First Mother's Day

Mother's day Eve was a great day.  I got to spend the whole day with my dearest Don.  After so many business trips and illnesses, etc and so on, it was nice to have a day with him.  Don helped clean the house (which after being sick all week was REALLY nice to have done).  Then he decided he and little Reka WillaMay would take a trip to the store and leave me alone in a nice clean house to read a book.  NICE.  

After going to bed relatively early, I woke up around 1 am - couldn't sleep.  I went out in the living room to read and I found this:  

Don knows me very well.  Both cards were great.  I loved the orange flowers (and will do my best to keep them alive) and of course, my favorite chocolates.  Yay!  Three cheers for my sweet husband and dearest friend, who is constantly supporting me and calming my doubts and insecurities.  I am truly blessed to have him.  

And of course, my little one.  Here's Rebekah WillaMay Walker in all her glory.  The one that makes this whole Mother's day thing possible.  (The beautiful dress is made possible by a dear friend Pam Morgan.)  

I suppose I should say something overly sappy on my feelings about being a mother.  Those who know me best know I feel very inadequate.  But God did allow me this calling and I am determined to do my best to introduce her to this thing called life.  She is such a sweet little girl.  We are blessed to have her on Team Walker.

Daddy's Intro to Parks

While we were in Texas, daddy introduced me to the park.  

The swings...

Umm.... mama.... a little help please...?

The slide....

The green turtle thing...

A bigger slide....

I love my dad.

He even tried to introduce me to McDonalds... but mama said "NO!"

The merry-go-round....

The pull up bars...

A fun day at the park.  Thanks dad!

Cousins!

Over the next two weeks (and after a good night sleep)... 

I met my cousin Oliver....   

Aunt Shreann helped me try on some hats...

I had play time with cousin Lily...

They had this really fun jumper - mama says cousin Abby and Sam used it when they were little too!  Mama thinks every Stirland grandchild so far has played with it!   Yay for tradition!

Snuggle time with my Aunt Shreann...

Here's my uncle Spencer from the back....

Uncle Spencer from the front...

Play time with cousin Claire...

A trip to the store with cousin Claire (Aunt Shreann and Mama came too).

Eating the blocks...

A walk with Cousin Claire... (how come SHE gets crackers...?)

Nap time with Daddy....

It was so much fun and Reka will miss her playmates.  Thanks for having us!

Spencer and Lily took us to the airport.  Here we are, outside the airport doors, headed on our way home to New York. 

The first flight was great.  People were so nice.  Then we had a layover in North Carolina.  The plane was delayed.   It was late in the day and Reka was done.  It made for a very rough flight.  But we met a nice woman who helped us with our bags until we met daddy at baggage claim.  Reka also made a friend with the man in the seat next to us.  He was a big buff foreign guy with a team shirt (I think it was polo) on.  It had a big 6 on the shoulder that Reka was fascinated with.  She kept trying to reach out and touch it.  The guy started out by trying to ignore her, but Reka's smile (and my inability to control my daughter's flailing arms) won him over and he leaned over and let Reka touch the number.  Made her day.  Yay for friendly people!

We met Daddy at baggage claim and he gave us a big hug and kiss.  It was nice to be together again. 

Sunday Afternoon

We got to Spencer's house about 1 or 2 am.  Long day.  Spencer's little girl Claire happened to be up to greet us.  We talked a little then all went to bed  Rebekah woke up a few hours later and was ready to go - or so she thought.  She was GRUMPY.  We went to church but Reka was having none of that.  So, after we took a little drive.  Reka slept and slept and slept.  We finally ended up at this beautiful park by Baylor University (beautiful campus, by the way.)

We found a place on the grass and daddy fed her a bottle.

Although I was extremely tired and knew I didn't look my best, I wanted in on the action.  So, Don and took the camera and helped out.

Then we walked by the river.

A beautiful day.  I loved spending relaxing time as a family.  We need to do it more often.  

Next post:  COUSINS!

A Trip to Texas

Last month Don had several business trips over the space of two weeks.  Not wanting me to be alone, he suggested I take this opportunity to go see family.  His business trips started out in Texas, so I decided to visit my little brother Spencer and his family - aka the Texas Stirland's.  Which meant a plane trip.  A long plane trip.  Followed a long car ride.  A big day for the little one.  Rebekah rested up so she would be ready:

Then she helped me pack.

When we got to the airport, she entertained herself with daddy's hat.

Daddy helped her try it on...

Next Stop, Texas!

My Brother Michael

One never knows what my little brother Michael will do next.  Here is his latest.  

He sent this to everyone in the Stirland family.  Mom couldn't find Joseph.  (I suppose it may have been the green Michael added to his face to keep in character.)  Daniel wanted to know why Spencer got the long flowing locks... Spencer commented that it was because he lost all his hair first.... Not sure how Joseph feels about being the hulk.  Maybe it's a little Freudian thing about how Michael really feels about being picked on while growing up....?  

Anyway, I love my "family avengers" as Michael named it.

Update:  

I received the following email from Michael:

So here is the latest in the Family Avenger's saga:

 

I called Joseph to find out when and where I should come to Salt Lake tomorrow and we had the following conversation:

 

Joseph: Why did you make me the hulk?

Michael: Come on, the hulk is cool!

Joseph: You are making me angry, you won't like me when I'm angry.

 

You see, I knew he would make a great Hulk.  And of course he was kidding with me... I think...

6th Month

5 Months Old!

22 Weeks

23 Weeks

24 Weeks

25 Weeks

A lot of fun interaction things happened this month.  For example, she has a little stuffed star on her exersaucer.  I sing twinkle little star when she plays with it.  One day I ended up singing the song and she looked at me and looked at the star and reached out and touched the star.  I got teary eyed and everything.

Rebekah started eating solids.  She loves cereal (which I mix with prunes to off set the soy formula).  She also loves squash.  She also loves anything you are eating and will stare you down while you eat it.

I find I have grown as a person in this mother role.  Rebekah threw up all over me and instead of thinking "ah man!" I thought, "my poor little girl..." - she got her first cold and she ended up wiping her nose on my shoulder and instead of cringing in disgust... well you get the picture.

She is sitting up quite well.  She is starting to interact more with people - her daddy thinks she is flirting with the boys already.... She loves to smile.

Oh, and she has a tooth!  

I forgot to mention that I gave Rebekah her first hair cut - between week 23 and 24.  Not the best, but she had this 80's waver look going, so I tried....  To comfort me, Don says she's 5 months and it will grow back... :D