Carving Pumpkin

Still being new to this family thing I am determined to make a few family traditions.  So far I have Easter Morning Sweet Rolls, a family picture every Christmas season, and... Pumpkin Carving.  (Not much for three years of marriage, so yes it definitely is a work in progress.  I hope to have a few more accumulated in the next few years.  If you have any suggestions please let me know.)  But back to Carving Pumpkin:

It is very rare that Don lets me hold a knife, so he did the actual carving

Rebekah wanted to see what's inside

Don was less excited about this

But I say, "you cut it, you clean it." :D

Did that really come out of there....?

I thought I would make cooking pumpkin seeds a part of this tradition, 

but no one liked the finished product. 

All this carving made Reka thirsty

so she helped herself to mama's water bottle

Then a face was decided upon

Don seems happy with his progress

The finished product

Tune in next year, and the year after that, and the one after that.  

Since I have decided this as a tradition, Don is going to be getting a lot of practice.  

Yay for family traditions!

Super Reka!

A few weeks ago while we were at Walmart, Rebekah spotted a huge tub of rubber duckies.  There were pink ducks with flowers, blue with diamonds or butterflies, and so many pretty ones to choose from.  There was one blue duck with a red cape.  Out of all her options, asked for the blue one.  She stared at it and turned it around in her hands.  I must have commented that it was Super Duck.  That's the one she wanted.  We brought it home and she very lovingly refers to it as Super Duck.  

A few days ago I noticed Rebekah running around with her blankie.  This prompted the following video:

I feel much more safe knowing she has my back.

23

23 Months Old

She is less and less like a toddler and more like a little girl each day.  Although she does love the "boy" toys more - cars, trucks, balls, basketball hoops and such, she is starting to play pretend with little dolls and stuffed animals.  She loves necklaces and bracelets - usually she is wearing said necklaces and bracelets when she is shooting "b-ball hoops." 

Words words and more words.  My little girl is talking up a storm!  I am surprised at how many words she knows and can uses.  Me understanding them takes a few minutes but she is saying them.  

She loves to "run run run" and "round and round" (I much less prefer the round and round as I am getting easily dizzy in my old age).  She is so active.  I guess that's all part of being a toddler.  

She has been introduced to more TV than I would like.  It use to be Blues Clues with the occasional Curious George (thanks to the introduction while I was sick in Utah). The other day she informed me she wanted to watch a "Dohna" which come to find out was "Dora."  Not my favorite kids show (I think the show yells at the TV watcher WAY too much.  "SAY BACKPACK, SAY BACKPACK! LOUDER!!!!" etc...) but she loves it.  She sings the songs, does the dances and even says "oh man!" like Swiper the Fox. 

Me?  I have decided I need to watch my own habits and become a better person, both physically and spiritually.  That's what having a beautiful little girl does to you.  The other day I was at the kitchen table. I spilled something and said, "Oh shoot." Reka repeated me in less than 2 seconds.  I notice that happens a lot.  For example:  "DON!" is her new way of getting dada's attention.  "How about..." my way of giving her options is now her way of giving the adults options" and my all time favorite: she is singing the song I sing to her when I change her diaper.  She is singing it loud and at often inappropriate times - like during sacrament meeting....  So nothing BAD has happened really but I must  use my powers for good.  I also worry about the way I eat and want to pass on good and healthy habits to my little girl. That and I want to be able to keep up with her.  :D So I've been working on that the past few months too.

So, yes, daughter and mama are progressing just fine.   

Happy 23 Months!  

We love you more than we can say!

Pumpkin

A few weeks ago Rebekah spied some pumpkins outside of the local grocery store.  She wanted one.  

She tried to take matters in her own hands.  

Literally.

But she couldn't quite heft the said pumpkin. 

A few days ago while on a walk, Rebekah informed me that she wanted a pumpkin and grandma was the one who was going to get it for her.  After we returned home I informed grandma of Reka's desires.  It was decided then and there that we would visit a pumpkin patch.  

To prepare for this trip I asked Rebekah if she wanted a BIG pumpkin or a LITTLE pumpkin.  She said "little."  I expected that to change, but she knows her own mind.  When the day came she went straight for the little stack. 

Sifting through

She found one she liked

So many pumpkins

So little time

Look at that one over there!

But this is the one she liked the best.

We found another pumpkin patch on the way back home

Complete with rocking chairs - one for mama and one for Reka

This time Reka went for a gourd 

And although she found lots of little pumpkins to admire

the gourd was never too far out of view 

A pumpkin and a gourd: 

all a little girl needs for happiness.  

Post Now, Ask Forgiveness Later...

Told Don this was just for me but how cute is this?