And Another Cell Phone Download

New glasses

A day at the park

Baby wants a pumpkin

Dada's hat has never looked so good

Ready to roll

Sharing ice cream

I'm 38

Yes, I too had a birthday this month.  38 years old.  I remember when my older brother turned 20 and I thought that was so old!  38 doesn't seem old now that it's staring me in the face. 

My mother sent me some birthday money and told me to spend it on myself. YAY!  So I bought a yoga dvd and I also see slippers in my future.  

My actual birthday was a good day.  Don went shopping.  I am amazed at how well he knows my taste.  I love the shirts, especially the flannel.  I have wanted a flannel shirt for so long and after looking long and hard for one that would fit me properly, Don does it for me in one afternoon.  Yay! 

My sweet husband also knows my chocolate tastes very well.

And my need for the occasional carrot cake

And his need to have something he will enjoy too....

I made a fancy dinner.  

Turned out pretty good!

The cards this year were fun: 

From Don

From Reka

Don said he didn't like the quality of the cards so he made up for it in quantity.  

Perhaps my best present was watching my sweet husband be a great dada to his little girl.  

I could watch that all day!

22

The 4th was the day we headed back from Utah.  Needless to say I forgot to take a picture on that day. 

Luckily I had this one on my cell. 

However, here is my little 22 month old baby!

(taken a few days later)

A side view

(She is so snuggle-able)

A "mama, you're still taking pictures?" view

A "I'm too busy playing dada's ipad for your silly pictures" view

I also had these pictures:

Love that she loves to read.

And finally, a picture with her animals.  Love her attitude face.

Language.  That's the big developement for this month.  She is talking so much and so well I cannot believe I was ever thinking about the possibility of her needing speech therapy.  Utah helped a bunch.  She practiced everyones names and got all the sounds down pat.  Not only does she talk but she can communicate much.  She is always listening - even when I think she is not.  She learns and reasons very well.  

I am also impressed by her physical skills.  She climbs steps and ladders and anything else she thinks is climbable.  She has no fear (slides in "flying position" are her new favorite). She watches other kids (who are much older) and figures if they can do it she can too.  (I think it's a size thing - she figures, "I'm as big as they are - I can do that too!") Although I admire the tenacity, I also fear the "toddler biting off more than she can chew."  I'm sure eventually I will let go but until then I am one step behind her. And 6 inches under her. :D  

Utah: The End & Heading Home

The next few days we hung around and played with family.  The following happened:

Sam entertained Rebekah with her new dog

Don snuggled Paige Mae

Rebekah played with Sam

While the rest of the Daniel Stirland family relaxed

Abby got in on the action

And Sam sacrificed his physical safety to keep Reka laughing

It was so fun seeing Sam and Abby play with Rebekah.  She got so close to them.  Usually she is so reserved and will cling to my leg but by the last night she actually ran up to Sam and tackled him!  I love the family love!

But all good things must come to an end and it was time to head back home to Indiana.  The first plane trip was nice.  So helpful to have Don along.  The second plane trip even better.  We had a wonderful flight attendant who, seeing Rebekah's size and her squirminess, found another seat for the poor lady sitting next to us.  We had the whole row!  And we needed it.  Rebekah finally fell asleep and slept through almost the entire flight.  

Took after landing in Indiana

The pilot came on and welcomed us home.  He even gave us an agricultural report mentioning the condition of corn and beans.  Got to love it!

Grandma was there waiting to pick us up.  

And thus ended our trip to Utah.  It was truly wonderful!  But it is also nice to be home.

Utah: Paige's Blessing

Sunday morning we made our way over to Eagle Mountain for the much anticipated blessing of Paige Mae Young.  It was truly an honor to be there.  I'm so glad Don got to participate in his first grandchild's blessing.  

After the long meeting was over (not that the actual meeting was long but keeping Reka entertained in a quiet fashion makes every meeting seem overly long) we went to the clubhouse and had an extended family party.  

At first Rebekah was sleepy and shy.

People wanted to play with her but she just wanted to sleep.  She even got a little weepy.  

Then we had some food and she perked up a little.  

Rebekah ventured out and found some friends to play with. 

Then we had a photo session.

Kayla, Paige Mae, and Josh - the happy parents

The proud grandpa

The proud father and silly aunt

The Don Walker family

The beautiful mom and daughter

Then we headed back to Daniel's.  

After a good nap there was much ball playing with Sam and dada

And much snuggling with dada

Utah: Return to Utah & Abby's Birthday

We drove back to Utah Saturday afternoon and went straight to Eagle Mountain to see Kayla and Josh, and more importantly Don's first grandchild.  Ironically, the only picture I got there was of Don and Rebekah.  But no worries, pictures of Paige to come.

Then we headed back to Daniel's house for another family dinner - but a special one:  it was Abby's birthday and we got to celebrate the day with her!  Rebekah picked up right where she left off: 

Outside with Sam and a ball

Dada was here this time and they lowered the hoop so Reka could shoot some hoops

She loved every minute of it

Then Don showed off his Hoosier abilities

Reka, a ball, and Sam. 

It was the unofficial theme of the trip.

Dada and Reka chillin'

A long story.  It included Daniel yelling from below, Shelly "accidently" spilling her water, followed by a different type of Daniel yelling from below...

Uncle JoJo saying howdy

Aunt Jamie ready to light the candles

And the birthday girl herself!  

Happy 12th!

Rebekah loved the singing and has since called every cake "happy cake"

After much play and much food there was much need for a bath

I ask you, how did she ever get to be so cute?