have picked you up from school and you have been wearing your hat on more than a few occasions.  Your favorite food is hot dogs, but you are also starting to like turkey sandwiches (including the bread...a big step for you).  We love it when you respond "sure" to our requests or "what?!" to our questions.  You continue to have an interest in books and caring for your dolls.  You are VERY into movies and seem to enjoy Beauty and the Beast the most right now.  You also love to be active...doing somersaults, running from room to room, climbing over furniture, and jumping on the bed are some of your winter favorites.  Since swimming lessons ended in the Fall, you love all things to do with water..."paddle, paddle, paddle" you say.  You keep us laughing at all the things you say and discover and we LOVE seeing you grow and learn Michaela Jean!

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Holiday Surprises

On the 13th we gave Michaela a few early holiday surprises so that she could make use of them before Christmas.  She opened some Santa PJs and a Winnie the Pooh ornament.  She was excited by both.  She wore her PJs to bed and played with the ornament quite a bit before putting it on the tree.  I love to see her excitement and delight over the little things! 

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Day 13 Tag

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