Playtime with Laura

Now that Laura is walking, playtime is a lot more exciting. We can go to places we weren't able to go before. Laura enjoys playing with us and with other kids, now. She is really becoming a little girl and less of a baby. Here are some of our favorite pictures from the last few weeks...

Playing ball at the park. She can't really throw yet, but she tries very hard. Usually the ball just falls at her feet, but she thinks she has done something worthy of clapping and praise!She absolutely loves to swing!! (I guess that is pretty obvious by the look on her face.) Her favorite thing is to be pushed really high -- sometimes it makes me nervous!She has recently decided that pushing her stroller is much more fun than riding in her stroller. Her steering abilities leave a lot to be desired, so the pushing doesn't usually last long. Fortunately, she doesn't fuss too much when I put her back in and push her myself!She now enjoys playing at the playspace in the mall. I'm happy that our mall has one area for little kids and one for big kids -- I don't think we could do this if there was just one area. I do get a little nervous about all the germs. Hand sanitizer is our best friend while we are there!She really enjoys the fountain at the mall now that she can run around. When the water stops, she will often put her face over the hole that the water comes out of -- imagine her surprise when the water shoots out again!
One of our neighbors recently moved and gave us their slide. We took Laura out to play on it today for the first time and she had a blast!! She doesn't quite get the concept of going up the ladder and often slides down and tries to climb back up the slide -- but we are working on it!

Music Class...and Laura's WALKING!!

Laura and I have been attending a Music and Movement Class on Monday mornings for the last month. I thought it would be something she would really enjoy since she starts dancing every time she hears music -- anything from a TV commercial to me singing her a song. I was a little surprised the first time we attended the class because she didn't budge from my lap. There wasn't much interest at all in the songs, games, hand motions, or the props that go with each song. Every week she has become a little more comfortable with things and has started moving around.

But boy was this week different because... LAURA CAN WALK!! She has been flirting with walking for almost 2 months now. She has had all the skills but not the courage needed to finally let go and start moving. Last Monday, though, was the day that it all "clicked". All of a sudden, she was walking around...and gaining confidence quickly. By Wednesday, she was hardly crawling at all. And today at music class it was like she was a different child.

She shook her little bottom during the music, she walked around trying to see what the other kids were doing, she tried to use the props the correct way and when she couldn't do it - she did it her own way! It was so much fun to watch her this week, even though it was a little sad to see my baby playing with the big kids.

Her skills are getting better every day. Last night I think she even tried to run! That attempt wasn't very successful and ended with a hard thud on the ground - but it won't be long, I'm sure, before she figures that out, too.

It is amazing how fast they grow up! We are loving hearing her little voice say new words and try out new sounds. Her favorite are Da! (dad), Do! (dog), and Du! (Duck) -- and all are said with great gusto. She growls when asked what a tiger says and makes some sort of strange barking sound for the noise a dog makes. She can point to her nose and sometimes ear when prompted. She is a huge fan of belly buttons and taking off her shoes. She loves to give us kisses (a little sloppy) and hugs that melt our hearts. A year ago we didn't even know about Laura and now we can't imagine our lives without her.

Texas Family Reunion

Shawn, Laura, and I just recently returned from Texas where we spent 5 days with Shawn's immediate family. We had a great time visiting with everyone, especially considering Shawn's brother and his family will be heading back to Kenya in August and we won't see them again for 2 years! The weather was absolutely beautiful -- not nearly as hot as east Texas normally is in July. We were able to have a family picture taken, go to the pool and a local water park, and spend a lot of time sitting around talking. Enjoy the pictures!

The whole family (minus one nephew that had already headed back to Kenya) - taken by a friend of Shawn's sister. She did a great job!

The 3 of us...if you look really closely you can tell that Laura just took a bite of her flower!

Laura loved pushing her cousin Ava around in this baby stroller -- it provided hours of entertainment!

A nice picture of Shawn and Laura.

Laura loved the water park. She had no fear and even went down the kiddie slides by herself!

Laura and MeMa

Fatherly thoughts: 'Bug' and the last bottle

You killed your first bug today.

Daddy was so proud … mommy nearly cried. Well, Ok, it wasn’t a “bug.”

It was a worm … not exactly a bug. But close enough. It’s creepy and crawly and everything a bug should be.

You and I were hanging out on the porch this afternoon, and I spotted it crawling around in the grass. I immediately did what every good father would do – I picked it up and handed it to you.

You seemed to think it was pretty cool with all of your ooohs and ahhs. You quickly began to squash it between your fingers. I told you to be gentle – at least at first. I didn’t want all the fun ending too quickly.

But, since you're still working on your English skills, you really don't have a clue what gentle means. The next thing I know ... you hand me half of the worm. Last time I checked, the worm was on life support. It didn’t look good for the poor fella.

So anyway, your mom called and I gave an update on how your day had gone so far. I gave her the morning nap report: you slept a couple hours. I gave her the lunch report: you ate a grilled cheese sandwich and some applesauce. And then I just casually mentioned that you were playing with a worm outside … I didn’t even mention that you pulled it apart yet … and your mother immediately became alarmed. “Shawn, she’s a girl. She’s not supposed to play with worms.” And I guess this makes sense, since your mom declares something is dirty if it has a spot the size of a pinhead on it. And since I seem to have a spot or two on about every shirt and pair of pants I own, I’m always wearing “dirty clothes.”

I eventually mentioned the pulling apart element of the story, and your mother started asking over and over if I washed your hands. And at that point, she sounded a little teary ... maybe not ... but it sounds more dramatic that way. "Have I washed her hands?" I thought.

“Stephanie, it’s a worm … not Cobra or a disease-infested rat. It’s a worm!”

So maybe you got a little extra protein today. Big whoop. I’m definitely learning about your mother's fear that you will become a Tom Boy ... or fall in love with ultimate fighting. She’s all about dance and gymnastic lessons and whatever else little girls do. Of course I can’t help but hold out a little hope of seeing a little black-haired ponytail blowing in the breeze as you chase down a soccer ball. I mean, come on, you're Colombian. There has to be some soccer genes in there somewhere. Well, Laura, whatever you decide to do mommy and daddy will be proud of you.

Last week, you took the big step of officially moving from a bottle to a sippy cup. I have to admit I had your mother take a picture of the last bottle. A little corny, I know, but I'm glad I did. It seemed like I looked away for just a second, and you had already finished it.

It made me a little sad – but not as sad as that worm. May he rest in peace ... or pieces.