The Simple Things in Life

Nothing new and exciting around here...Bella had swim lessons again this weekend and loved every second. Daddy continues to work on our beautiful new kitchen while Mommy keeps the house going. Maxie & Jordan hold down the floor and let their little sister sit on them and point out their noses, eyes, ears and mouth.

Bella's vocabulary is exploding. She says at least 1-2 new words a day and repeats a lot of what we are saying. Between colors, body parts, family, friends, toys, characters, food and many other random objects (airplane, truck, ball, pool, book, etc.), we are guessing at least 75-80 words. At this age, children should be at at least a dozen words, so we think she's alright in that department. After all, one of her parents got a comment on their kindergarten report card that said something along the lines of "...likes to talk a lot during class", so she may be inheriting the gift of gab.

She has a couple of phrases, including "I stuck" and "no, mine". She is getting better with identifying her colors and is up to about 20 signs. We slowly sing through the alphabet and she can repeat every letter. You have heard her many animal noises and her body part identification. Her self help skills are really coming along and she enjoys putting things in the trash and recycling, putting dishes in the dishwasher and will pick up toys after she is done playing. She likes to get out her own diaper and put her clothes away. She is working on dressing herself and tries to dress her dolls.

A few random pictures from our weekend...

chalk is always a good time...even for Mommy & Daddy

Even Daddy is an artist with the sidewalk chalk...

Step any closer and I'll turn the hose on myself....

Bell - your kids are going to enjoy these pics someday!

My First Swim Lesson

Today was my first day of swim lessons, and oh boy did I have fun!

Just as soon as we walked into the pool area, I immediately started saying "Water!", and then I took Daddy by the hand and lead him to the water.

Daddy held me as we made our way to the deep end...the 4-foot area.

Our instructor lead us in a few songs, and we splashed and played. I went under water 3 times, and I even got to jump from the side into Daddy's waiting arms. That last part was my favorite because everytime I hit the water I immediately said "Back!" so Daddy would set me on the side so I could jump again.

More lessons next weekend! Look out Dara Torres! If you're still swimming when the 2024 Olympics roll around, you'll have me to contend with!

Daddy's Little Yankee

Grandma: Pick Grandpa off the floor...and/or take his car keys away

What? You got me this hat but you didn't get one for Ruby? You better get her one too.

Daddy made Mommy wear a hat like mine so he could have a picture of both of his Yankee girls.

GO YANKS!

Nana's Care Package

Nana sent Bella a care package this weekend. What do you send an animal lover, Dora fan and chief bubble blower? Animal crackers, a Dora dress for our Asian CPK and BUBBLES! Thank you, Nana....cookies are gone, the dress has been on and off a couple times and 1/3 of the bubbles have been blown about the neighborhood.

Daddy says I can make bedhead look cute!

I am really "getting into" baking lately...

Mommy says it takes a special person to make overalls look good.

Let's face it, I'd be cute in a paper bag.

Another Parent Lesson Learned the Hard Way

So...you pick up your gorgeous and brilliant daughter from preschool with a trunkload of groceries. Its July, so time is of the essence. Your husband is at work, so you are on your own in unloading the groceries with a 1 year old in tow. What to do? Give your gorgeous and brilliant daughter a bag to carry - certainly, she can carry the one with the bread and a bag of chips, right?

Okay - so you see where this is going?

She does a fantastic job. Her ladybug school bag is on her back, she's carrying a grocery bag into the garage like a champ. You load yourself up with as much as your arms can carry to minimize the number of trips you need to make, right? I go ahead of her and set down my groceries just inside the door hoping I can grab the next load while she's still making her way to the house. She gets to the house door and stands patiently on the stoop - grocery bag in hand, school bag still on her back, couldn't be cuter. I grab the next load and glance back at the garage to notice that she is now sitting on the grocery bag (bread and chips, remember).

Somehow, most of the bread survived.

Ahhh....the Mixer

Last weekend, I had Bella help me make waffles one morning. She "held" the mixer while it mixed. Tonight, she was reading a book with Daddy in the living room when I turned the mixer on. She jumped down yelling Mama Mama and ran into the kitchen. She wanted to help immediately. I sat her up on the cupboard and she was in heaven...(breathe...my hand was on her the whole time)

New shirt - courtesy of Grandma...thank you "meh ma"

Here it is, folks, in print - "...Bella is a super baby genius".....this was today's daily sheet from school. I tried to enlarge and crop but well, I'm not smart enough for that so you'll either have to take my word for it or click on it to make it bigger.

Happy Birthday, Auntie T!

This is our child who is short about 6 hours of sleep due to three new molars coming in...that doesn't stop her from being her adorable self (well, it did earlier for quite awhile, but we will pretend that there isn't a unhappy side to Miss B)...note she has a few new "tricks"...and we forgot to have her show you her new signs - sleep and cookie...she have been saying night night for months but she now signs cookie when she is referring to cookie monster...

Daddy and Bella got a sign language book for kids from the library last week and it amazing, but she will "read" through the book and just start doing some of the signs by watching the kids in the book doing them.

Yes, the dining room is still under construction, hence, the torn up walls.

Things You Cannot Explain to a 17 Month Old

(in no particular order)

1. When the contents of a bubble container gets dumped out on to the patio, you can't pick the bubbles back up and put them in the container

2. When you are teething and your Mommy or Daddy sticks their finger in your mouth to check to see if the tooth has broken through yet, you can't bite down with all of your might - they are not a human teething ring (one could say this is our own fault)

3. Why the dog isn't interested in wearing cotton candy pink crocs or ladybug boots

4. Asian dolls are not Dora no matter how loud you say Dora

5. Why you can't eat an entire container of blueberries, a whole pineapple or drink an endless supply of orange juice

6. Why it is easier to take 24 crayons out of the box than it is to put them back into the box

7. When you are practicing on your new hot pink potty chair, why you can't retrieve the toilet paper you have put into the (unused) bowl to wipe your nose (or mine) or to take it out and walk it bare bum over to the trash saying "trash" over and over

8. Why no one is interested (other than the dogs) in eating the Os (Cheerios) you have been holding in your slimey wet hand for the last 10 minutes, no matter how hard you shove into their mouth and say "eat" nor do we care to share your sippy cup with you

9. Why I can't retrieve the graham cracker you are eating while we are driving home from school when you drop it between the car seat and the passenger side rear door regardless of how many times you say "ah oh" "cracker"

10. Why dogs don't appreciate being snuck up on during an afternoon nap to have their tail pulled, their ears grabbed or to be straddled like a horse...apparantly they enjoy it because they have yet to complain to management

*Please note: This list is not inclusive!*

Happy Fourth of July

All American Girl

Bella had a great first fourth of July. Grandma and Grandpa came over and spent the day with us. We had an the great American cookout - burgers, dogs, baked beans, corn on the cob and a big salad. (okay, okay, chicken franks and turkey burgers - Mommy never gives up)

Country Girl Last Week...

...Cowgirl This Week

We've had these boots for at least two years. They are still a couple sizes too big, but girl loves her some shoes...

Daddy rarely gets to pick out our outfit for the day...boy, does he do a great job!

Whoa...when did I turn into a ladybug? Nana got me this for Halloween. I'm not too sure about it just yet...maybe I shouldn't try it on in the middle of summer?

I can't even comment on this one...it speaks for itself.