Kitchen Update

Like any good remodeling project, we have had some changes in the plans along the way. We made some good progress this weekend. Check out the new upper cabinets and microwave. We will put crown molding around the top, once all of the upper cabinets are done. Once we get the new fridge, we are going to put a cabinet on top of it as well.

We got the wall knocked out between the kitchen and dining room and most of the sheet rock is up. All and all, great progress! Off to fill those shelves...

We're Back!

We had a great time on our trip! Daddy took over 450 pictures and trying to pick a choice few to sum up our vacation is tough. Here is a good starting point...

my new boyfriend...Uncle A

my new best friend...Auntie T

me and my Great - my namesake

a pony ride at Great Aunt J's...cousin J let me ride on his pony with him...I was a natural - I love horses and petted many of them

Gold Rush has a soft nose

blowing bubbles with Nana and later on the swings

a morning out with fellow APs...thank you, Kristen & Mark for Marsupalami - I love his tail - xxxooo to sweet Bailey

D U C K S ! ! !

Yes...that is my finger in his mouth!

bundled up with Aunt T by the fire...I was pretty tired but was happy to cuddle until bedtime

Tractor rides with Uncle A...I got to wear one of his camo hats!

Yep...that's me steering and raising the bucket! Uncle A taught me how to drive and say "tractor".

Another new word: airplane.......I love flying - I don't know what is better...opening and closing the window shade or the warm chocolate chip cookies they serve on Midwest!

All this and a baptism party for my new friends - E&K, a wedding reception, my first fish fry, playing at one of Mommy's oldest friends house, pizza from a local pizza place using my Great Great Grandma's recipe and a visit to Great Aunt P & Great Uncle D's house.

Woo...we're going to sleep well tonight.

My First Father's Day

That's right...this post is from Daddy!!!!!!

First of all, Happy Father's Day to all you daddy's out there. I hope you had as much fun today with your kids as I did with my sweet little Bella.

We hit the local playground in the morning for sandcastles, swinging, and sliding. We had the playground all to ourselves and Bella had a blast knocking down all of daddy's sandcastles!

After lunch we were off to a local museum where we saw lots of butterflies, several farm animals, and even 3 bears!

We polished it all off with a great dinner and ice cream! All in all it was an amazing day. I got to spend basically every waking moment with Bella (including a lot of one-on-one time) and it was fantastic. She is such a wonderful little girl and everyday she seems to do something totally new to make me laugh, and something new that makes me say "WOW!".

Bella, I know you're not old enough to read yet baby, but thank you for a great day. Daddy loves you more than you'll ever realize. I am truly the luckiest man on the planet to be your daddy.

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to my baby's daddy! Eight plus years ago, I met this guy and one of my first initial thoughts about him was that he would be a great dad. I can't explain what it was exactly, I just knew it. As usual, I was right! (ha ha ha....) If I do nothing else right by my sweet Bella and someday, little sis Ruby, I picked out the very best daddy for them. LYT

We had a great weekend with Daddy! After a trip to the playground this morning, we went the the museum this afternoon to see the animals and the butterflies. We got ice cream after dinner...mmm, chocolate.

Another pool shot...this time with the sprinkler on...

Long Time No Post

Ugh - we just realized it has been awhile since we have posted any pics of the beloved Miss B. We pulled the camera out tonight to see what was on it. A little of this and that...

Waving to Doggie Brother & Sister outside - Na & Jorjo

Happy Baby

See the drool down the front of her shirt? Bella has worked hard all week on tooth #8. We think we're getting towards the end of this one. It has been a tough week for our sweetheart. Regardless, we still are too darn cute for words.

We had our first parent teacher conference, well at least the first time being on the parent side of it. Bella's "report card" showed all great marks and she is well on her way to being ready to move to the toddler room at the end of summer. Her favorite parts of preschool other than being with her friends is splash day and Spanish Thursdays. Water, go figure...

Six Month Anniversary

Can you believe it has been six months since we became a family? Time flies. Bella and Mommy had a quiet day at home together and Bella had her first haircut today. Can you tell?

Our hairdresser tried to break it to her gently that only time was going to help this duo. She trimmed the back and sides but the flyaway look is here to stay. When you're this gorgeous, crazy hair only adds to your character!

Bella & Victoria

Victoria (and parents) came over for a cookout tonight.

We had a great time in my new froggy pool!

It is interesting to watch our daughter with other children. Bella is becoming a little girl (vs. a baby) more and more each day. You can really see this come out when you see her with a little friend. She has a really fun personality and really enjoys hanging out with her friends.

Potty Training Book Suggestions

In the last couple of weeks, Bella has started telling us when she poos or pees. We can typically tell when she poos and so we will ask her and if she has, she tells us. We check and sure enough, she is right. We have done some reading on potty training because she seems a little young to be tuned into this. From what we have read, for her to start showing interest in the next few months is normal. Of course, we want to encourage this and we would like to get some books as well as her first potty so she can start learning more about it over the next few months.

What we have read so far talks about mimicking things that they see. Of course, being at home with B more than Daddy, she gets the opportunity to watch Mommy more times than I can to share. She now has to get her own toilet paper and she understands where the TP has to end up. Some days, she about pushes me out of the way so she can toss her tissue into the toilet whether I am ready or not. She then begs to have her hands washed, so she is getting the "process".

If anyone has any good potty books they can recommend, we would love to hear some suggestions.