Alia is 25 Months old!

Okay, so here we are in the middle of Alia's 25th month on the planet. In addition to beginning pre-school with two weeks of orientation, Alia has had other big developments. Like sentences! Alia regularly points to the big 76 ball at the gas station and says "Lilo, peez get big ball down! Aya! bounce! Mommy!"meaning (for those of you that don't speak Alia) "Leonel, could you please get that big ball down? Alia and Mommy are going to bounce it." Yes we are talking about the big round sign at the 76 station, but those are details.

Alia has made very little progress with potty training simply because we haven't driven it home. We dropped the ball. We went from putting her on the potty every day throughout the day to basically....not. But I swear we'll get around to it this weekend....when we get time. See? Not her fault!

Alia loves Elmo. A while back I bought Elmo in Grouchland, which is a full length movie starring Elmo.  Alia can now explain whatever is going on....such as "all fell down! Slipped banana!"

In an effort to continue socializing Alia, we have begun playing toddler soccer on Sunday mornings which is just awesome. The main focus is to kick the ball. That's it. So everyone brings a ball or two and watches the chaos as a dozen or so toddlers run after balls, collect them, point to them, cry at them, and yes, sometimes even kicking happens!

Alia is also really socially develping too. She says hi to everyone! Going down the street, she'll wave to neighbors, flowers (she says hiiiiii, flower!), and also waves bye-bye and will even offer kisses to her favorite people. Her language skills have really taken of. Her ability to communicate her needs and wants have improved dramatically. When upset, Alia cries and says "Daddy hug Aya" or "Mommy hug Aya"

Alia's favorite things are still Froggy, macaroni and cheese, avacado, nectarines, Daddy, looking cute in special outfits, and ribbons in her hair. At mealtime, she has created a game called "hide Daddy Monkey" on her favorite plate which is full of-you guessed it-a family of monkeys. She likes to uncover each monkey and shout "Mommy monkey out! Hide Mommy monkey" which is her way of saying, more, please!"

Alia's latest favorite phrase is big-girl-self. Meaning, I can do it, I'm a big girl, by my self! Alia loves her two Olivia the Pig books. She reads along with them with her finger following the words and really loves the parts that refer to having a baby sibling.

Alia still loves music and sings several songs....loud, proud and almost accurate with the words. Twinkle, Twinkle goes a little something like this...."twinkle TWINKLE LIT-TO STAW,  how iwundoupu-are. UP UP UP world sohigh, dimonsky. TWINKLE TWINKLE LIT-TO STAW, how wonda-u-are.

And finally this month, Alia has proclaimed her love for Ajay once again by letting us all know she is a boy....like Daddy.