My Friend Lily

This is my friend Lily Chandler. Her mama, Aunt Jen, Mimi, and Bampy came over to Nana and Papa's house for a pizza party on Monday night.


Lily brought over her Hannah Montana purple guitar and I absolutely HAD to play with it. It was SO COOL! Lily was nice and shared with me. We also played hide and seek for about 30 minutes. We hid in Nana's "Princess Room" and one by one everyone came to find us. We had so much fun.


Lily is going to have a new baby brother soon. His name is Wyatt and he is living in Lily's mama's belly right now. I love babies and I can't wait to see him!

ayda montana.

Daycare Christmas Party

Tammy and Twila hosted a fabulous holiday party for all of our parents a few days before Christmas. My Mimi, Nana, and Papa came too! We had been practicing our carols for days. I wasn't so excited to sing as I was to dance and I made sure EVERYONE was paying attention to me!



I stood right out front. Riley even put my hair into two very adorable french braids. I decided to do a little interpretative dance near the end of the performance.



Sorry the video is so jumpy. Mimi took it and was laughing hysterically through the whole thing. I don't know what her problem was....she's so rude sometimes!

xo ayda.

Christmas!

I feel like I have so much to tell you about Christmas! On Christmas morning everyone came to MY house to open some presents. Mimi gave me these neat-o castinettes! I love the way they sound--and they're good and loud!


When we were done with presents at my house everyone took showers and got dressed. I took a nap. Then it was lunchtime at Nana's house. And LOOK what was waiting for me there! A TOYBOX that Papa made all on his own! I quickly got down to business checking it out. I put stuff in the drawers and pulled the velcro letters off the box and stuck 'em back on. It's gonna hold all my stuff!


This is my great aunt Sally. I love to say her name...Sally Sally Sally. She was my human toy Christmas day and we had a lot of fun!



ho ho ho!
ayda sue

Christmas Eve with Lexy

My second cousin Lexy came over to Nana & Papa's Christmas Eve. All I wanted to do was hug her! I was really jealous of her cute outfit...


Lexy's not much of a talker but she did tell me she was a princess. No wonder she was dressed to the nines!

Holiday Spirit

In the name of 'Holiday Spirit' Nana and I made snowflake cookies!
Yuuummm. I just love baking.

I get to practice all my superior Patty-cake skills! You know the drill- roll it, pat it, pick it and something about the letter 'B'. Nana always helps with that part.

She's the best sous chef ever!



XOX Ayda 'Cookie Monster' Sonnenberg

What Ayda should have gotten for Christmas...

Nana brought a big dry erase board home from school for some Christmas Eve Win, Lose, or Draw. No one had more fun with it than Miss Thing. She loves to "paint" on it and is creative for long stretches of time. She does like to have someone to paint with, so she orders someone to "sit" next to her. For some reason if Papa paints with her she draws over whatever he is drawing and ruins it. Poor Papa!


The other night I was sitting with her and decided to see how smart she really is. I started drawing cartoon figures of animals on the board and asking her what they were. She got every single one. Sometimes she would make the animal sound rather than name them, but any baby who can tell my pig from my cat is a genius in my book.

I even drew a foot with "tonies" -- Ayda's word for toenails -- and Jennie told her to "paint in the toenies" and she did. Every single tonie. Guess I know what to get her for her birthday....

Mimi

Dr. Ayda Sonnenberg

Look what Tammy got me! Tammy is one of my super day care ladies and she got EVERYONE a present for Christmas! Holy cow! She gave me this awesome doctors kit because I am obsessed with the one at daycare and Tammy thought I should have one at home, too. I looooooove giving shots. I have more pictures from Christmas to share so check back. I'll put them up soon.

Dr. Sonnenberg

Roadtrip to Waterville

On our way back from NY over Thanksgiving Mama left our coats at a hotel in Waterville. Silly Mama! So today me, Mama, and Mimi took a trip down to get them. Mama has been blaming Dada for the missing coats. Boy didn't she feel bad when the hotel said that they were there all this time. Since my winter coat was missing Mama bought me this coat and hat at Target. I look Russian, no?


We ate at Big G's Deli and then we went to Marden's. Mama wants to find me my own little chair for the living room. No such luck. We did, however, find a friendly bear.


And we also found some turtles! Yum turtles! I hear little Russian girls LOVE turtles!



Natashayda.

ERNIE!

Grandma and Grandpa Sonnenberg gave me this Tickle-Me-Ernie when I was there for Thanksgiving. It is my absolute favorite new toy. When I can't find him I yell "EEEERRRRRRRRRRRNIE!" and he magically shows up.

