Daddy's Favorite Outfit

*No little girl was hurt in the making of this photo 

in fact said little girl repeatedly begged for more

Daddy Love

Don's working long hours again - almost New York hours.  We miss him when he is not here.  When the missing him gets really bad, we raid his closet.  

Come home soon dada! 

We love you!

Skip To My Lou

From day one I would sing to Rebekah:  when she was crying, when she was taking a bath, when I was changing her diaper; in the car, store, park, whatever - you name it.  There was music.  

Somewhere around 4 or 5 months I started reading to Reka.  Not just showing pictures and such but actual words.  

Months ago I found these books at the library.  I don't think they were meant to be sung but hey! - two birds one stone.  And look at the result: 

I do love sing with my little girl.  Of course, it would be nice if she learned not to belt out the "change the diaper song" during church meetings.....

Random Bits of Wonderfullness

Going for a ride 

Mailing a birthday letter 

I think the sticker on her shirt is suppose to be a stamp (she misses cousins)

At the park: Reka giving me the day off 

Yoga: downward facing dog

Pumpkin muffins I made - Reka loves them

Taking doggie for a ride

At park: getting colder

Watching a show: she sure knows how to relax

A new dress from grandma

New pj's from nana

Snuggling in her "Temple Blankie" from Aunt Diane

How cute is this?

I asked her to look up for the camera

Mama and baby

Ready for rain

Yet another picture Reka took

Loving my ducky umbrella 

Playing "nap" with grandma

Playing with "Paul" 

New hat from nana

Reka taking care of her things - she hung the new hat up in our closet

Two Sum Up

Birth

6 Month

One Year

18 Months

2 Years

30 pounds (85th percentile), 36 inches tall (94th percentile)

An interview with Rebekah:

Me: What is your favorite thing to eat?

Rebekah: Bamboo (she has learned that Pandas eat bamboo and now think she needs to try it and is sure she will love it).

M: What is your favorite color?

R: Orange (she knows her mama's favorite color is orange and she adopted it.  Yes, I am flattered).

M: What is your favorite thing to play with?

R: Pink House (A pink Little People house she got for her birthday. Very fun to see her imagination play.)

M: What is your favorite place to go?

R: School bus (well, every answer can't be perfect - she's 2.  But she is fascinated with school buses right now.)

M:  What is your favorite show?

R: Bubble Guppies (I'm just glad it's not Dora...)

M:  What is your favorite song to sing?

R:  Old MacDonald had a Farm E I E I OOOOO  (Old and MacDonald come out pretty clear, then the E I E I O is spot on. She has so many songs she can sing now.  I love when she is singing!  She is always happily singing something throughout the day.)

M:  What is your favorite book?

R:  Kitty Cat Kitty Cat (Martian / Sampson.  A library find.  I love that she loves that book for it totally reflects Rebekah as the kitten and me as the mama.  I am planning on buying it as a keepsake.)

She is so loving to her mama.  She will come up and throw her arms around me for no apparent reason.    I think she somehow knows I need it.  

She is very inquisitive - she is always asking: "where that sound come from?" when she hears something she doesn't recognize (if I had a dime for every time...).  

She loves to run and play and go outside.  She is so happy!  

There is a light in her eye - a knowing twinkle if you will.  I'm excited for each and every day of growing with my little girl.

Her Actual Birthday

We celebrated big the Saturday before her birthday, so on the actually birthday we didn't do much.  However there were a few surprises:

A letter from Nana!

Bubble Guppy Gill followed the arrival of Molly

And so did Bubble Puppy and Nonny

Reka LOVES happy days!

Happy Party!

We started out the day with a new outfit from grandma and a trip to the bank with dada (bank with dada = sucker for Reka) and some balloons.  

Yay Balloons!

Then we waited for the birthday guests to arrive.  (Which basically means Frank since the rest of us live here.)

Yay for anticipation of guest!

Frank came and offered gifts.  

You can tell she's two: she didn't go for the money right away but instead lingered on the card

and the magnetic numbers that Frank gave her

Yay Magnets!   

(and yes, she is starting to get a little sleepy)

Then there was eating of the dinner

followed by Happy Cake

She blew out both candles

Frosting on nose provided by daddy

(sleepy... so sleepy... must... fight... sleepiness...)

Yum Yum Happy Cake!

Then a card from grandma

Followed by PRESENTS! 

She loved the pink car

And....

Pots and pans from grandma so she can cook like mama and grandma

Bubble Guppy Molly, also from grandma

Crackers! from Miss Ana 

And a cute dress

BUT CRACKERS!

And.... is that a basket ball?

Wait... PINK HOUSE from Nana!

Yes it was a basketball from daddy and mama

Admiring her newly acquired things

She definitely scored big

(One more of the car)

I finally talked her into a nap (it was WAY past nap time as you can probably tell from some of the earlier pictures).  She slept for a while and then up to play with the toys!  I actually got some down time while she was playing ALONE!  Thanks for a Happy Day for me and Reka!