First Time at the Park!

We took Belen to play at the park (besides swinging) for the first time today. She had so much fun! You can tell by her huge smiles in the pictures. We thought it was time for the toddler park now that she is getting around so good on all fours and pulling up onto everything. Of course she couldn't do everything by herself, but with our help she was unstoppable. She is fearless, trying to crawl and walk down the slide and checking out the bubble toy! By the time we were ready to go, she had tired herself out. I think she will sleep good tonight (cross my fingers!)

She was so curious, wanting to check everything out for herself!

Bell and Aunt Sarah were on the other side making faces at her.

She was trying to crawl down the slide...

... and walk down.

Finally, she slid down, but wasn't quite sure what to make of it.

We sure had fun!

Love,

Dawn

Memorial Day Fun

Happy Memorial Day!

We sure had a busy day today! We played with Belen's new swing for a while, played outside on a blanket in our front yard, ate hamburgers at Bell and Wobbles' house, and played at the park for the very first time! But the best part was that we were all together! Here are some fun pics.

Chillin' after swinging

Playing outside in the front yard

Hanging out with Aunt Sarah

Love,

Dawn

New Swing

Today Gavin and Wobbles hung the swing we bought for Belen. She loved it, just like I thought. She swung for about 1/2 an hour and smiled and smiled the whole time. It was so much fun! (In case anyone is wondering, I got the swing at Academy Sports. I had to look all over Houma to find it.)

Yay for swinging!

Daddy and Belen always have fun together!

Gavin wanted to see why Belen likes to chew on straps and ropes so much.

(He was surprised by the faint minty flavor! hahaha)

Love,

Dawn

Let the Decorating Commence!

I've recently started to worry that Belen would reach her first birthday without having any real decorations to speak of for her room. So I've been on a mission to remedy the situation. Unfortunately, with Japanese Magnolias as the inspiration for the room, I have been unable to find many decorations that I can purchase. So I've had to take the decorating into my own hands.

First I made a decorative bow holder with her initial, then we hung the few decorations that we were given at her baby shower. The last few days I have been working on a modern art interpretation of a Japanese Magnolia branch to hang in a frame on her wall. I used a graphic design of the branch and scrap booking paper to make a kind of collage. I am really happy with the way it turned out. Now for the big test.... will Belen like it when she is 8 years old?!

My Japanese Magnolia Collage

Finally there are decorations on her walls!

Love,

Dawn

Friends!

Candace and Sydney were able to make it to town this weekend because of Memorial Day. We were able to hang out at church and go to lunch with them afterward. The kids had a great time, and it was so good to catch up and all spend time together. We love Candace and Sydney!

Love,

Dawn

No, No, No. Yes!

Caught on film!

When it comes to getting into things that she shouldn't, Belen is getting to be an expert. Now that she is scooting around at lightning speed, you have to keep a constant eye on her. If you so much as blink she is suddenly down the hall trying to lick the toilet, or trying to chew on the hair dryer cord, or, as you can see, trying to get into the box of breakable items that we still haven't put up since the move! I yie yie!

Love,

Dawn

Yikes!

Look who came for a visit with us today!

Yikes!

Belen and I were playing with toys in her room, when she headed out into the hall, directly toward what I thought was a piece of trash or a dust bunny. I noticed what it actually was when I went to stop her. I almost had a heart attack! I put Belen to sit in her bouncy and went back to smush the spider to smithereens (after taking it's picture of course!)

Apparently it is a Rabid Wolf Spider, which sounds much worse than it actually is. Learn more about this type of spider here. It isn't poisonous, and eats bugs, so I probably shouldn't have killed it (yeah right), but nothing that is a distant relative of a tarantula (or has eight legs for the matter) is welcome in my house, near my little girl! hahaha

Love,

Dawn

First Fort!

Yesterday Gavin built Belen her first tunnel/fort out of sofa cushions. Everyone remember how fun those were when you were a kid? At first Belen was hesitant to crawl through, but when we both got on the opposite side and encouraged her she scooted through with no problem. After that she was playing and having a great time!

Here are a few pictures.

Love,

Dawn

Catch up with us if you can!

Now that I'm staying home with Belen, I thought it would be nice to keep all of our friends and family up to date with all of our changes and milestones (big and small)! Belen is getting so big, and learning new things every second, Gavin and I can barely keep up. Hopefully this blog with help me organize many of her "Firsts".

For example, Saturday was her first time swimming. Don't let her fool you, she had a great time!

As you can tell, she also just learned her first gesture, shaking her head no (which she does in copious amounts in response to every questions or statement!)

She had a great time playing. It was just like bathing, but with more room to move around, and with a big blow-up frog head, which she of course wanted to lick!

She took time out of her busy playing schedule to take a picture with Daddy!

Final verdict: Swimming is so much fun!

Love,

Dawn