Saturday, January 19, 2008

Mama's Little Helper

This is the infamous poo poo potty picture...there are 3 in the book and Rebekah excitedly asks "Poo poo potty...? Another poo poo potty?...Another poo poo potty?" She is really into 2...she likes to talk about things in pairs. She can answer that she is 1 but that she has 2 eyes, 2 ears, 2 hands...sometimes 2 noses! She likes 2!

Rebekah only eats olives if she can stick it on the tip of her finger...she cried when i cut it the other way...apparently this is pretty important to her.

My little helper- last week making cookies...

Today making a coffee cake, which she enjoyed eating...she also said "coffee cake" all day.






Yesterday at the Sterners- 4 of the Sterner kids and Rebes helping Carrie make cookies...she is so patient! Look at Rebekah checkin' out Isaac...her future husband!

Sportin' her hat from Aunt Sarah...
Her fake smile...

Thursday, January 17, 2008

18 month appointment

Well, Rebekah weighed in at 24 lbs (50%), her head was 50th % and she was 34 1/2 inches tall (off the charts). We also learned that she chipped her tooth- I had been wondering b/c the bottom front tooth looked groovy instead of straight. I even remember a bad fall on tile in November so I think that was the culprit. Additionally, Rebekah does have her 6th ear infection for crying out loud!! Poor baby! She doesn't fuss about it too much and doesn't get fever with every one, so it's almost always a surprise. We might try to take her to an ENT and see if there's anything we can do.

Rebekah is talking more and more! She is even using full phrases/sentences sometimes, like "Tie my shoe" "Mommy fix it" etc. It is so fun to watch her learn new things literally every day!

I am loving our reading time- Rebekah picks a book ("gook") by name and says "Mama, read gook"...her books are "Puppy" (McDuff book), "Ark" (Noah's Ark), "Bible" (Toddler Bible), "Boom Boom Boom" (Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You- this is my absolute fave right now b/c Bekah knows all the sounds and gets really excited about doing them, especially Boom, Boom, Boom, which she shouts really loud and high and shakes her right hand at the same time), "Doggies" (Doggie book- I used to hate this one b/c you have to bark 10 different ways for each of the 10 dogs, but now that I have a fellow barker, I love it!), "Poo Poo Potty" (this one cracks me up- it's the Going to Bed Book, which has nothing to do with potties, but it is set on a boat and the portal windows are white, with the opening pulled to the side and you can see water thru it- essentially, Rebekah gets really excited about each of the 3 windows, calling them poo poo potties).

Tonight, Rebekah was able to see herself in a reflective window and loved talking to herself and watching herself eat...such a diva!

Saturday, January 12, 2008

Hugs and Helicopters

Just some fun pics from the past few days...Rebekah is struggling with a nasty cold and even woke up last night 3 times between 9 and 10:30 with....gas! She even sadly said "gas" when I went in to figure out what was wrong...

Rebekah has still been doing her fishy face she learned from Nana...she told Josh this morning that it was her "Nana fish."

Hugging Sammy- poor old boy couldn't get away!


Making her "helicopter fly"...



Wednesday, January 09, 2008

Detox

Josh and I always tease our parents that when we return from being with them, we have to go thru "detox" with Rebekah...I'd like to say that it is just her that needs detox, but it's also me! I love visiting our families for obvious reasons, but also because we get so pampered! My ob/gyn definitely noticed my weight gain ;) from all the eating out and desserts, not to mention absolutely no exercise!! Plus, we get free babysitting from families who could not adore our precious little one more! Who could ask for more?!

So, we are back and in detox- I finally don't feel hungry every second, just every other...I hit the gym yesterday and even ran a little (and by "ran," yes, I mean jogged at a very slow pace)- pretty impressive for being 26 weeks pregnant...Rebekah has adjusted amazingly well...she does ask for her grandparents at least a few times every day...she'll say "Papa/Mamama/etc., are you?" It breaks my heart. She is learning how to say Texas and south Texas for the answer- Grandy would be so proud!

She also asks for music in the living room, as well as in the car- in fact, today she asked for music, I turned it on and she asked for "Woo Hoo"- her way of asking for that Gwen Stefani song that's so catchy! Josh blessed me with a mixed tape ;) for Christmas and it's my favorite!

Rebes also loves washing her hands, complete with soap. So, today I got her a step stool so we can do it more often and not wear my arms out so much. However, she discovered the stool has a lid and place to hide things, so she is hiding her ABC's (the magnetic letters on the fridge) in there more than climbing on it . So cute!

She is also really into possession- praise God we're not to the point of her insisting "mine" or anything, but rather "Mama shirt....Dada coat...Mommy's (typically refers to things she intuitively knows she shouldn't touch), such as a computer....Mama coffee (that's right, I'm an official coffee drinker!)..." She also loves 2-word phrases, such as "coffee hot" or "Sammy eatsy" (eatsy means hungry).

Another fun development is Rebekah and prayer...at Chili's the other day, Rebekah grabbed my and Josh's hand and said "pray." We had to pray about 10 extra times and she would say "amen" at the end. I guess we're pretty spiritual!


Rebekah has also learned that Dada works at church- she'll randomly comment (I guess when she realizes that Dada isn't home with us) "Dada work church...Mama work home."

Rebekah knows the names of all her family members and friends, as well as their moms. Today she asked about Sarah, Rachel, and Pat.

