DC With Courtney: More Monuments

On the way back from Lincoln, Rebekah wanted one more look at the Washington monument.  

And mama wanted one last picture of Rebekah with the Washington monument.

We made our way back briefly pausing at some of the monuments.  

Vietnam

Korea

The new Martin Luther King

And there's my favorite - a water view with the Jefferson monument in the background

Then we passed by Franklin D. Roosevelt 

1933 - 1945

Something for everyone.  Water for mama 

And a doggie for Reka

She wanted up close and personal

Reka helped with the stroller again

More FDR

Eleanor Roosevelt

(United States Delegate to United Nations)

More FDR

The man himself

There was a quote written in the wall behind this statue:

"Franklin's illness . . . gave him strength and courage he had not had before. He had to think out the fundamentals of living and learn the greatest of all lessons -- infinite patience and never-ending persistence." Eleanor Roosevelt

What a great insight!

These great men who served our country - the trials they went through - the trials our country went through - all the wars and the men and women lost in them.... I am glad there is a place like this that serves as a visual reminder.  I loved the mall!  Could have stayed there all day.  Outdoors, check.  History, check.  Good friend, check.  However, I had little Reka to think about and she needed some food and a nap.  So we drove back to Courtney's and had a sandwich and grapes and then settled down for a nice nap.

When Reka got up, Courtney and Rebekah played cars.

Then Courtney introduced dominos to Rebekah.  

They became instant friends.

One more DC day to come!

DC with Courtney: Jefferson, Washington, and Lincoln

Since we were leaving New York soon, It was suggested I do a DC trip with Courtney.  Not sure who suggested it.  Think Courtney brought it up and I thought it was a good idea and Don supported it.  So, early Saturday morning Rebekah and I flew out.  We left from the Islip airport, which I highly recommend.  People were so nice and helpful!

We got to DC and met Courtney.  Yay Courtney!  She took us back to her place and made us breakfast.  Yay breakfast!  After breakfast we went back to the city.  Rebekah fell asleep so I got the driving tour.

Tired baby

While she slept I saw the capitol, the white house, a lot of the mall, and other such.  After the tour, Courtney drove to the Jefferson monument and stayed with Rebekah while I ventured up. 

View from the front

From the Jefferson monument you could see a beautiful view of the Washington monument. 

I was not prepared for what I saw.  There was a feeling of total reverence.  I was overwhelmed with respect for this man and the importance of what he and the other revolutionary giants accomplished.  It was truly a spiritual experience.  

Jefferson

As I walked back to the car I realized that I was so intrigued with where I was that I wasn't really paying attention to where I was going.  I wondered if I could make it back with my extremely poor sense of direction without calling Courtney.  I did.  Yay me!  We drove through the mall and found an amazing parking space.  Courtney did an incredible job with the parallel parking.  I fed Reka a quick snack and we were off.

Courtney took the reigns

We walked through the mall sharing great conversation and only glimpsing some of the monuments for we had one man in mind....

Lincoln

(Or "Linc" as Courtney calls him.... but she spends more time with him than I do.) 

We took pictures

A well-meaning man offered to take our group picture

but forgot that Lincoln was part of our group...

I got one of me and Reka 

One of Reka 

(who was quite confident in her independence)

After Lincoln we walked around the monument and enjoyed the views.

(I'm actually not sure if this is one of the views or not, 

but it is a view from somewhere so I'll put it here.)

Rebekah helped push the stroller

A mama / daughter pic outside of Lincoln

I enjoyed every minute!  Good conversation with a great friend, Rebekah was a trooper, the utter awesomeness of these monuments, the history.... It was an amazing start to a wonderful trip!

More to come!

14 Months

14 Months Old

Outfit complements of Grandma Walker

Rebekah has all her molars.  Yay!  That was some tough teething.  

She loves cars and has found all her dad's hot wheels.  We race them down the hallway and she giggles.  She is beginning to put together those chunky shape puzzles.  She still doesn't see why she has to put the shape through the shape hole in the lid when she can take the lid off and put the shape in the container.  She loves loves LOVES her blankie and carries it all around the house with her.  Did you spot it in the picture?  She loves to burry her face in it and walk around the house blind.  It's kind of cute to watch, until she runs into something like a wall.... 

She loves all things electronic.  Just say the word ipad and she'll squeal with delight.  She loves the little bedtime shows we watch at night.

She loves her books.  Miss Debbie (next door neighbor who we will miss tremendously) got her two picture books.  They were here when we got home from DC and she can't get enough of them!

She loves bananas and banana bread.  She is willing to try any and all food and eats anything that I eat.  She has spit out some green beans and still has a hard time with potatoes but other than that she eats and eats and loves food.

Still no real words yet.  Although every so often she will say something that sounds like a word....  She understands a lot and can point to her dad, mama, cowboy bear, etc.

She loves to cuddle and is very kissable, hugable, and snuggleable.  We love our little girl.

We do wish she would sleep a little longer though.... :D

Utah: 26th and Heading Back

The next day we met Kayla and Josh for breakfast at IHOP.  Then we came back to uncle Daniel's to chat.

Kayla and Josh 

looked very comfortable

While they talked I played with Sam and Abby.  

I showed Sam my phone

Mama wanted one more picture of us together

The next day we packed up to go.  

Here's me and that dad in the airport security line

The flight was long.  There were snacks and tv and naps involved but it was long and I was done with the whole traveling thing.  Then we had a long drive home.  We finally made it and mama fed me and bathed me and watched a show with me and then tried to get me to bed.  Silly mama.  Finally that dad sent mama to bed and we stayed up and played until 1 am.  Then that dad decided I was tired.  He must of been right because I only screamed for a few minutes before falling asleep.  

All in all, it was a great trip.  Thanks Stirland family!

Utah: Christmas Day

It's Christmas Day!  

What should I wear?  

Wait.... I'm already dressed. 

Then we went over to uncle JoJo's house.  

They gave me Giraffe!

Then we came back to uncle Daniel's and I played with blankie

We watched grandma singing

Then I played with tupperware

Aunt Shelly and Aunt Jamie chatted

Uncle Michael and Aunt AmySue

I got bored with the tupperware so I looked in explored other drawers

Aunt Jamie and Kaitlynn bonded

Me

Looking cute as always

Then it was picture time!  

First the original W.R. Stirland family

We call this one "the train"

Then we got ready for the big family picture

It took a while to get everyone together

Getting closer

Say Cheese!

Uncle JoJo checking to see if the picture took

Uncle JoJo realizing the camera is taking another picture

And another

Yet another

another

Perfection!

We talked and ate and played.  Then all the in-law's and cousins went downstairs to watch a show while the original WRStirland family members sat around and recorded memories of grandpa Stirland.  More on that later.   

It was a wonderful Christmas Day!