My Dearest Don

I'm not sure how people with 2 + kids do it.  I have one and I am overwhelmed.  Thank heavens for a sweet husband who loves me.

Lets jump back to 3 years ago.  I was with Don and his family (mother, daughter, and son) in Indiana.  It was a wonderful time.  We all teased Don relentlessly.  I joined in like one of the family.  Ah, good times.  

One morning Don offered to pour a bowl of cereal for me.  Don't remember why now, but I told his daughter Kayla about it.  She said, "Wow.  He must really like you."

A little under three years later

Yes, that's Don in the kitchen cooking.  I like how the "love" picture shines through on the bottom, for it is nothing but love that brings my dearest Don into the kitchen.  

He sees how overwhelmed I am with Rebekah and is helping out.  After a long day at work and a tough commute he does the daily dinner dishes and occasionally on Sundays he will make spaghetti.   He has even helped get Rebekah's dinner ready. 

And since I am singing his praises....

Last Friday I was mid laundry loads - just finished drying one and had put one in the dryer and another in the washer.  I tried to start the dryer and the knob fell off.  I quickly called the office (it was 4 pm and they would close in an hour for the weekend).  They sent someone right over.  

He looked at the machine and without doing too much pronounced it dead.  I, somewhat disappointed, asked what the plan was.  He told me the soonest I could get a replacement would be Wednesday.  I was not happy.  I had 2 loads of wet laundry and no car.  However, he - with the managements approval - found an empty apartment (walking distance) for me to dry the clothes.  

I phoned Don and told him the situation.  He came home while I was preparing to take my last load of laundry over.  He asked what was wrong with the dryer.  I showed him the broken knob and took the car to drop off my last load.  I was gone maybe 10 minutes.

When I returned Don had the dryer working.  That's MY man!  

And good thing too for Rebekah hasn't been feeling well and to that end I have needed the ability to to laundry.

So, after 2 1/2 years of marriage, I would like to tell the world how grateful I am for my sweet husband who sees my needs and comes through for me.  He is a great blessing in my life.  All that and his nice to look at too.  Yay me!

Daily Walks

Mama and I like to take daily walks.  

We find fun things.  Like pool balls....

And santa....

And then if I'm lucky, we go home and have a snack of frozen blueberries.  

13 Months

As promised, I did NOT take a picture of Rebekah every week.  The following picture explains why...

Don't know if you can tell or not, but she was NOT happy in this picture.  

In fact, this picture proceeded a long tantrum.  

Rebekah loves electronics.  Make that LOVES.  She loves my phone, and even though I lock it before I give it to her, she can still call my ICE contacts - including Don (cell and work phone) and my patient and understanding brother Daniel (who, by the way, has told me that Rebekah can always call her Uncle Daniel - even when she is 16 and is upset that her parents just don't understand her.  Got to love my brother.)  So, every time I have my phone, my computer, her dad's ipad, an ipod, my camera, etc., she thinks she should be able to play with it.  It's a constant issue.  Thank goodness her grandma Walker bought her a little play cell phone.  She LOVES it!  However, she still wants my phone, my computer, her dad's ipad, an ipod, my camera, etc....

Here is a better picture of my happy little girl:

Milestones -

She has one molar and three on the way.  They have been tough on her.  They have been tough on her parents too.  But we keep telling her the quicker she gets her teeth the quicker she can eat that steak.  :D

She had a reaction to the chicken pox vaccination.  According to my mother, I had a horrible reaction to chicken pox - big yucky bubbles of skin... I even remember one of my brothers jumping on my foot to pop one.... To that end I am thankful for the vaccination.  

Every once in a while Rebekah will say a word and then never say it again.  For example, Don was reading her Go Dogs Go and got to the part  "go by boat" and Rebekah - clear as day - said "boat."  Both of Don and I heard it.  But other than the constant babble and such, there's nothing to report here.

Shoes.  We got her first shoes this month.  

I finally got the shoes on and we went outside.  I put her down on the grass and she looked at me like I was nuts.  I walked a few paces from her.  She just stared.  Finally, after much coxing, she decided to try to move.  Walking on the grass was okay.  But once we got to sidewalks and pavement she took off.  We love our daily walks.   She loves to pick up sticks - which explains the big collection of sticks by our front door.

I've tried more real food.  As of now:  Potatoes - No.  Rice - No.  Noodles - Yes.  Sauce on noodles - Yes.  Fruit - Yes.  Veggies - Yes (although we are still iffy on broccoli).  Meat - in small doses, Yes.  Peanut Butter Sandwich - Yes. Bologna sandwich - NO.  She is tired of Cheerios and has been wanting my Special K or "flakes" as I call them.  

