Silly Girl!

Every day that our girl gets older, she gets sillier!

On Friday of last week, she decided to try on Mommy's slippers and walk around the house.

I always finishing up cleaning or going to the bathroom just in time to find her in some silly position or pretending in a way that makes me laugh. Here she is hiding from me under a pillow. I don't know what gives her away more, her head and legs hanging out, or her stuffed animals everywhere.

Lately, her stuffed animals have become her best friends. I like to call them her entourage because she carries them around where ever she goes. Minnie comes with us to the library and the grocery store, Nanna (her baby doll) comes for walks around the block, and the bear always has to come outside to play.

If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, I should be flattered beyond belief. Belen tries to copy everything I do! Like fixing my hair.

This summer has be so fun! This time watching my daughter grow has been invaluable!

Love,

Dawn

Trying to Beat the Heat!

Now that summer is in full swing, the heat in South Louisiana has become its own person. Even as early as 9:00 a.m. it has become much too hot for our favorite go-to activity, going to the park. So I am trying to get creative and try new ways for Belen and I to spend time together.

This morning Belen helped me bake blueberry muffins. She poured the milk and stirred the batter. She watched as I put the muffins in the oven, and we made sure to check on them often so that she could connect the batter that we made with the muffins that we would eat. Belen loves to take credit for her work, (she always points at the artwork on the fridge and says, "I made it!") so I was hoping she would understand that SHE made the muffins. I don't know if she did or not, but she sure had fun mixing the batter. I showed her how to dip her finger in to taste, and it was all over her face in two seconds! Good thing only she and I were eating them!

Belen enjoying the muffins SHE made.

Unfortunately, I have gotten into the habit of reading magazines while Belen and I eat. (It is hard to keep a 20 minute conversation going with a 1 1/2 year old who is busy stuffing her face!) That will have to be a bad habit that I pull the plug on. While eating breakfast, Belen said, "I read. Book." I realized that she was watching me read and wanted to as well. So I got one of her Chick-fil-A kids meal books for her to look at. That was not good enough! She wanted MY book. I guess she thinks that you are supposed to read magazines while eating! hahaha

Belen emulating Mommy. Unless, of course, she really

IS interested in hiking the trails of Yosemite after dark.

Prayerfully I will let this be a lesson to me. Belen will watch everything I do and learn about the world from it. I need to be conscience to model things that will benefit her, bring her closer to God and her family, and teach her to love and value others.

Love,

Dawn

Morning Ritual

"Just call me Robin Scherbatsky."

When Belen grows up to be a famous and adventurous travel writer, I will tell her its because she has been reading National Geographic Traveler while drinking her morning coffee since the age of 1 1/2.

The true story: I came back from using the bathroom just after breakfast one morning and Belen was helping herself to my morning ritual!

Love,

Dawn

Day at the zoo!

About a month ago, Gavin and I took Belen to the zoo with the Rivets and Stevens. It was lots of fun.

Riding the Endangered Species Carousel.

Petting a hedgehog.

Making friends.... sort of.

Love,

Dawn

Summer Vacation!

Our summer vacation was a blast. We went with my whole family (our family, my parents and my sisters and their families) to Gulf Shores, Al. This was Belen's first trip to the beach! She had lots of fun, at least the first day! hahahaha Seriously, she loved the beach and the sand, but refused to go anywhere near the water after the first night. Who can know the mind of a child? Here are a few pics to summarize our trip!

Filled with excitement on the trip there.

Posing at Storyland in City Park.

(We stopped there to play and have lunch on the way to Gulf Shores.)

Riding Mary's Little Lamb at Storyland.

First time at the beach!

She was all smiles the first day at the beach!

Posing for her beach photo shoot!

Everyone's favorite activity was boogy-boarding. (I will be merciful and not post any of the adult pics! hahaha)

Jimmy

Lauren

Belen pretending she knows how to boogy-board. Lately, her favorite thing to do is imitating everything the bigger kids do.

As you can tell, we had a great time!

Love,

Dawn