Back to our Home in Virginia

Libby and mama were blessed to spend a splended 6 days with our old friends in Virginia. There's so much to say about the trip, you probably should call me to get the highlights. Of course we had such a good time with Ben and Jaime and Josie. But we also got to visit several other old friends, and even attended a birthday party where we were able to catch up with many more. The weather was delightful, while daddy stayed home and weathered the worst blizzard this house had seen in 10 years. Meanwhile, we girls were playing at the park, eating and strolling the mall, and otherwise enjoying being out-and-about in lovely spring fashion.

Libby and Josie were again so fun to see together. We had some opportunities to learn about sharing and turn-taking, and the girls reacted well to these lessons and were so good about giving to the other. After a few days I noticed that the girls also took turns being vocal. It seemed that if Josie was particularly chatty for a spell, Libby was very quiet. Later, Libby would talk and talk and Josie would take her turn to listen. Not surprisingly, the girls absorbed quite a bit (if not everything) the other was saying and doing. Each of them repeated the other, if not immediately then a while later, and they always seemed to be aware of the other's doings. If Libby heard Josie say (while playing with Jaime) "where'd Josie go?" Libby would run out of her bedroom to go find Josie. If Josie spotted Libby munching on a cookie and wanted one, Libby would run to her snack bag and retrieve something for her friend. Perhaps by our next time together the girls will even do some real conversing. How fun that will be.

The photos below are beginning on Saturday and go back in time to last Tuesday, when we made our arrival. We didn't get any pics on Sunday, which is a shame because the girls were so sweet in their goodbyes, hugging and kissing one another. Libby told Josie she loved her so much, and Josie watched from the window as her mama left to take her friends to the airport.

Daddy would agree that Libby's language skills are constantly improving, he couldn't believe some of the things mama was reporting Libby as saying while we were gone. Unfortunately, it seems that mama is exceptionally gifted in understanding her little one. Not everyone is so blessed as to hear Libby's declarations on the first try. But, I can be quite the translator, and am happy to fill you in.

Some of my favorite "sayings" of Libby's were in the car as we left our morning activity of the day. Almost without fail Libby would name what we had just done and follow up with "fun". For example, "Musie fun!" as we left the music class. Or "library fun" as we left story time. A moment later she would tell us she was "happy." It was very sweet. She also enjoyed Jaime's Honda Element. She seemed to notice it was unique as a car, and told me she "like Jaime's car." I asked her why she liked it and as she snuggled into her carseat she said, "is comfy."

Libby was very affectionate with Jaime and Ben and Josie, and enjoyed giving them hugs and kisses before bed ("hug and kese Jaime" "hug and kese Ben"). In the morning she woke to the birds chirping (sounds sweet, but it can really be very annoying at 6 a.m. I had forgotten about our little pals chirping outside our window as the sun rises year round). She was laying in bed next to me trying to go back to sleep, the sun was on the rise, the birds started in and she couldn't do it. She finally gave up and turned to me and said, "I hear birds singing." Her little tone was so clear, she may as well have said, "there's no way I can go back to sleep." Just then Josie stirred next door and Libby said sadly, "Josie hears birds too." As if to say, "she can't sleep either." These early morning smiles on mama's face are the only thing that could get me out of bed. :)

Well, enjoy the pictures from our visit. We had such a good time and are looking forward to our next get-together with our friends. In the meantime, the girls will continue to grow and change and surprise and impress. I mean take a look. They're brilliant and beautiful. I couldn't be prouder of them!