We're one!

How old are you Ada? Below, one year ago...Ada and Will a couple hours old.

Ada and Will are one! Where does a year go?! We had so much fun celebrating Ada and Will's first year in the world with family and friends. Nana Carrie and PaPa Al were down for the week, and on Superbowl Sunday we had a double fiesta for the kids birthday and the Green Bay Packers win! It seems like just yesterday that James and I brought Ada and Will home for the first time, and yet it feels like we have never been without them.

I'm so proud of the brave, sweet toddlers our babies are becoming. Ada is assertive and bold, always eager to get onto the next new thing. Ada's dance moves and baby babble are getting quite sophisticated. I get the sense from her already that she is a kid who knows how to get what she wants--did I mention she's a daddy's girl?! Ada is also a perspective, mischievous girl. She seems to understand the house rule of no eating rocks (lame-o right? No rock eating?!), and now will go pick up a rock, hold it up to me, smirk, and toss it in her mouth. Like a little rascal!

Will is still our boy with his heart on his sleeve. He is such a good sharer, although def.in.ite.ly. lets you know when he has had something stolen from him! He'll take a drink of water from his sippy and hand it to me, as if he's saying "want some mom?" Will is also impressing us with his spacial reasoning--stacking blocks, fitting rings on a post, puzzles. He'll successfully fit some baby thing-y in another baby thing-y and look at us with a classic, big, open-mouthed Will grin, so proud of himself. Always so sweet, Will is happy to walk over to you from across the house for a Will hug.

Mostly, Ada and Will are just turning into a couple of kids right before our eyes. They are getting more confident telling us what they want, although not really signing or saying any distinguishable words yet. I am convinced Will can say "ball", Ada can say "dog", they just use their word for everything non-ball and non-dog. They can sometimes point to familiars with cuing--dogs, eyes, nose, daddy. Also Ada and Will are starting to be a help to mom and dad, helping put on their shirts, bring me bits of trash they find around the house, put the mustard in the Tupperware drawer... Great birthday, great year. They love to be busy, under the sun, with their friends. Happy times.




Darling Ada





Sweet Will







We worked for about a week before the party on "How old are you?". Will showing his stuff here.



Sweet chocolate face. Aunt Carolyn front row.



There were never such devoted sisters...



Slice o' life. February in the desert.



Great shot, Will and Chip. Good buds.



Birthday cart ride.



Radio Flyer birthday present from Nana and Papa. Ada clapping in joy.



Jungle gym from Auntie Rach and Grandma Cindy! Kids loved the parts spread out on the lawn and put together! It took only a couple days to master this thing, climbing up ladder, head first down the slide. Its totally awesome. Who's the bigger help to AJ here? Ada and Will or Rachel and her manual? :)





Present opening frenzy with help from Simone and Sofia. Looks like we already lost Ada...



Ada with her arguably most favorite birthday present--remote control from "uncle" Tony and "auntie" Dana. Genius.



Tony is a baby lover. Ada is a Silva lover.



Familia.



Rachel and AJ were birthday party allstars! Their young love, however, has left Rachel a confused Packer fan--here sporting her Packer beads and cap, while wearing a Steelers jersey.



Will loved birthday party balloons, here in PJs days later still carrying Packers around.



We miss Nana!







Ada, Will, Papa. Probably watching the weather channel.



Mom and Dad got Will and Ada this convertible mini bench table for their birthday. They loved it so, they dashed straight for it after bath time. I think Will looks like Smeagol.



First hair cut on their birthday. They loved it! I had a sense they felt very important.