Resourceful
While I was in the bathroom today, I took my time and dawdled a little.  Ava was complaining and I thought that I should get her a bottle.  I was almost finished and would head to the kitchen.  Suddenly I heard a crash and I heard Paulchen say, "It's okay Ava, I get you food."  EEK!  I realized he knocked down the gate to the kitchen and was heading in to make heaven only knows what mess.  But I must admit, he was rather resourceful.

Dancing

Paulchen asked me to put on music, so I put on our Medieval dancing music.  He danced around to Single Bransle and was happy.  Then when Horse's Bransle came on, he said "No horse, another song".  He actually knew what the song was!  He also loves to dance to Petit Vriens.  He knows the steps pretty well, though he still needs some guidance.  So at 3, he's learning really quick.  I was just so impressed that he knew the name of the one song.  To people that don't normally listen to this music, much of it can sound the same and even though I listen to it regularly, I often have to give it a few measures before I realize which song it is.  Yet he knew it immediately.

Eyes, ears, nose and mouth

Ava has started to say the parts of the body.  The other day I had her on the changing table and pointed to different body parts on my head and she mimicked.  Then today she initiated the pointing and told me she was pointing to her ear.  She was correct.  I am very amazed.  Paulchen didn't start to do this until he was at least 18 months.  She is now only 15 months.

As for Paulchen, he is incredibly whiney.  I don't know why and it's very annoying.  Yet he is getting much better at his comprehension of what we are saying and how to answer.  We looked through e-mail cards today for father's Day.  He said no to a few of them and then the one I thought was PERFECT, he nodded and said "Yes".  He did like that one for his Da.  A very helpful young man.

Counting

Well, our Internet was down for a long period of time, so I was unable to write updates of the children, but now it's finally fixed.

I am really impressed with Ava.  Paul and Paulchen were counting together the other day and I heard Ava making sounds.  Some of those sounds sounded like numbers.  So I sat with her and counted as well.  After I said 1, she said 2.  Then she said 3.  Her numbers aren't perfect, but she had the basic concept down.  I was so amazed.  I looked at Paul to make sure I wasn't hearing things and he realized what she was doing as well.

Today, I had to vacuum and she grabbed the vacuum attachment and began to vacuum as well.  Once again, I was impressed.  Paulchen did these things as well, but it took him a little longer to catch on.  Ava is only 14 months as she does things he didn't do until about 18 months.  I'm not certain if it's because she's the second child, or because she's a girl, but either way I'm very impressed.

Kiss-Kiss

Ava is doing very well with her walking now and hardly ever crawls.  She likes to walk all over the place.  The little bouncing zebra she received for her birthday is one of her favorite toys right now.  She can't get on all the way by herself, but she gets her leg over and starts bouncing.  Her face lights up when she bounces.  It's very adorable.

This morning, I brought Ava into bed with Paulchen and me.  Paulchen kept giving me kisses.  Then Ava smacked her lips and leaned over me.  She then proceeded to give lots of kisses.  It was so cute.  She now we can add kisses to her repetoire as well as hugs.