Vadajo

We went back to the doctor yesterday to check Vada’s ears, and they are finally all clear. Thank goodness! Here she is in a chair in the waiting room. She climbed up there on her own and was quite pleased with herself.

Vada picked out her pants this morning. And the hat.

A little while later, she picked up the VitaMix thingie to play with – it looks so huge when she’s holding it!

Today we took Vada to the KidsQuest Children’s Museum in Bellevue. I thought it was awesome, and I think Vada liked it too. It’s nice to know that there is a fun indoor place like this for when it’s too yucky outdoors.

The museum is in a mall, and Petco is right next door. Given Vada’s love for kitties, it’s no wonder she went straight for this poster…

It’s been really clear and cold here the past few days. It’s a nice change of pace, but BBBBRRRRR… so cold! We took another trip to the micropark, and there was frost on the slide!

We’ve had several requests for a Christmas wish list, so here are some ideas:

• “Melissa & Doug” toys are awesome. Fat Brain Toys is one web site that carries them, but I’m sure you can easily find them other places. For example, I think Vada might like:
• Lacing toys (the cards with punched holes, or big beads, etc.)
• Chunky puzzles. They have some cool ones where the pieces have flat bottoms so they can be stood up and played with that way too.
• Play food that is velcro-ed together, so you can “cut” it with a play knife.
• A nice sturdy growth chart, so we don’t have to mark up a doorway
• Fun plastic dish set (bowl/plate/cup combo thing)
• Play tent/hut/tunnel/etc.
• Colorful socks, size 12-24 months.
• Magazine subscriptions for Babybug, Highlights High Five, or Wild Animal Baby
• Shampoo rinse cup, something like this one.
• Fire escape ladder, something like this one. Okay, this is not really for Vada, but still….
• Little spill-proof snack cups, something like these.
• Books are always great, and used ones are even better.
• Any of the “Scholastic Video Collection” DVDs. I have a bunch on my Amazon wishlist, but I think there are dozens of different ones.
• Subscription to the Tessy and Tab Reading Club.

We got word today that that contract is all signed! It’s going to be a crazy month trying to get everything taken care of before the holidays. But we’re excited!! Here’s a link to the listing, and here are some shots we took on our first visit:

Front, from the street:

left side yard:

right side yard:

From the front of the house, looking towards the left:

front room (to the left as you walk in):

Kitchen (well, the stove, anyway):

Family room (with laundry closet on the left):

Guest bedroom downstairs:

Office, next to the guest bedroom:

Downstairs bath:

Back porch, looking to the left:

Back porch, looking right:

Master bath:

Master closet:

Hall bath upstairs:

a little bit of the front porch, with Vada the house-hunter.

Sunday was cool and misty, but we braved the outdoors anyhow. First it was a trip to the micro-park down the street. It has the smallest play structure, with a tiny slide that is just perfect for Vada. Forgot to bring the camera, so we only have the getting-ready shot:

Later, she “helped” daddy rake leaves out back:

This really should be a video, but our camera’s video mode is busted anyway…

Vada has become addicted to fruit leather in the last week or so. I suppose there are worse things…

The monkey just had to play with mommy’s hair thingie… Finally she has enough hair to keep it on there (for a few seconds anyway). [I think her smile looks a lot like her cousin Rachel's in the top photo!]

Vada loves playing with the phone… or anything that might even resemble a phone…