We had a VERY busy day today!

First, I sang at our friends’ Jen & Cory’s wedding with the Gospel choir. While I was there, you and Daddy went to Gymboree and the playground!

I came home after the wedding to pick up Daddy for the reception. Aunti Judi came over to play with you a bit and put you down for your nap. Here are a couple pictures from Jen and Cory’s reception:

After a THREE & A HALF hour nap (at which time I woke you up… maybe it was a growth spurt), you and I headed out to meet our friends Marlie and her Mom for a playdate at the playground:

Daddy met us all for a picnic in the park before he headed off to work for the night.

Then you and I went to Jimmiqua’s 8th grade formal to take a few pictures for her. While we waited for her to arrive, you danced in the middle of the floor to the music the DJ was playing. Jimmiqua looked absolutley BEAUTIFUL!! Can you believe she is 14 already?!?! She really enjoyed introducing you to all of her friends as her niece!

Highlights of the day for me?
* Using my new camera (Daddy bought me a new camera, becuase my old one broke last Friday… I’ve had to use my cell phone camera in the meantime.)
* Watching you share your strawberries so generously with Marlie. Listening to you help her use her “please” and “thank you’s” cracked me up!
* Watching you dance.
* Giggling with you before bed.
* Watching you sleep during your 3.5 hour nap!
* Being part of Jen and Cory’s very special day!
* Pushing you on the swing.
* Knowing you and Judi had time to play together.
* Watching you hang out with neighbors Joe and Martha on their front porch.
* Having a date with Daddy – We met new friends at the reception- Su & Justin. They might come have ice cream with us in a couple weeks.
* Getting to start and end my day with you.

*whew* After reading all of this, I am ready for bed! : ) Thank you, Peanut, for an awesome day!! I love you to pieces, and I am so proud of you!
*Mommi

and other fun times…

(Neighbor Joe just jumped right in the middle of the biggest puddle to entice you in… You thought that was very funny… so did he!)

playing with pillows while shopping:

you LOVE your new chair as well as your princess pj’s

Check out this mini-video – of you belly swinging – your new FAVorite thing to do!! You call it “weeee.” “More weee please.” Hee hee… that’s awesome! (This is Mommi’s first time trying out UTube… now we’ll have to get your singing your a,b,c’s!)

pillows are your favorite, but you’re happy to hide in anything you can find…

today you had a blast hiding behind all of your coats… and you giggled and giggled as tehy fell and left you exposed. : )

Let’s see – other sweet things you are doing and saying these days:
* you say “oth” to mean”off”
* you still say “pt” for tv
* when you want something, you say “May I have it please?” (most of the time) or “Maya have it please?”
* You know Judi & Jim’s corner and announce it everytime we drive past their house.
* When we head out to a car or just arrive home from an outing, you consistently ask “Maya go see Barnie (the neighbor’s puppy) please?” When I say “sure,” you get very excited and shyly walk next door holding my hand.
* You still describe yourself when you’re naked as “PRETTY BABY!” and you pat your belly. I love that!
* birdie is “boodie”
*”Mommy! Help Maya!” is what you call out when Daddy is carrying you somewhere you don’t want to go (e.g. wash hands before dinner).
* you love to point out a “Big Truck” or “Big Bus” as it drives by.
* You’re still not a big fan of things in your hair. Yesterday, when we were having our snack at Spot coffe, I went up to the counter to grab a couple napkins. I watched you get down from your chair at our table, walk over to another table and place your barrett on that other table, and climb back up your chair. You crack me up.
* You love to swing – especially on your belly.
* Whenever you want to use a term of endearment for your Daddy or me, you add “ee-ah” on the end of our name – “Mom-e-ah” or “Dad-ee-ah” – it’s very sweet.

for they shall be called children of God (Matthew 5:9).

Here is a wonderful little story that I will treasure.

Daddy and I had a little spat last night before he left for work. I was therefore much more into you than Daddy as he prepared to leave for work (as was he). He came over to you to say goodbye, and you lovingly greeted him, “Goodbye Daddy!” and looked at me at said “Daddy, work.”

“Yes,” I said. “Daddy’s going to work.”

You sat and processed things for a minute, looking at me and then Daddy.

You offered Daddy an unsolicited kiss by puckering up your little lips in his direction. Surprised, Daddy leaned down to return your little kiss.

Then you promptly and authoritatively stated: “Mommy, Daddy, Kiss.”

So we did. And then we smiled. And then the anger melted.

You are such a special little girl…

Auntie Amy made this hat for you last year for Christmas. She must have KNOWN you would be cold eating yogurt almost a year later. She’s so smart!!!

And you are too precious for words!

You didn’t use to like yogurt- in fact, you seemed to hate it. But little by little, you became more interested in what I was enjoying so much. I snuck a couple little tastes in your mouth during cartoons, and before I knew it, you were hooked. 🙂

Now you eat it most mornings – all by yourself!! You are so fun, Peanut!

today you climbed up on a chair (by yourself) and turned the thermostadt up to 87degrees.

then you “helped” me fold clothes

by dressing yourself with underwear as a shirt…

and my socks as leggings.

then you put on Daddy’s socks

and then your socks on your hands like mittens.

This week you also had your first (miniature) candy bar. You decided you like chocolate, and “chocolate” soon became your new word.

The words you are using most often these days include: apple, nana (for banana), please, thank you, hi!, bye-bye, elbow, knee, nose, cars, beep-beep, baby, hat, b (for your purple blanket), more, juice, up, down and the new favoite – candy.

Walking to daycare is SO much fun – We stop and listen to the birds doing their differnt Good Morning songs. We can often find them in the sky too. (Sometimes we have to be patient for the cars to go by.) There are LOTS of squirrels scurrying around, chasing one another and finding food. We also still pick up sticks, rocks and pretty leaves and flowers. You say HI to everyone we pass – including homeless people digging through dumpsters. Yesterday, you cheerfully greeted one man looking for cans in a dumpster with a smile and a HI! – I think he was shocked and happy when we walkd passed and you looked back to blow him a kiss.

I learn so much from and with you Peanut. I love you.