Here Comes Spring

We recently got a new computer and realized that we hadn't pulled over pictures from the camera for a while (and that we aren't taking as many pictures as we used to with Karina running around keeping us busy). I was disappointed again in the amount of snow we got this winter. I was hoping to teach and show Karina how much fun it can be. Judging by this picture one day when we took her out into the snow, it's probably just as well.

Oh well, she did seem to like watching it fall when she was being carried on our walks.

She really likes playing with her Legos and she is quite proud of her creations that she makes.

She made this next creation all by herself.  We are impressed that she has started to move beyond only making single-width tall towers.  

I realized that we hadn't taken any pictures of her toddler bed since we took the rails off the crib. She likes having a bed she can get in and out of on her own, although we have to be careful when we go into her room after naps or when she wakes up in the middle of the night, because there is a chance that she is standing right in front of the door.

While we were up in her room taking pictures of her bed, she was being especially cute, so we just kept taking more pictures. Here she is with her stuffed beagle, Lily (alternate spellings include Li-Li, and the more phonetic, based on how she speaks, Lee-de-lee). Lily helps her sleep at night, comforts her when she is sad, and keeps her quiet during long car rides or trips to the store, so she is a welcome addition to the family. Karina spontaneously started kissing Lily's nose while we were taking pictures, and it was adorable.

Playing around in her room.

Tanja started helping Karina fly around and we got some great giggles out of her.

She's a cute little girl and we love her.

Spring is on its way in, so we are enjoying the warmer weather. I've started to let Karina walk with us instead of being carried during part of our afternoon walks and she loves it. She is still a little confused between "up" and "down." We get to the point where she thinks that she should come down and says, "Up." I tell her that she is up, and she gets a little confused, but we have been practicing and she is starting to get the hang of it. Yesterday was a rainy morning, so I didn't let her down to run in the mud and puddles, but she kept asking/demanding "Down!" She also likes the playgrounds, but when she gets up to the platforms with the slides, she is too scared to go down them. Oh well, it will come in time.

We are also laughing during the walks at the script that we have with her. She gets excited for trucks, vans, motorcycles, etc. and calls out "Truck," "Van," "Car," "Sign," "Bus," "Light" when she sees any of them. There is a car on our street that is crunched up from an accident (and the owners still haven't repaired, despite our HOA posting a notice on their car that they were in violation of our HOA codes and were subject to being towed). When we walk by it, she points to indicate that it's our line.

Us: "There's a car."
Her: "Car." (then she waits for us to continue the conversation)
Us: "Looks like it was in an accident."
Her: "Uh-oh."

A little further on, there is a red Neon that she gets excited about.
Us: "There's a red car."
Her: "Daddy!"
Us: "Yes, Daddy has a red car."

Anyway, she's lots of fun (when she's in a good mood) and we love her (always). We are looking forward to seeing her in her new role as a big sister when Lydia is born. Another of our scripted conversations is:
Her: "Baby"
Us: "What baby/where?"
Her: "Lala (her name for Lydia)!"
Us: "Oh, baby Lydia? She's still in Mommy's tummy."
Then, sometimes she will start rattling through the names of everyone in the family and we will insist that they don't have babies in their tummies, only Mommy has a baby.

Kind of funny.