Bañarse

Miss Eliana loves a bath.  She splashes and splashes and splashes.  Plus she really likes when I read "What Floats", a little plastic book for the bath.  We've had it since Joaquin was a baby and we read it every bath.  So now I do the same for Eliana and she is a serious fan.  She gets the biggest smile (not like the one in this picture) on her face whenever I pull it out.  She also likes to chillax in the bath, as you can see; one foot up and leaning back.  Both super cute and super funny.  This picture is also indicative of another typical Eliana feeling.  This weird smile is caused by teething.  Poor baby, her mouth seems to be hurting her all the time and those next teeth will just not pop through.  She also makes some seriously crazy tongue movements exploring the teeth she does have.

Finja

 So Daniel and Joaquin have developed some serious imaginative play.  They can make a game from anything.  Of course their favorite is to play 'Narnia', or to reenact encyclopedically each book.  This definitely proves Joaquin is understanding those books since he remembers everything! My favorite was actually when they took out a large map of the world and had pretend adventures in the countries that caught their fancy.  Not sure what all happened, they did make it to Iceland though.  This particular playtime appears to have been manipulated by Daniel in an effort to be 'playing' but still nap.  He and Joaquin were playing 'Praying Mantis' where one of them would pretend to be a prey bug and then the praying mantis (the other one) would grab them aggressively and yell about how they were eating their head and then their legs, etc. (Yeah, we've seen a lot of praying mantis feedings and it's not for the faint of heart.)  Then somehow this segued into Joaquin being the 'flea bird' which is like a superhero for dogs because it eats fleas.  (His words) Eliana is the dog in this instance and Daniel was the flea biting her and Joaquin would grab him and pretend to eat him.  At least little sister got to play. 

Bisabuela

Trying to get a nice picture with Great-grandma for her to use for Christmas.  Per usual it would probably be easier for her just to mail Joaquin himself.  However these pictures are at least funny.  Joaquin apparently has tons to say to Great-grandma about why he can't pose.

Mi Computadora

So final post on Elian'as' new playing abilities.  This isn't a great picture, but it was a super cute moment.  I put Eliana in Joaquin's room while I went to get something and when I got back she was rolling around quite happily reaching for the ball and trying to pull his blankets off his bed.  So Mommy retired gracefully to unload the dishwasher and surreptitiously watch the baby.  She was content for like 20 minutes, managing to roll around most of the middle of his room by rolling over and then scooching and then turning, etc.  It was so sweet to watch her trying to plan how to get places.  Plus she was so independent and happy about it.  Nowadays that's not always the truth (she wants to see and touch everything and mommy is supposed to be her human chariot).  This video is Eliana on my birthday.  Mostly it's just cute because this little 'laptop' was one of Joaquin's favorite toys back in the day.  Eliana seems to like to, I was especially amazed she already knew how to close it.

Papel!

 So we've found a new use for junk mail.  If you have too much at your house we'll shred and throw it up in the air for you.  Seriously, Eliana is a paperphile.  She likes to crumble it, to grab it, to eat it.  Especially to eat it.  I think she might actually like the taste.  She's also developed a taste for tortillas, Daniel says because it's like edible paper.  I love how intent Eliana is on her task - playing is serious work people.  How else is she going to figure everything out?  And this paper stuff - it's everywhere and people are always using it for something so it must be important.

Maracas

 And now the first in a series on Eliana playing.  I found Joaquin's old maracas one day and gave her one to try and entertain her while I folded her clothes.  She loved it!  It rattled so nicely and fit in her hand.  In fact she kept shaking it and shaking it and shaking it..... I got the clothes folded and pictures/a movie taken.

Clases de Natación

 So here's some pictures representing a frequent sight for Eliana and I this summer.  Joaquin did five weeks of swimming lessons this summer and we sat through all of them.  (Okay Eliana got to hang out with Grandma one day.) He did great, being very brave and having a fantastic time.  Currently his swimming stamina is also high - he tired out both Daddy and Uncle Matty the last time we were at the pool.  Here you see him swimming, jumping (he jumps in all by himself now) and waiting in line for the slide.  Kind of a big deal since the slide always makes him nervous, but the last Friday he not only went on it without coercion, he went three times!  Oh big brave boy.  The video shows him shooting out of the slide (he's the first one) and then you can sort of see him swim as well.  We have to find a place for him to swim this winter.