new breakdance move

ari's been working on this one for awhile...

ari montage short

here's a little something for the eyes, ears, and patience of only the hardcore ari fans. enjoy.

ari update

I have been quite neglectful over the past few months of the blogging world. My apologies to those who like to read up on Ari adventures.

So, I will do my best to update you with the latest in Ari world, including his infatuation with music, sounds, and imitating big people things. I seriously catch him singing into a wooden stick, as if it were a microphone. And when he sings, he gives it his all by scrunching his face as if he were in pain. All the while, his 'singing' is fairly quiet and melodic. Anywhere we go that has a small chair or table, he is fixated by and insists on using them. So, last weekend, I caved and bought him an IKEA table and chairs. He chooses to take his meals there now. We must ALWAYS greet animals, especially dogs. He refers to cats as 'mow.' He is a superb interpretive dancer - slowly takes his time to raise his one leg, in sync with his arms, and often forms his mouth into an 'o' shape, while his body sways from one direction to another. If he hears music or a beat that is not groove worthy, then he will instinctively begin throwing his arm out (fist or open-hand, it doesn't matter) to the beat. This is often accompanied by some head-nodding. Ari loves giving hugs from behind, especially if you're sitting. He also enjoys receiving hugs from behind. The past couple days, he's been saying "words" that sound like yellow. He just started to want to sit on his potty, although he has no clue what to do yet. He LOVES books and will ferociously sign 'book' over and over when he wants early literacy time. Pretty much, Ari could live outside forever and be happy. It is always sad when the door closes, especially if there is a dog outside to look at. And, we often must go water the garden - not because it needs it, but because Ari practically beats his face when signing 'water' because he wants so badly to hold the water hose. We have been canning and drying foods lately, so when Ari wants a dried pineapple or peach, he asks for 'num nums' (and i swear, i did not teach him that - he made it up himself). Ari laughs everytime he sees a picture of his friend, Pam. I guess she tells good jokes. One last tidbit, Ari recently made up a new sign for 'hold me' - it is really cute.

**Couple more things I forgot to mention: Ari makes a really great fish face, loves to say cheese, keys, and (oh) geez (thanks to Aunt Julie)!

So, that's Ari these days. I'll try to continue with adding posts on a more frequent basis. Oh, and click on the link below to view Ari's library of photos from this past summer!
Check out what Ari's been up to the past 4 months!

ari rocks out with his friends

ari is quite the musician - he's already formed a band. he often plays the egg shakers, kazoo, drums...basically, he is the rhythm-keeper.

this short clip was recorded at aiyana's going away party. aiyana has been one of ari's primary co-parents this past year. ari and aiyana even had a few slumber parties while i worked on big school projects and finals. ari and i never could have made it without her. aiyana is leaving for the summer and then moving to eugene for school. we are so sad and will miss her sooooo much!

ari visits alaska

ari turns ONE

ari celebrated his 1st birthday with lots of friends (mostly big people friends) and sushi! he loved playing in our backyard, with it's newly constructed fence, entertaining our friends and making killer sushi rolls. he did have a few little people over, including his book babies 'twin,' talulah! they humored all of us and sat for a photo shoot - they compliment each other's cuteness so well!

ari loves using instruments: spoons for eating, scoops for digging, chopsticks for banging on things to make music, etc. (note: all of these instruments are interchangeable and able to used for various purposes). so, it was no surprise that when given his portion of his birthday cake (in the shape of an 'A' for ari), he began using his #1 candle to dig into his cake and eat the icing and cake off of the candle.