Jada is 11 months old
Can you even believe it?? 11 months old. 6 teeth (I think). Says MAMA, DADA, can drink from a sippy cup, is starting to drink regular milk, plays peek-a-boo, claps, close-open-close-opens, eats just about everything, and even bosses around Gordon.
Oh, and she keeps messing with my laptop while I try to type....
She can also "sing" the Ariel song, talks on the phone non-stop, and loves to tease her daddy! She also can pour water over her head to wash out the shampoo, naps 1-2 times a day, and knows how to turn any television on-and-off.
Jada can stand for a few seconds unassisted, crawls incredibly fast, and is awesome about listening to directions (especially "no mouth!")

Go Jada! Next major picture will be of her at 1 year old!! Woah...

I sometimes can't believe what a big girl Joli is and how verbal she is for her age. We were snuggled in bed and she told me the entire "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" story in really good, descriptive ways. I mean, it didn't sound at all like a little kid telling a story. Joli has a great talent for that!

Mari is so cool!

Check out Mari with Apl from the Black Eyed Peas! She was in the recording studio with him in Burbank, CA the other day. Jada and Joli will be thoroughly impressed, Mari! They LOVE the BEP's! (so do I). She asked Apl if she could take a picture with him after they recorded - and said that her sister Liza would "beat her up" if she didn't get one. She's right. I would have....

Seriously... Joli is amazing....

But, first, Jada had a great EUA the other day. She was a trooper and didn't cry that much with her drops. Of course, all is well with Jada.

Now for Jo...!

We just got back from Boston and Joli had her 2nd office appointment (her first one was 6 months ago and it was mildly tough). This time Joli was absolutely amazing. She had her eye drops put in and DIDN'T CRY EVEN ONCE! NOT EVEN ONCE!! She didn't even whine, wince, or anything. Unbelievable, because these drops actually do sting when the go in. So, that was the just the start of a great day! Then, she was so wonderful waiting for the doctors and played so quietly with her little puppy, Ella, and read some books. She was then brought in to see the nurse, and she sat all by herself in the exam chair and did the eye chart all by herself. We then met with one of the fellows in the office, and Joli again sat in the exam chair all by herself and allowed the fellow to flash the light in her eye and look up-down-left-right. We then waited for Dr. Mukai to come in, and Joli was again, great! She let Dr. Mukai exam her and she almost seemed like a professional sitting in that chair. Dr. Mukai then said, "Okay, Joli, we have to look behind your prosthesis." So, I said, "Oh, gosh, here we go." Dr. Mukai said, "Would you like me to take it out?" ...

okay, quick break..

so, last time Joli had to take her prosthesis out, she was screaming/crying/floundering around/etc. It was truly a scene. I had even warned some people I was sitting with in the lobby that they might hear Joli screaming when we go into the exam room...

okay, time in....

So Joli says, "No, Dr Mukai. I can do it myself." I then shook my head and whispered again to the fellow, "This could be bad...."

Well, Joli reached in and in about as much time as it takes me to take out my contact lenses (aka about 1 second), Joli's eye was out. She held it up and said, "here you go."

(**Whhhhaatt?????!!!!****)

Then, she let Dr. Mukai mess around with her eye socket and pulled on her lids. All the while, Joli was fine and attentive.

Cut to the chase --- Joli is FINE!! And, Dr. Mukai has cleared us to see him ONCE A YEAR!!! WHHHAAATT!! HURRAYYY!!!

So, it was time for Joli to put her eye back in. Dr. Mukai said, "Would you like some help putting your prosthesis in?" Joli says, "No I can do it."

So, I get up and start to head towards her and said, "I'll do it. She's never done it before and she gets a little nervous."

Dr. Mukai points to Joli and says, "Really? Because she's doing it right now."

And, sure enough, Joli had about 99.9% put her eye back in - the right way up and everything!! I simply had to just tug on her bottom lid a little and it popped right in!

Truly, I was trying to describe it to Jorge as an "out of body experience." I almost couldn't believe it was our Joli doing all this!

As we were getting ready to leave, we met a nice family in the waiting room who had just been diagnosed (stitches on the eyelids are kind of a give-a-way). I felt for them. I still do. And, all those same shock-feelings came back. I guess 18 months ago, I never would have thought we could even find our footing. And, now look at Joli.... truly amazing.

Jada -isms....
Because I'm getting in trouble for not keeping up with the Jada progress, here you go!

Food: Jada pretty much eats anything at this point. We're going to start a little more dairy into her diet as she's all mommy-milk. She eats all types of fruit, food, has had some apple juice courtesy of Jorge, and she's probably had some donuts-- courtesy of Lolo (he's in big trouble).

Fun: In her little lifetime, she's been to Arizona, New York (twice), Pennsylvania, and all over MA.

Facts: Jada loves to sing the Ariel song from Little Mermaid. She can do "close-open" and "clap", and she responds remarkably well when you tell her "Jada, no!" She's all about the rules, baby! (takes after Mommy)

Frolicking: She is a crawling machine! Jada could win the Indy 500 of baby crawling. She also likes to stand up while holding onto something, and she's getting very daring with letting go. She holds her hands up high and can stand for about 5-6 seconds, and when she falls, she screams in delight!

Function: Jada loves her Fisher Price Laptop. I dare say she is obsessed with it. She can download email, make a tune, and do all sorts of typing. She also loves to dance, but she does the "Cabbage Patch". It's hilarious. Jada also loves to wiggle her toes when she dances.

Face: Lots of teeth. Let's see.. let me count.. 2 on the bottom and it looks like 4 on the top. Her hair is curiously straight though.

Friends: Basically, her cousins. She loves her cousin Mia and I think she really misses Gavietron.

Talking (fine, I ran out of "f's"): She babbles. Says Mama and Daddad, and Lola swears she's said "Lola" uh-huh.

Doctors: Jadie is now 18.9 pounds! Wish us luck as she has an EUA tomorrow....

We had so much fun in NYC this week! I was there on business, but Jorge, Joli, Jada and Grace came along, too, to hang out. The girls rode on their very first subway (even though Joli is, technically, a native New Yorker!) and Joli even rode in her first cab ride! It was absolutely freezing in NY, but both girls were just the best! Jorge took the girls (along with Pops) to the Museum of Natural History and Joli "was losing her mind" as Jorge says when she saw the giant whale and the dinosaurs. The girls ate in Times Square, went to the gigantic Toys R Us, American Girl Place, went to the M&M store and the Hershey Store. Jorge and Grace also very bravely brought them to an antique store!

Joli, Jada and Jorge rode this subway to visit Grammy, Pops and Ped!

Joli also got to ride the ferris wheel with Tita Grace at Toys R Us! She loved it! She also went to the American Girl store and bought her little sister her very own baby doll.
Despite the freezing cold weather, we all had a great time and can't wait to go back again next year!
*See, Mari... Jada is completely bundled up. Note the 2 jackets and fluffy hat.... now, stop freaking out!