A HUGE Update

Okay here are some pictures of what we've been doing the last two months while I've been MIA. Lots and lots of pictures! Madeline turned 14 months this week. I am really enjoying this time I have with her this summer. She is really liking her momma now (but still not as much as Dadda). In fact, she has developed a case of stranger danger and separation anxiety. This is horrible! I know it's the age, but I also think it has to do with her being home with me all day everyday. I pray it ends before I go back to work or that Miss Linda works her magic and makes it stop.

I am still taking naps with her in the afternoons- something I was hoping to break, but can't bring myself to do. I love this time. 1. she turns in to silly Madeline right before she falls asleep and we share laughs together. 2. I LOOOOVVEEE the snuggles and it is so precious to watch a sleeping baby. 3. I get 2-3 hours of rest as opposed to 1 hour if I put her in her crib.

We started teaching her sign language using a program called Baby Signing Time. We LOVE it! We put the video on while she is eating dinner and it keeps her attention plus she doesn't throw any food on the ground! She has already learned the signs for "more" "eat" and "baby". As a teacher I felt like I needed to "teach" her SOMETHING this summer. Do you know what kind of pressure is on us "Teacher moms"??! Okay, here's a look back over May and June.

First in May, we went back to San Diego for Aaron's graduation with his Masters degree from Point Loma Nazarene University. We figured we should go see where all our money is going. We are glad we did. This campus is beautiful! It over looks the ocean!

The outdoor amphitheater where graduation was held. It was a beautiful amphitheater.

Look at that view! WBU grads- I feel like we missed out a little. I mean- don't get me wrong, the people were great, but the view... doesn't compare to this (either does the price tag unfortunately)

So Sea World had a special for teachers. They were giving away free annual passes! We took them up on it. We loved Sea World! They have a great toddler/preschool area with a splash pad as well. Madeline is going to love coming here for years! She did great and we paid $12 for parking and that was it! Not bad- especially when you have a little one who isn't going to make it all day. This was our second trip back there. We are planning on going again once this summer and in the fall.

This is what I've been doing all summer so far. Cleaning up messes. This girl is in to EVERYTHING. This particular day I could tell she was looking for trouble to get in to.

The first picture is when she dumped her cereal out of the box and then realized she could eat it. She started licking it off her hands and playing in it. There was cereal everywhere!

In the second picture, she found the newspaper next to the trash can (gated off) and "read" it. Add a pot from the pantry, some recyclables, and her little bike and you have a masterpiece!

Playing with the water table in the back yard. I think it took longer to get her dressed than to play with the water table that day. She prefers playing with it when her clothes are on and she can get them soaking wet. She likes water. I think she may be a tomboy also! She is NOT afraid to get dirty. She LOVES rocks and dirt! Loves playing in dirt. And... loves eating dirt.

In the beginning of June, the city opened a new park a mile from our house. This is a great park! It was a really neat splash park. Madeline really liked the sprinklers. She really enjoyed making me walk through them getting soaking wet. We met my sister and her girls there for a picnic and play time.

We've been making many trips to the park this summer. I bring her walker and make her walk around the park. Madeline refuses to walk on her own, so we are on a mission to get her walking this summer. Since she just discovered how to crawl normally on her first birthday, she is enjoying speed crawling still. I am actually enjoying her inability to run away from me and to sit still and stay in the same place.