Aveline pokes the imperfections in the sidewalk as she walks. Every.single.one.
Well, walks are really more like runs. Runs-and-pokes. So, the more accurate way to say it is that she sprints, screeches to halt, and spins around at lightning speed to inspect the little pokable hole.
All this happens with a lot of squealing, and a steady stream of Aveline-words, many of which start with “z” and sound very French.
After a rain, it’s even more exciting. There are dozens of dime-sized (and smaller!) dimples in the sidewalk, each filled with warm rainwater, each just the right size for a one-year-old index finger.
Walks take a long, long time.
I like this growing-up thing that she’s doing. I like it a lot. I can make her a sunbutter and jelly sandwich, cut it in half, and hand it to her. She can eat goldfish–well, goldsharks–while we run errands. And when I change her clothes, she stands up and holds on to my arms, points her tiny toes, and tries to stick her feet into the leg of her pants. They usually end up in the wrong leg, but still. She tries.
These are good, growing-up changes.
Even when she tries to put a potato chip in the outlet.
Even when she suspects we are about to leave the house, and frantically empties two whole dresser drawers in search of her shoes.
Even when she licks the sidewalk.
Even when she, concerned about the state of her diaper, yells “dirty, dirty, dirty” loudly in the grocery store.
(The other words in) her little vocabulary delight me. Dance. Songs! Socks. Seeee?? Puppy. Seeeeeee? Poppity. See?
And every time she says “seeee?” in her girlish voice, I get a little peek of what the the world looks like through her eyes.
She’s helping me experience childhood again. She’s helping me see that there is something to squeal about in ant-sized puddles, in the extra jelly on the side of her sandwich, in the way the wind lifts up and tosses back her hair.
Thank you Lord, for helping me to see your beautiful world like a child again.
The Oaxacaborn Blog 
Beautiful post. When I read it, it reminded me of D’arcy. She doesn’t poke things, but has to touch just about every drain/man hole cover we walk past. Again walking takes forever. But I have all the time I need.
I swear Aveline gets more and more prettier each time I see a photograph of her. xx
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Lovely. Aveline looks so happy! Hold on to every second of those delightful moments. They speed by. xo
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I love it! So cute! She sounds like such a joy to be around. I love the frantically empties her drawers in search of her shoes – Eli does that! And the diaper, hilarious!!
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Loved this! Yes children are such a blessing. They find happiness in the simplest things and teach us to sloooow down and appreciate life. She is the cutest little girl :)
-Whitney
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I loved this. It’s so beautiful to be able to find joy in the simplest of things. Having said that, you obviously have the patience of a saint! ;) x
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I found you on Appellation Mountain and just wanted to give a shoutout to you from another Aveline-mama. I named my second DD Aveline too. Sweet babies!
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