G & G Are Here!

On Thursday, March 29th, Grandma Susie and Grandpa Chick came to visit. Jovie had a ton of fun playing, laughing, dancing, and being crazy. She also showed off her talking skills now with tons of "Da-da's", a few "hi's" and "Yeah's" with a backwards "Ma-ma" pronounced "Aaam-a" every now and then.

They came bearing Easter and Baby Dedication presents.

But, better than that, they came bearing Grandma and Grandpa kisses!

Even though we did a lot of cooking and chopping for the upcoming baby dedication, we took some time out to play and do some of our favorite things: swinging and taking walks.

Jovie still loves to go out and about, just about anywhere.

Jovie rubs her head when she's tired - it's her biggest tell

Mommy's new favorite Jovie pose; kicking back and putting her feet up on the stroller

And even though the weather was a little chilly, the flowers were lovely, so we found some time for pretty pictures around the neighborhood.

The look that Jovie gives Grandpa is a favorite, too!

On Saturday we went to Bellehaven Park and walked to the Dyke Marsh.

We stopped for a diaper break before we even got started

Sleepy Baby

Shenanigans around the house :)

She knocks down the stacking cups tower and flinches

Silly Baby

Jovie also showed how slap-happy and giggly she gets when she's tired

Lots of quality time with Grandma and Grandpa!

You Are My Sunshine... in March

March 6th - So cute in skinny jeans!

Check out my cute and stylish baby...

...who can stand propped up on the couch

cute Toms

...and she can bend over a little bit!

Jovie has figured out that she can lean to peek around things now...

March 11th - Napping Baby

March 12th - Fat legs!
March 13th

Easter Bunny slippers from Barbara

March 24th - The cutest pouty face

March 25th - Sweet baby
Jovie looks like Daddy but has facial expressions like Mommy

Da-Da!

Jovie is really jibber-jabbering these days. Now that she's discovered consonants, she says them a lot! "Da-da-da-da" is her favorite, much to Mike's delight! She uses it for a lot of different things, but we do think she really does know it means "Daddy", too. Today, when Daddy came in the door, she turned around and smiled at him, and after a second, said "Da-Da!" Then he picked her up and she laid her head on his shoulder for a hug. Then Jovie and I were playing in her room and he came down the stairs. She looked up and said "Da-da". She's doing really well! She tries to say "hi" too. She makes the "h" sound when you say hi to her.

Mike was playing peek-a-boo with her around the corner tonight while I was holding her. When he would shout "peek-a-boo" and jump out from around the corner, she would startle than laugh and laugh. If he would take too long, she would lean and try to peek around the corner with her eyebrows raised, waiting.

Jovie loves Da-Da!

She Did It!

Today is (one of) the moment(s) we've been waiting for. Jovie said consonant sounds! And guess what - she said DaDa several times!

We were playing in her room a bit before her bath and she started making some random consonant sounds, and we were excited. Then, in the bathtub, they sounded more and more like "DaDa" and you could see her tongue working in her mouth, twisting around. Then, one time, she said it as clear as a bell, and Mike and I shouted and got so excited that it echoed in the bathroom and she got scared and I had to pick her up to comfort her. We were laughing and teary eyed. He was really excited.

Then, I was putting her jammies on, and trying to get her to say MaMa and she said "DaDa" clearly again. She did that a few times, and Mike and I were talking to her and encouraging her and she was making lots of consonant sounds and intonations and smiling and babbling to us. She was obviously proud of herself, and we were so proud of her! Then, it sounded like she said "MaMa" and Mike said, "Did you hear that?!" So, we think she said both in the same day. :) It was a good day in the Traylor house. (We only hope this isn't a skill that she learns and then abandons.)

It's a good day.

Friday Walks

On Fridays, Erica and I often go on walks with Ruth and Jovie. Today we tried to go to the Tidal Basin or Hains Point. That was a mistake! It took about three minutes for us to decide not to try to find a parking spot. After trying to get through traffic for about an hour, we went to Stanton Park instead. Then we took a walk around the Hill and the Capitol Building.

Jovie and Ruth were having a good time at the beginning, playing at Stanton Park and enjoying the beginning of the walk. Then, our babies who normally nap so well got fussy, fussy, fussy and wouldn't sleep in their strollers. At first, Jovie cried. Then Ruth decided to join in. Then Jovie stopped while Ruth cried, and Ruth stopped while Jovie cried. Eventually, we figured they were too hot to fall asleep because when we got to a shady area where it was breezy, they both stopped fussing. This does not bode well for a D.C. summer. But it's always so fun to walk with Erica and Ruth, so we enjoyed ourselves besides the fussing!

Here are some pictures we got before they got upset.

It might as well be summer! How cute are these girls in their sunhats?

(Yes, Jovie is 6 months younger than Ruth. And yes, she's nearly the same size.)

Ruth kept waving and saying "Hi" to Jovie :)

Couldn't get them both to smile in the same picture...

Jovie's hand on Ruth's shoulder

Ruth wondering what Jovie's hand is doing on her shoulder

Babies and Cherry Blossoms!

Picnic Time

On a Saturday is what is still technically winter, we had a beautiful picnic with our friends at Oronoco Bay park. Cute kids, yummy snacks and beautiful weather made for a great evening!

Check out the cute sun hat :)

Jessica and Peyton

Our family

Our wonderful friends

Cutie Emerson

Aly and Jovie

Wind in her hair :)

I have a feeling these next few months will be fun!!