When I push his tummy he giggles and then he falls over and kicks his feet. Oh my goodness that is so funny. I admit that I was a little scared of Ernie at first, but now I just think he is the craziest little guy.

ayda.

Christmas Card Photo

Mimi tried to take a photo of me, Mama, and Dada the other night in front of Nana & Papa's Christmas Tree but I would have nothing to do with it. I pitched a fit! Mimi did get this little shot of me putting an ornament on the tree, though.

Even though I didn't want to have fun with photos in front of the tree doesn't mean other people didn't. Mimi and Mama really hammed it up. They make themselves laugh. I don't get them.

xoayda.

Turkey Day in New York

It's becoming a bit of a tradition for Mama, Daddy, and I to travel to New York for Thanksgiving, which is fine by me! We have so much fun there! We stayed with Grandma and Grandpa Sonnenberg. Aunt Lisa made it home too! I didn't really remember everyone too well, but you know me, once I felt comfortable enough I really worked the room.

This is a picture of a whole bunch of us at Aunt Sandy and Uncle Joe's house. I'm playing with Daddy's uncle Don... I guess that makes him my 'great uncle', right? Well, I think he's pretty 'great' either way. I don't know why Auntie Lisa says he's so scary.


We had our big Thanksgiving dinner at great grandma Dywinski's.... oh boy was it delicious. Not that I sat at the table very long to taste much of it- but I got the important stuff down, like pie :)


I also got to play with my cousin Christian. I liked him, but I'm not too sure he felt the same about me. What's a social butterfly got to do to get the strong, silent type to notice her? I tried lots of things, but finally decided that sharing plastic sheep might be the way to go. It worked... for a minute. Maybe next year.


The best part of the trip may have been meeting my new cousin Morgan. She was only a week and a half old! I was a little 'ify' about not being the baby anymore... but she was so smooshy and cute I got over it.
Mama said I couldn't hold her, but she let me cuddle a little. I loved to touch and hold her little baby hands.



All and all our trip was pretty eventful. I hope we get to do it next year too!

xoxo Ayda Sue

Copy Cat

Yesterday I watched Mama cut her toenails. What a big girl thing to do all by yourself! I took the clippers when she was done and touched them to all of my toes. Then I did all of my fingers too, for good measure. Then I grabbed my goat leg and gave the hoof a little once over with the clippers. Mama was amazed that I knew that the goats hoof was like our fingernails. She must think I'm soooooo stupid!

xoxo ayda

Judy Jetson

Mimi calls this outfit that Nana made me my Judy Jetson outfit. Something about the pointy retro sleeve caps or something.

I don't know who Judy Jetson is but she sounds super cool! That's her in the corner of my picture. I love her hair! And while Judy looks good in red, blue really is MY color.

ayda.

Picasso, Monet, Sonnenberg

I am an artist. And you have to say that like this... ar-TEEST because I'm really good. See how I fill up the whole page with beautiful colors? Painting is one of my most favorite activities these days. Nana got me some beautiful water colors and lets me go at it. I'm quite particular on how wet my brush is and the colors I choose but isn't every great painter? I just love seeing my work on the refrigerator. Ooooh la la!

miss ayda

After-math

So this is how my hair turned out after Mama cut it...



I didn't really want to have my picture taken this morning... but Mama made me. Something about showing the world my 'cuteness'. Whatever.



She always thinks she the boss of me.

xoxo A.S.E.S

Haircut

I got a haircut last night. Mama put my favorite purple seat right up on the bathroom sink. Everyone helped. My hair was SO LONG and it was crazy looking! Now it's stylishly short. Not that it matters -- I don't care what my hair looks like!

Dada wanted me to go to a hairdresser but Mama said that she was NOT going to spend $20 to get my hair trimmed and she could do it herself thank you very much! I think she did a pretty good job...even though I kept turning the light out on her. Hee hee!

ayda sue.

Feeding Time

Being a big girl is sooooo cool.

ayda.

Baby Hulk

I do this neat impersonation of Baby Hulk on cue. I make fists and put my arms up in the air and everyone thinks it's really funny.

Look what Mama made the other day...



ayda sue.

Ayda vs. Spider

So bugs are my new 'thing'. I especially love to look for them on the ceiling! But the other night, Mama showed me one on the floor.
It's not there anymore :)



By the way- look how Nana dresses me up... Grandma helped her make this vest and hat for me. It's toasty warm and I really like the way it ties at the neck. It's so hard to resist pulling the pretty pink bow the ribbon makes!



xoxo Ayda

New Car!