She is still very picky about how things should be- not a rule-follower per se, just extremely sure of how she wants something- I have to keep a towel in the car to wipe off her shoes when she gets them snowy (she talks about "snow and ice...ice and water...snow and water" several times a day) or she'll cry. Tonight in the tub, we taught her how to quickly dip her bath animals in the water to get the "bubbles off"- she doesn't like things not to seem clean.

Rebekah is such a darling girl! We always have our ups and downs, but we are in such a sweet time. Allow me to mention a few things I am loving about my girl:

-she holds my hand whenever possible
-she often takes breaks from playing to sit on my lap or hug me
-she she loves going outside, even if it's cold
-she loves baths (I owe this to my sweet Mama who apparently gives great baths b/c Rebekah comes home from those baths just loving them!!)
- a couple nights ago, Rebekah hopped into my lap, soaking wet (this is her routine with Mamama), and then decided she was just too cold to leave, so she turned around, and clung to me like a little tree frog- arms and legs totally wrapped around me!
-she loves her Dada and recognizes his car and gets really excited about seeing him
-she and Dada play "Dada git choo!" (Dada get you), but she still can't stand the wait and runs into his arms instead of letting him catch her
-she still looks for airplanes wherever we go- in fact, Monday night, we were leaving the mall and it was dark. We could see the highway and with the intense fog, all you could see were the headlights on the cars and trucks passing by. Rebekah excitedly exclaimed, "Airplane, airplane- fly! Zoom!"
-last week, Rebekah was in the middle of a good play, stopped, headed straight for me, said "Mama" very tenderly, kissed my mouth, then resumed playing. Seriously? Does it get better than that?
-R calls her pj's her "jammies" and says "Jammies on!" when she's ready to get them on
-she now labels her sneezes and coughs and then blesses herself, hoping that you will bless her, too


Rebekah's first craft- proudly displayed in a prominent place on our fridge. Billy and I both love to put stuff on our fridges b/c our Dad never let us!! ;)

(she rather haphazardly colored the snowman green)

Rebes also has perfected her fake smile when asked to smile:




Josh assembled our Christmas gift to Rebekah- her very own kitchen!! She calls it "cook" and we try to cook together! Sadly, R quickly discovered that the sink faucet was faux...since she now loves washing her hands, it was quite a disappointment.
We thought she looked like a little Sherlock Holmes for church- had to document it!

(admiring the fish)




(after Josh preached Sunday: check it out at Parkviewchurch.org)

These are my new FAVES- we call them "tree frog" with a little fake smile:




Tuesday, January 01, 2008

Christmas

Well, we are just about to finish up 3 weeks of travel!! First, we went to DC for Rachel's wedding, then onto Dallas, TX to see my parents, then onto Victoria, TX (south TX) to see Josh's parents, then back to Dallas to fly back out. So, that was 8 flights for Rebekah and me and even more for Josh since he had weird connections!! All in all, Rebekah has done so well and has very much enjoyed her grandparents, aunts/uncles, and new cousins!!
Highlights- Just listening to her say practically 20 new words a day, such as chocolate cake, Walmart, Hobby Lobby, every relative's name, Dunkey (Duncan- the dog!), animal crackers, tons of phrases- more ____, Mama's _____, Nana's home, Dada work church... Rebekah with her new cousins- Riley Jane (a little jealousy there), Quale, and Emilia Lots of snuggle time during restless nights and planes Her fascination with Christmas trees- what will we do when they are gone?! She accidentally socked my mom in the face and looked up at her and said "Mamama, sorry!" Feigning ouchies for attention and kisses Clapping around in her Xmas shoes Happy Feet! (she River Dances in place and that's what we call it)
The pics are in no particluar order, so enjoy!

My new niece and nephew, Quale (short for Pasquale, which means Easter in Italian and is also his father and grandfather's name) and Emilia

Rachel and her new husband, Pat (also short for Pasquale)
Josh with his older sister, Rachel (left), who sings in the Navy for the Sea Chanters, and younger sister, Sarah (middle), who is a missionary in the Middle East
Just precious...
Rebekah adores her Papa- this is them with Dunkey (aka Duncan) in sunny (note the perfectly green grass and short sleeves) south Texas.
Us with Riley Jane on Christmas Eve... Nana taught Rebes a new fishy face- she took to it immediately!

Billy, Bec, and Riley Jane- Becky always finds the trendiest things- the leggings are called baby legs and can go on arms or legs for added warmth (which we need in TX with 60-70 degree winters!) and style! Incidentally, Becky has inspired me to get back in shape as soon as our son comes- she looks AMAZING and it has only been 3 1/2 months!!!!!
Need I even comment?
At Nana and Papa's, there were 7 adults and 3 children- bless them!
Rebekah LOVING the play house at Nana and Papa's church!
My parents' enormous tree!! Apparently, they grow on the way home...

At Nana and Papa's (J's parents)...
Do you think my big brother is proud of his little Riley Jane? he surprised Becky and RJ with special gifts that he shopped for and wrapped all by himself! The sweetest ones were a stuffed lamb, RJ's first cross necklace, and a baby's first year frame that he filled in as much as he could! I was very touched by the moment...plus, they checked on RJ about every 5 minutes to see if she was up yet for Christmas morning- they didn't want to her to miss a thing! She roused at 10:15 and then they opened her stocking and presents!! So adorable- 2 prouder parents would be hard to find!
Lovin' hangin' put together in their spiffy new pj's!