Just funny stuff...

Well, sorry for no pictures, just thought I'd catch y'all up on Rebekah. :) She is 11 1/2 months old, not that we're counting! Anyway, Rebekah is still doing animal sounds, even when you ask another child, she will do her loudest moo's or bah's to get the attention! Yes, you heard me correctly, the bah is back! Praise the Lord, I mourned our loss when Rebes went on a bah hiatus. Amanda is teaching her to scrunch up her nose and oink for a pig...so that's good times.
Bunny is also into mimicking right now- her favorites are "gentle," "no touch," "mama," "dada," "Josh," and may of the tunes Josh sings to her...she loves sounds and faces- she tries to do them all after carefully studying each one.

Rebekah seems to be dropping her morning nap...since last week, she has been politely refusing one nap. Today she was yawning and rubbing her eyes at the same time I needed a shower, so we tried just for fun. I got out a few minutes later and didn't hear anything. Should have known then that she wasn't actually asleep, but rather chewing on her crib!! Seriously...it then dawned on me that maybe that coupled with her nasty diapers and excessive drooling might mean Josh was right and she was teething again. So, I felt around and indeed Rebes has her 5th tooth (an incisor) and the 6th is on the way. Unfortunately, all the pooping has led to some mad diaper rash- the kind where just heading back to her room makes her cry b/c she knows what's coming...her whole little body shakes as I wipe her because it's so sore...incredibly sad. It was a tough day all around in that in addition to a new tooth, extra poops, and diaper rash, she also grabbed a chip off my plate and almost choked! For crying out loud...I tell ya, kids are crazy!

Our little flapper...

This was this morning before we left for church...thought she looked like a flapper from the 30's or 40's...she did so great in the nursery! 3 hours thru the service and Josh's class, then we went to lunch and she was awesome! She napped right when we got home and we had a good day...


Apparently, Rebekah is learning how to leash up Sam...

I had the funnest :) week! After J's parents left, I was very lonely...however, Rebekah and I were able to spend quality time with many of our friends all week! In fact, we even ran into the Kampmans and their twins, Abigail and Josiah at the mall- it was fun eating together!


Lance Armstrong, move over! Janene and Nevin gave us free bikes! Yea! Thanks, guys! So, we got a burley for little one and went for a ride yesterday and today. We had a blast, tho I'm pretty sore today! Rebekah had a better time the faster Josh went- I'm afraid we have a speed demon!


I get this look a lot- glad to finally capture it!




We went out to lunch yesterday- this was at the end...I guess Rebekah needed a little snuggle time with her favorite guy!






Funny and/or sweet stuff she's doing:

Saying Mamamamammama when she wants to be rescued from her crib!

Calling "Jaaah" mimicking me calling Josh for dinner.

Giggling when I tickle her toes from the front seat.

Signs "more, " "please," "thank you," and "milk" with a vengeance...her please is with her whole body- she twists her chest while flapping her arm...

Does animal noises...sometimes! Moo (thank you, Shannon!), bubbles for a fish, ar, ar for a dog, the occasional Bah! for a sheep, and her new favorite, Quack!

She grips us with her knees and clings with her arms and hands when we hold her.

She loves to roll around on me on the couch...she discovered my belly button today and my new fear is that she will unshirt me in public....

Rebekah's 1st 1st Birthday

We celebrated Rebekah's 1st birthday with Nana and Pop on Monday since they won't be here for her actual birthday. Rebekah cried (hard) when I blew out her candle, but was greatly comforted by lots of chocolate!






Nana picked out her first doll. Rebekah is a great mama...she strokes baby Brooke (it was on the box) and eats her hand.

She likes to examine things...


This is my view when I turn around in the car...however, sidenote- yes, she does still throw fits even in her shiny, new (well, not really, we got it at a garage sale) car seat. Side note #2- her tantrums are hilarious- she is all arms and legs. She picks one of the two appendages and flails them around, but in a very specific way...the arms, for example, stay straight and if you didn't know she was having a fit, you would think she was twirling...I do not have footage of that yet...


Last night's goodnight hug and cuddle...LOVE her new jammies! For some reason, I can't get in b/w this set and the next for my explanation...we had a baby pool party today and there are some various pics of them hanging out...Rebekah was voted "least likely to become a professional swimmer"...she was not a fan of actually getting in the water...much more so of climbing out at all costs and bear crawling across the cement chasing rocks.

Nana and Pop's Visit

Josh's parents, Mike and Phyllis (or Michael and Fillie as Josh calls them in love sometimes) are visiting us thru tomorrow. They are sooo great with Rebekah! It is always a pleasure to host them- they are great at being flexible, helping out with Rebe, and loving on us all! Rebekah really loves her Nana- I assure you, it's mutual!

The boys went to Chicago for a worship/arts conference (see Josh's blog for more details on that!) while the girls hung back and shopped! We all had a great time! Rebekah's 3rd and 4th teeth are in and when Nana asked her about them, Rebekah opened her mouth and pointed to them! Smart girl! She has done it multiple times since, so it wasn't just chance for you cynics...

Nana and Pop adoring their little one... while she adored their bling...Loving swinging with Nana...not sure who is enjoying herself more?

Side note- you may notice the pink elephant (aka Ellie) appearing in many of the following pics...Rebekah just noticed her today and could not be parted from her...





Spending time with Pop...sorry for Sam's rearend highlighting these photos...





Josh installed her big girl car seat and like the typical guy he is, he decided to forego all common wisdom and go ahead and put it front-facing (we are a mere 3 weeks away from her 1st b-day!)...she and Ellie had a delightful time trying out the new seat!





This was definitely the highlight today- a wagon!! We are celebrating Rebekah's 1st 1st birthday with Nana and Pop today. They gave her a wagon complete with drink holders and seatbelts! So precious!


(notice her checking each nut and bolt above)

She loved the box it arrived in, too! Apparently, Rebekah loves tunnels! Furthermore, she took her first baby steps in that she pushed the box and walked- we were so proud!

After her coed bath with David, we decided not to curb her freedom anymore and to allow her to play around more...she is now standing at inopportune times and splashing around all over the place!! Now that she is an advanced swimmer, getting water on her head and face is much less traumatic! Josh and Pop did a great job of bathing her every night!