Mama and Dada bought a new car this weekend to take the place of the Saab. They drove all the way down to Portland for this beauty. It's a gangster car and I love it. On Sunday while Mama was working, Daddy and I detailed every inch of this sucker. I helped. Daddy gave me a cloth and I wiped the back of the front seats and dusted. I love being a big girl! I even know how to put the keys in the ignition. What I don't know how to do is turn off the alarm after I accidentally turn it on. That was scary!

ayda.

My Favorite Toy

This is a goat leg bottle opener. Mimi gave it to Daddy for his birthday this year. I wish she had bought me one! I simply ADORE it. I carry it around with me everywhere. I hold it when I'm watching TV, I pat it when I'm eating a snack, and I even take it to Nana and Papa's house with me. It's fascinating and oh so soft and silky. Sometimes Mama makes it dance for me. Every kid should be so lucky to have their very own goat leg.

xoayda

Little Miss Thing!

Ayda is turning into a little miss bossy-pants. Now that she can use some words to communicate she tells you exactly what she wants.

For example: if she wants to sit on the couch she will pat the seat with her little hand. If she wants you to sit on the other couch she will point to it. Last night I was playing on the floor with her and got up to leave. Ayda looked at me, pointed to my spot on the floor and said "sit" over and over again. It was so cute I had to comply.

Last night Papa was pulling Ayda around the kitchen on her little bike. After a few go-rounds he collapsed in exhaustion on the living room floor. Ayda, got off her bike, said "PAPA!" and lifted his head to push him up again for more biking fun. She's not mean about it, and has yet to throw a tantrum around me, but she definitely knows what she wants and how to ask for it.

Aunt Mimi.

Trick or Treat!

Happy Halloween!!

This year I dressed up like a Teddy Bear- and boy was I ferocious!!
R-O-A-R!
(No, I didn't fall down the stairs... I'm just being 'difficult')



Mama and Daddy took me to Nana's school so I could show off my costume. I helped deliver popcorn to some class rooms... boy did those teachers make a fuss! I guess they thought I was cute, or something.

I was so exhausted from all the Halloween fun that I couldn't even keep my eyes open on the way home.



I didn't get any candy this year, but I did find a few yummy things in Mama's cupboards! What is this? Pancake mix? My favorite!



Hope you all had a 'spooky' day!

-Ayda Sue

Mimi's Birthday

Last night we all went to Texas Roadhouse to celebrate Mimi's 31st birthday! I got to ride in the saddle! So much fun!


I love Texas Roadhouse because there is so much going on at all times! It's very hard for me to sit still. I was a big girl and got to sit in a booster seat.


I even let one of the waitresses hold me and dance with me during their line dance. Then I gave her a high five.

My favorite thing to eat at Texas Roadhouse are the delicious rolls with cinnamon butter. See? I was taking really big bites.


I wish Mimi's birthday was everyday!



xoayda

Yurt again, yurt again, jiggity-jig

So it was back to the Yurt at Great Pond in Aurora for the second year in a row...but this time was a little different than last time. As you can see from the old post, it was quite a bit colder this time! As a matter of fact, I spent a LOT of time in my snowsuit! But I didn't care- I was just happy to be somewhere new and exciting. And to wear my new winter hat- isn't it adorable?!
Inside that little yurt is a set of bunk beds, a futon, a little table and two chairs, a little propane heater, two side tables, and MY crib! All that in that tiny house! Can you believe it? All that stuff, plus Mama, Daddy, and I AND the two doggies.
The first night I slept like a good girl in my own crib in a blanket and snowsuit cocoon :) I was toasty warm, even though Daddy said it dropped below 20 degrees. Brr!
The second night I decided to shake things up a bit and try to sleep in Mama and Daddy's bed with them! Well, sleep may not be the best word... more like use them as human jungle gyms! Yippee!




Speaking of new and exciting, check out this great thing called a head lamp! If this isn't the coolest thing ever, I don't know what is. I just couldn't put it down.



Even though it was chilly, it was also really pretty. We took a walk and looked at all the colorful leaves- they smelled so good. Marley and Roxy even let me walk them all by myself...



... and Daddy and I climbed some big rocks. Whew! That was hard work!



The view from our campsite wasn't too shabby either. The water was so calm and the steamyness in the morning made it look so inviting. Mama assured me that it was NOT warm enough for a dip- party pooper.



When we were all done with our adventure it was time to pack up. I was a very good helper and did my part to help load up the truck with Daddy.



We had so much fun on our 'mini' vacation. I hope we do it again next year... except maybe when it's not so cold.

xoxo Ayda

Full of Hot Air!

