Watering Cans

Brad is filling up December's watering can

She is helping water flowers

Daddy helps her a little

This is December just before she tears up this pink flower, roots and all. She hasn't yet learned the art of being gentle. I replanted the flower, and I really hope it will live through this!

I don't really know what December is doing in this picture. It looks like she is going to fix the bed, but she doesn't have a tool in her right hand. It's a pencil, one that's never been sharpened. I learned that unsharpened pencils are the best ones to give her, because right before Dad and Debbie visited, she colored all over our window seat cushion with a blue pen. If this ever happens to you, use rubbing alcohol -- it worked wonders!

Tomorrow we are going to my grandparents' cottage. My aunts, uncles, cousins, parents, and everybody go there on Memorial Day weekend to do a big spring cleaning and then hang out by the water. It's alot of fun!

Bellybutton

December is learning parts of the body. She only knows a couple of them so far, but we're working on it every day. The one she learned the fastest was her bellybutton. It's pretty cute to watch her respond to "Where's December's bellybutton?" by reaching for the bottom of her shirt, pulling it up, and pointing right at her bellybutton. Last night I learned that she gets very frustrated if she's wearing a shirt that snaps on the bottom, because then she can't get at her bellybutton. That is a traumatic event in the life of a one-year old!

To my great dismay, I am currently the cause of the birth of many baby mosquitoes. You have my sincerest apologies if any of them find their way to you and eat you. As you know, it's only the girl misquitoes that feast on your blood (the boy mosquitoes are the nice ones -- they only eat plant nectar). The protein in your blood gives them the fuel they need to lay eggs. Every time a girl mosquito lays eggs, she drinks your blood. I'm surpised that I have any blood left! A couple of nights ago, I went out to water the flowers. That was a big mistake -- our yard is prime breeding ground for these vampires, and they all come out at night. I now have about twenty mosquito bites, sixteen of which are on my left leg. That must be where my tastiest blood hangs out. I was wearing heavy jeans, too. I guess our yard breeds massive brutes of mosquitoes that can puncture any kind of clothing.

So the moral of this biology lesson/tragic tale is just this: if you ever come over to our house, take along your bug repellent.

Yay for Ballet!

Kelli, Makenzi, and I in front of the ballet theater

All of us eating lunch together

Makenzi and my mom with the main character of the ballet (Punchinello)

On Saturday, I had fun. My mom, Kelli (my sister), Maria (my sister-in-law), Makenzi (Kelli's daughter), and I had a girls' day out. We first went out to eat at 84 East, a restaurant I hadn't been to since December 29, 2004. I know this date because 84 East is the place where Brad and I's rehearsal dinner was held, the evening before our wedding day! After that, we shopped around (of course), and then we went to a ballet. It was done by a Christian dance company, and they adapted Max Lucado's children's book You Are Special into a ballet. The dancers were mostly high-schoolers, and they did such a great job! I enjoyed it so much -- we all did. When we got back to my parents' house, where all the boys were watching all of the babies, they asked us how we could like a ballet so much...but it really was wonderful! If you ever get the chance to go to a ballet, you should go. If they are anything like this one, you'll love it!

I sometimes think about putting December into ballet or some kind of dance lessons when she gets older. This Christian dance company really impressed me. December loves to dance, whether it's while I'm holding her or just by herself. If she hears music start up, she immediately starts to dance.

Sunday at Grandpa and Grandma's House

December is jumping on Grandpa and Grandma M's trampoline

She loves it!

It looks like December is going to do a somersault...but she's not. She doesn't know how to yet, but I think she will soon!

She's now playing with the windchimes in Mom's garden.

Here we are, trying to get a family picture. December is clearly not cooperating.

Trying again to get a picture...still no cooperation.

So we took a picture by ourselves!

Yesterday, we went over to Mom and Dad's house for the afternoon, like we do every Sunday. It's indescribable how much we'll miss that when we leave! December loves hanging out with Grandpa and Grandma and getting their undivided attention. She also loves seeing Belle, the black lab. Belle is the one who taught December to pant, so when we say, "December, what does a doggie say?" She'll respond, "Oof! Oof! *Pant, pant, pant.*" It's handy that Mom and Dad's trampoline is in the ground, because December loves it so much! She falls down an awful lot on it, but it doesn't seem to phase her. It's all part of the Sunday routine at Grandpa and Grandma's house!