Thursday, March 24, 2011

Loving Spring!

 Spring has sprung and we are LOVING it!  The weather has been just beautiful this week.  We've been spending a lot of time outside enjoying these glorious Spring days!

 Buddies 
Rayna and her buddy, Zoe.  
March 2010
March 2011


Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Rayna Says.....

a lot!

Rayna has a lot to say these days.  She's at the age where she seems to be picking up new words all the time.  I wanted to document some of the words that she is saying at 16 months.

Rayna's current top 10 words:

Bye-bye
Dada
Nana
Sissy (Sis Sis)
Cheese
Dog
Kitty
Ball
Bubble
Dora (seriously)

Whether or not she says "Mama" is still up for debate.  I have never heard her say it regarding me, but my mom says that she has heard her say it when she knows I've gotten home from work.  Regardless, Mama isn't in her list of first 10 words.

She also signs:
More
All done
Milk
Eat
Please

Even though raising a strong-willed toddler has it's rough moments, she is SO much fun right now.  It's amazing to watch her little personality develop.  I'm sure she's going to be talking up a storm soon!

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Typical Molly

What can I say?  The girl has style!

Friday, March 18, 2011

Belated Christmas Party

 The guys in (one of) Brian's Bible studies have been trying to get together for their "Christmas" party for about three months now.  Well, we finally went out to dinner and had a really great time.  Our wonderful friends James and Anna came to babysit.  Molly was SO excited about them coming tonight.  She and Rayna sat in front of the window for about half an hour waiting on them to get here.  So nice to have such great friends!

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

WARNING

If you put your children's dinner on the table and stick your head out the door for 23 seconds to talk to a neighbor, you may return to find your 16-month-old like this:
Nana,

Yes, I realize I shouldn't have taken my eyes off of her.
No, I will never leave her alone for 23 seconds again.
Yes, I realize she's fast.
No, she wasn't starving.
Yes, I realize she could have fallen.
Yes, I learned my lesson.  :-)

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

PJ Night!

So, my friend Michelle called me this afternoon and told me that our local Chicfila was giving out FREE chicken bisquits if you wear your PJs.  So we all got into our PJs (including Nana after we begged nagged asked very nicely) and went to Chicfila to meet the Hiltons.  They had crafts, the giant cow, and did I mention FREE food!  The only thing better than free Chicfila is free Chicfila in your PJs!

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Spring is in the air!

 We've had another beautiful North Carolina weekend.  The weather has been just perfect and we've been loving the time we've been able to spend outside.   
This may very well be the last time we see the Hendricks family of 3.  Avonlea is expected to make her appearance sometime in the next month or so!  We're so excited about meeting this precious baby girl!
 
 Speaking of precious baby girls, our dear friends Justin and Tara gave birth to their BEAUTIFUL baby this week.  I SO wish I could be there.  I gotta tell you, I've been pretty tempted to hop on a plane to Ohio this week!
 Is she not just beautiful?!  I hate to brag, but I think she looks a little like her Aunt Missy, don't you?  :-)

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Dora and Boots

 One of my big goals as the mother of an Asian child is for her to grow up knowing that she's Asian.  We talk about similarities and differences in people ALL the time.  We talk about hair color, skin color, eye color, etc.  We talk about how people look the same and how they look different.  I want her to know that she's Asian and be proud of her Asian heritage.  

So I was really excited when Molly said to me, "Mommy!  I look just like Dora!"  Now, I know Dora is Hispanic and not Asian, but it still made me happy that Molly noticed her dark hair and dark skin and noticed that it was the same as her dark hair and dark skin.  And it made her happy!  I was feeling really good about her self-imagine.............


Until she followed it up with, "And Rayna looks just like Boots!!"
  
 

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Where does the time go?

When did my beautiful, blue-eyed, chubby, happy baby girl......
March 2010
 ....become my beautiful, blue-eyed, independent, stubborn, strong-willed toddler?
March 2011
It happens way too fast!

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

 Today is Dr. Seuss' birthday and we had a fun time celebrating!  We made Dr. Seuss hats, went to the library for a special story time by Cat in the Hat (Molly wouldn't get her picture taken with the Cat in the Hat), and had a yummy dinner of what else?!  Green eggs and ham! 

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Blowing Bubbles

 Love those sweet faces!