She is starting to interact with people more.  I am excited to leave in a few days to see my brothers and their families.  Hopefully Rebekah will have a great time with her cousins.  

She is truly a joy.  Everyone who sees her on our walks tell me how beautiful she is and how lucky I am.  I agree.  We are truly blessed.

Misc Pictures

That dad reading me Mr. Brown can MOOO 

(he does the sounds really well...)

Loving my spaghetti

Yes, I am this cute

Mama trying to save the carpet

Yo yo YO! 

Maybe someday mama will let me try the real thing... 

Until then I will have to settle for my cup cake pj's. 

My new cell phone

Grandma Walker gave it to me as an early Christmas present.

Thanks Grandma! 

Yogi

We have been blessed with wonderful neighbors, Ernie and Debbie.  They have been very kind and good to me and Don, but more than that they have been extremely sweet with my little Rebekah.

About the same time Rebekah was born they got Yogi.  During the summer months when I would go outside walk Rebekah in the stroller or play with her on the lawn, we would see Yogi.  Rebekah would squeal and scream with delight!  She would laugh and giggle when she saw him run, bark, sit, or whatever he would do.   They became the best of friends.

Sometimes when Ernie or Debbie would hear us outside he would bring Yogi out and have him entertain Rebekah. This was especially wonderful when Rebekah would be having hard time.   I'll never forget the image of Ernie running with Yogi up and down the back yard just for a smile and laugh from Rebekah.  It touches my heart to see such good and kind people - who take time out for my little girl. 

And look at the smile on her face.  You can't beat that.

The only problem is one day she may want a doggie of her own.... 

I Voted

I voted.  First time in my life - and yes, I know that is shameful.  I can just hear "and you call yourself an American..." and "it is our sacred right and privilege..." etc and so on.  

I never knew exactly what I needed to do to register and to top it off, I never felt like I had a grasp on the issues enough to vote my opinion.

Enter my sweet husband.

On our first date I, eager to make conversation, asked him about politics.  If I remember right, President Obama was just elected and I asked Don his view.  He suggested it was best to stay away from that subject - at least on the first date.   I have since learned he was giving sound advice.  My sweet husband has very strong political opinions.  The good news is that we agree politically.  The only difference is Don is much more animated about it.  

So we followed the election together.  I told my dearest Don I wanted to vote this year and he got us all set up.  He even found me a video on what I was to expect when I went to vote.  I was prepared.  (This is one of the many reasons I love my husband.  He knows me so well.  You may think it was overboard, but for me it was perfect.  And Don even sat through the video with me.  One has to love that man.)

So, election day, after my early morning run, before Don left for work, and after Reka woke up and was fed and dressed, we went and voted.

Yay!

Of course we voted in New York, so it really didn't matter WHO we voted for, but we voted.

Yay!

But I didn't get the sticker.  You know - the one that says "I VOTED!"  It was very sad.  I was really looking forward to having one.  

So, Don fixed that for me too.

First Birthday

On Sunday, November 4th, 

I woke up and was rolling around playing in my bed 

Just like every day

when all the sudden mama came in with a camera.  

WEIRD.

Then she took pictures and then started singing "Happy Birthday to You!"

I wondered what in the world was going on....

Then we had something different for breakfast.  Mama made sweet rolls!  

Sweets for breakfast?  Really?

They were so good.  I wanted more!  

This birthday thing is pretty cool.  I could totally get use to this!

It was Sunday so we got ready to go to church!  

Grandma Walker sent me this little white dress. 

I was going to wear it, but mama said it was too short.  

So, she changed me into this.  

By the way, at my 12 month check up, I was

25 pounds, 7 ounces and 31 inches long

Go ME!

After church we came home and I napped.  

Then when I got up I had presents from the parents!  

(mama isn't much on wrapping, but she promises to do better next time)

Me checking out the price tag...

 Can you believe mama found these pants at such a good price?!

(I suppose you've noticed the pants rolled up in the previous picture.  

The pants are 2T - they fit too big right now,

but mama said we will be able to wear them longer, 

and while they are too long and I have to roll them, 

I can feel what it is like to be a Stirland!)

The parents also got me this sweat suit.   

And a puzzle!

I love water animals!

Oh, and by the way 

Both Grandma Walker and Grandma Stirland sent me birthday cards.  

Thanks Grandma Walker and Grandma Stirland!

And our neighbor, Miss Debbie, got me a present too!  

(Miss Debbie belongs to the awesome doggie Yoggie!

You'll see a picture of him later...)

It was so fun!  Can't wait until I have another birthday!!