Big Helper

As I alluded to in a previous post Adelé is very excited about getting to help with everything. The Monday we got back from the beach I had gotten her up to go to the babysitter while I ran to work for a few hours and this was the response I got before walking out the door.  She didn't want the weekend to ever end. 

She is always doing things to get a laugh out of people.  Her personality is so funny.

 

She knows how to get exactly what she wants.  Whenever it's time for bed she knows that if she asks to "cuddle" she can lay in mom and dad's bed for a few minutes - and she gets it every time because it's just way too cute. 

But best of all is how big of a helper she is.  She always wants to help especially with the dishes.  If you are doing the dishes she grabs a kitchen chair and pulls it up to the sink next to you. 

 

Weekend at the Beach

Since we didn't go anywhere for Christmas this year we have been antsy to get away for a few days.  We were so grateful when Shawnie let us go out to her beach house for Valentines weekend.  We were fortunate to be there on a weekend that had such beautiful weather for February. 
Oley and Adelé went to get the oil changed in my car earlier in the day and they gave her this huge balloon, she loved it!

 Friday night when we got to the beach house we just relaxed with a movie and popcorn.

 She would run towards the water, she loved it!

 Ad didn't sleep well while we were there.  Okay, let's be honest she didn't sleep at all.  The first night we thought she would be fine but alas she is now able to climb out of her pack and play so it took us a few hours to get her to go down.  The second night rather than try to make her sleep by herself her and I slept on the pull out couch. 

 The second day when we were on the beach she would run to the water see the waves coming crouch down and scream.  It was adorable!  We love living so close to the ocean.

Making Valentines

Now that Adelé wants to participate in everything that I am doing she and I made some Valentines to send to her family.  She loved getting to color all over the inside of the cards and was so proud when we were all done.

She loves to pester Dinky.  Her new favorite ways are to chase him with her car and sit with him while she eats food he knows he isn't supposed to eat.

When she isn't playing with the dogs you can be sure to find her with a book.  Tonight she was carrying around her doll and kitty - interesting she chose those two to play with someday she will realize the significance of both of those toys.

Facing Forward

When we first installed Adelé's car seat before she was even born the comment made by the woman helping install it was "don't flip them around too soon, it's much easier to fix a broken leg than a broken neck".  Since that time I have been relentless that we won't turn her around until she is 2 years old.  Obviously others choose to turn their babies around before this and it's safe according to the car seat manufacturer so I am not saying it's bad, we just chose not to.  Well it's getting to the point where Adelé's knees are bent at farther than a 90 degree angel so we opted to turn her around. 

This has given her a whole new perspective in the car.  On our first trip into town with this new arrangement she waved at the drivers next to us and helped whenever we were stopped at a red light by saying go.  She is going to be the best little back seat driver!

She is growing so much it's amazing how much she now looks like a toddler and not a little baby anymore.  Sad how fast she grows. This past weekend at mutual she wanted to be right up with the girls painting fingernails.   

I stayed home from work on Thursday to work with her.  She wanted to be right next to me at the table the entire time doing what I was doing.  She amazes me everyday!  She is able to sing along with the ABCs and tell you what letter comes next.  So entirely blessed to have her. 

Broccoli, Bracelets, and Cupcakes

If Adelé had her way we would eat broccoli every night with dinner.  This pumpkin loves it!

The past few times we have been at the grocery store Adelé has begged for cupcakes, I am not sure where she has learned what a cupcake is but she was adamant that we made some.  So we bought the mix got home and made them.  When they were all ready I put her in her high chair and gave her one.  She examined it, poked at it with her finger, licked a little frosting off of her finger and then preceded to use the frosting as body paint on her belly.  She did not eat a single bite of the cupcake.  I dunno where this girl gets these ideas. 

 

Probably the best part about my job is that it is so family friendly.  Everyone at work tries hard to make families come first, this leads to a lot of conversations and pictures shared of our families.  One of my closest colleagues always loves when I bring Adelé in because she treats her just as one of her grandchildren.  So the other day when she brought Ad a little present I wasn't surprised.  Adelé loved the lollipop made of hair bands.  She played with them for days.  

 Tonight as we were going up for bed she crawled up a few stairs laid down on the stair and said "Adelé so tired" than pretended to snore.  I couldn't help but laugh. 

Headbands

Adelé absolutely loves getting pretty.  For Christmas she loved getting chap stick, bracelets, and necklaces.  She loves sitting on my lap and helping put make up on.  But most of all she now knows how to put her own headbands on!  As you can imagine one just isn't enough anymore.

 

All of her dolls and animals needed a headband too.  Love this girl!

 

Gratitude

This past weekend has made me really stop and give thanks for all that I have been given and realize how fortunate I am.  On Sunday my colleague from work lost her son in law who was diagnosed with ALS in October and we lost our YW secretary from cystic fibrosis.  Both of whom were in their 30s with children under the age of 8.  It was heart breaking to feel for their spouses and their children. 
I am so grateful I know that their is a life after this and that we are sealed for time and all eternity.  What happens in this life is only a short period in the grand perspective.  This knowledge does make these trials easier, but they are still trials and still sting. 
I have reflected over the past few weeks and can't help but share me gratitude for what I have been given.  This has really given me the opportunity to focus on what matters most. 
I am so grateful for our little girl and how much joy she brings to us.  She loves Dinky and Lily.    

I love that not only is Oley willing to work hard for our future and go to school, but he is also extremely domestic - Ad loves the pillow case that he made her.

 I love that Ad's hair is so difficult to tame in the mornings.  It gives me a little extra time every morning to spend with her letting her know how much she means to me. 

I love her spunky little personality.  She now covers up her mouth when she laughs - she is a crack up!

 I am so glad that our dogs are so patient with her.  She loves to cuddle, torture, and play with them. 

 I love how chill she is,  her easy going personality makes me realize I need to slow down a little and just enjoy the moment. 

 She is extremely smart.  She always wants to be doing something to keep her mind busy.  Play dough has been her biggest thing recently.  She is now able to count all the way to ten it's amazing how smart she is getting.  I absolutely love her and I strive everyday to be a better mom for her.

I am so grateful for the opportunities the Lord gives me and hope that I live up to the potential he has given me to be the wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend he wants me to be.