She Shoots....

Rebekah loves a ball.  She loves watching basketball.  When I take her to the park she will sit and watch - with great interest - whoever is playing basketball.  After whoever was playing leaves she will take her ball and go to the basket and lift the ball over her head as if formulating a plan to eventually shoot.  It was really only a matter of time until she tried it herself.  So, with a little help from "Little Tikes" and a very willing pocketbook, I give you....

Rebekah's offical first shot

Her father is very proud.  :D

Dancing

I like to Dance.  It makes me happy.  

Here's me dancing with that Dad.  I had lots of fun.

Then mama brought out the camera.

SIGH.

I dance with mama too.  We had lots of fun

Then mama brought out the kisses....

SIGH.  That mama.... 

Proof

For all those who have tried to love on or hold Rebekah and have been refused by her mighty protests, here is proof that with patience, love, gentle caring, and a lot more patience it is possible:

It is possible!

Yay for Grandma Walker!

17

17 months old!

It's my 17th month old birthday?!

Yay ME!

I bet you are wondering what I have accomplished this month....

Four new teeth have come in - see!  LOOK!

And now, I'll turn the blog back over to mama.

Yes, another month has come and gone.  This month she learned how to say a word.  "No."  But it's not a bratty no (not yet at least) it's a cute little sing-songy "nooooo."  Very cute.  I'm not sure she understands totally when to use it, but it's a word and she gets it right most of the time.  

She has started climbing on everything and anything.  So far she has not hurt anything.  

Reka loves balls.  Throwing, rolling, collecting, etc.  She loves going to the park and watching the local basketball players.  

She loves to be outside.  

She loves to eat whatever her parents are eating and do whatever her parents are doing. 

She is extremely active, which means I get very little done when she is awake.  I'm still trying to adapt to that.  (And yes that's why this blog post, which should have been posted on the 4th is posted at 11:PM on the 20th....)  But she does slow down just enough to give snuggles to all of us.  Then she is off again to discover the world!

Easter Egg Hunt

The week after Easter there was an Easter Egg Hunt at the campground Don has been working.  It was Reka's first.  We were prepared with a nice Easter basket, provided by grandma Walker.

When the lady in charge said "GO" kids scattered everywhere!  Reka was the youngest, and I was afraid she wouldn't be able to get any.  So we adults did what we could to intervene.  Frank even ventured under a tree to grab a few out of reach eggs for Reka, however as soon as he put the eggs back down for Reka to see another kid ran in front and grabbed them.  Very sad.  

Showing her what she was looking for

She got the hang of it pretty quickly

(her model pose)

She soon learned that the eggs made noise when you shook them

She didn't want to put them in the basket anymore

Her stash

Afterwards, we played at the playground.

She loves a good slide.

A fun day at the campgrounds!

A Saturday at the Park

Ever have one of those weeks where everything that can possibly go wrong does?  You feel like you somehow offended someone and Karma is coming back to eat you alive?  Or maybe someone has a voodoo doll with your face on it?  Yes, that was me.  Saturday the final straw fell and I needed a break.  Enter my dearest friend, my champion, my eternal love Don.

He stopped working on his homework (he's taking 5 masters classes this semester - not to mention working two different jobs) and told me we were taking a drive.  We ended up at Falls Creek Park.  

I didn't have time (or the mental capacity at that point) to think about bringing my camera, so my cell phone would have to do.

Don and Reka watching ducks

Reka still cannot resist a good stick

Having a daddy / daughter moment

Exploring the new terrain

Nothing like a good park!

We ended up making our way to the playground where Reka discovered a toddler friendly slide / climber / activity gym.  Then she discovered the swings.  She had so much fun.  And I had a nice stress releasing afternoon as well.  Thanks so much to my dearest Don for coming to my rescue.

One of My Favorite Things

Ah, Pendleton Library.  How can I ever tell you how much you have meant to me and my little girl?

Rebekah loves going to the library.  They have a great children's area complete with a playroom.  

I love their board book collection - that it isn't really organized so it matters very little if Reka takes a book off the shelf and puts it somewhere else.  (I know, who would have thought I would have been okay with something unorganized? But with my little toddler it is heaven!) I also love that we can check out new material!  I love that Reka loves books as much as I do!

They have a reading program for kids from birth to age 3.  We went there one week and Reka was enthralled!  The next time we went to the library she went directly to that room (which was locked of course).  I was stunned that she remembered where it was!  We went to look at books and she would occasionally go back to the room and point to it wanting to go in.  I kept explaining that Miss Peggy (the reading time leader) wasn't there today.  However, she was in the back and must have saw me with Reka.  She came out to talk to us.  Yes, she stopped what she was doing and came out for my little girl!  

They did a reading program this month - Banana's for Books.  10 books a week earns you a prize.  No problem there!  

The prize for completing 40 books was getting to choose your own book to take home.  

They also have a fun train set that Rebekah loves to play with.

And craft time

So fun to have a something like this available to us!  

Snow!

I recently asked my mom-in-law what the weather was like in Indiana - would we be seeing spring soon or does it stay cold for a few more months?  She mentioned we usually get one more big snow storm in March.  Boy was she right!

I finally got to put the boots on her!  

She loved to make tracks

My little girl

But she didn't last long.  She wanted to go inside.  It was cold but more importantly the boots hurt her feet.  She was crying when I took her in.  I notice when I took the socks off she had a little blister where the boot rubbed her little foot.  Needless to say we are not wearing those again.  But it also brought to my attention that she needed new shoes.  She's grown about three inches since we got her shoes.  She is now a size 6.  

Flash back...

Her first pair of shoes.  

 I remember buying them, putting them on her, and setting her out in the middle of the lawn.  She was so confused but once she learned she could walk with the shoes on and go anywhere she wanted, there was no stopping her! 

The world was hers to explore!

Ah, memories....

But back to the snow.

The next day we ventured out again and I couldn't resist the footprint shot.  

Yes, I do notice that Reka's foot is already over half the size of my foot.  

She's gaining on me! 

Easter

Happy Easter Everyone!

I got a new dress compliments of Grandma Walker.  Thanks Grandma!

Grandma Walker also had a wonderful Easter basket for me!

I loved it!

Complete with Animal Crackers, eggs with money inside, 

a new ball, a pink bunny, and a pretty spring outfit!

Then I had a nap while mama and that dad had a nice quiet Easter dinner with Grandma and Frank. 

What a great Easter day!