Yee haw! Balloons are wicked fun! Mama brought me home a bunch from the big sale she had at work. She could hardly get a picture of me with them because I was running all over the house! Wheeeeee!
I just couldn't help myself.
They're so bouncy and colorful!

Good Times

So Grandma and Grandpa Sonnenberg left to go home on Monday. I was really sad to see them walk out the door, and even more sad when I realized they weren't coming back! At least, not for a little while. Mama said we'd see them for Thanksgiving... but that seems so far away!

I had lots of fun with them while they were here though. We went for walks down to the lake, we colored, Grandma made me some delicious apple sauce- it was fantastic! I hardly even missed my friends at daycare.

I can't wait to see them next month in New York!

xoxo
Ayda

Little Lady

I just love to dress-up in funny things. Sometimes it's a silly scarf, sometimes it's a sombrero- you just never know with me. Certainly, no one can accuse me of being boring!




I'm also a big fan of 'big people' shoes. Some are easier to get on than others...


Much Love A.

No Apple Picking This Year...

Darn this rain! Mama, Daddy, and I tried to go apple picking last Saturday... but the weather was not cooperating :(

We drove all the way out to Levant to this great farm. They had goats and chickens and a great big corn maze! Too bad it started to rain as soon as we got there.

Daddy decided that it was too cold and windy and rainy to actually pick apples, so we just bought a bag. Mama seemed really sad about it. Poor Mama.

We did get to pick out a pumpkin, though. I can't wait to carve it up and make it look all spooky!



xoxo
Ayda

A Visit

Grandma and Grandpa Sonnenberg are coming to town! Hooray!
Mama says they'll be here tomorrow night. I hope I can stay up long enough to see them in. I have been awfully sicky lately, but I'm gonna try my hardest.
Oh boy- I can't wait!

xoxo
A.

"Bonkies"

This is a little embarrassing... but Auntie Mimi says I have to let everyone know... because it's another 'first' for me... here goes:

Last night Mama put me on the potty before bed. We do this every night now. Mama strips me down and sits me on there and I always point to the sink and say "tee! tee!" obviously I'm asking for my toothbrush! And Mama knows this so she puts a little dab of toothpaste on there and lets me go to town! I sure do like cleaning my teeth! Anyway, something a little silly happened last night- like I said- for the first time. I went 'bonkies'! For those of you not in the Brooks clan, we also cally this poopy. A loooong, loooong time ago Mimi called this going 'bonkies'. Or so I'm told.
Mama was VERY proud of me and clapped and cheered! I'm not sure what all the fuss was about. I was just upset she wouldn't let me play with it! No fair- it's mine, after all!

xoxo ayda

Potty

I may be just shy of 17 months old, but I am already learning to pee in my pot. Last night before my bath Mimi put me on my potty. She told Mama to stop running my bath water while we peed. Mimi sat on her potty and went pee. I heard it! I concentrated reallllly hard and then I went pee too!

Mama couldn't believe it when Mimi told her what I had done. She rushed over and gave me lots of praise. I got up and showed her my pot. Then I closed the little lid -- like a good girl should! I think I like peeing on the pot!

xo ayda sue.

Wheee!

Who said you can't have fun with a silly 'ol piece of box? Daddy and I went 'sledding' at the Common Ground Fair on a piece of cardboard. Doesn't this look like fun?!

Of course, I wouldn't be me if I didn't have to try it out ALL BY MYSELF- well, almost. Daddy helped me a little :) I am, after all, a big girl.
xoxo Miss Ayda

Common Ground Fair Fun

Mama, Daddy, and I went to the Common Ground Fair in Unity on Friday. Boy did we have fun! And I was a very good girl.


We got to see a whole bunch of really neat things. My favorite part was the animals! I made lots of new furry friends :) It made me cry every time we walked to a different stall!
This is Nadia. She's a Scottish Highland calf... doesn't she look like a cuddle little teddy bear? I just wanted to nuzzle her SO bad! But Mama said 'no'. She's no fun.

We got to do lots of other fun things too- like watch a puppet show, eat bean-hole-beans, listen to music, and run around in the grass!
Daddy and I took some silly pictures too! Don't we make cute veggies?

Mama and Daddy got to do some things they wanted to do too. Like talk to some interesting people about veggie-oil for engines and alpaca farming.

We bought some delicious apples on the way out and of course, I had to have my very own to hold. Good thing Mama let me have hers... I may not have made it to the car without throwing a hissy-fit. I was sooo- tired!

All in all- it was a pretty darn fun day!

xoxo ayda