That Mines

Rebecca is definitely in the stage of MINE, or as she says it, "That mines!"

She has been in time out several times this week because of her refusal to share toys with friends. If she plays with a toy, then moves on, no one better touch the toy she was once playing with. "NO! That MINES!"

She says it to me about 50 times a day. "No, that mines. That mines milt!" "That mines diaper!" "That mines blankey!" "That mines bow!" You get the idea.

I realized that we had a BIG problem on our hands the other day as we left the grocery store. We were walking out of the store with all our groceries. A man was walking in to begin his grocery shopping.

Rebecca looked straight at him and said, "NO! That mines grocery store!"

Really now?

Starry Night by Van Kimball

Imagine It!

Yesterday we were having a tree cut down in our front yard. It was very loud, so Rebecca and I decided to venture out of the house. We went to the Children's Museum and had a blast! Rebecca had so much fun running from thing to thing. She was able to play with trains and tractors, drive cars, paint, climb, slide, splash in the water, play in a tree house, play with blocks, dance, play piano, and lay on a water bed. Before I knew it, it was way past my lunch time. I pretty much had to drag Rebecca out of the museum. We will definitely go back for a second visit.

Soon after this picture was taken, Rebecca decided to get up and try to go on stage with the actors. I was able to hold her back some, but she stood right at the edge of the stage and danced for the rest of the performance.

Dora, Dora, Dora

On Sunday, I had the chance to take Rebecca to one of my favorite places in Atlanta, The Fabulous Fox Theater. No, I did not drag her to a Broadway show, we went to see Dora Live: Dora and the City of Lost Toys. I have been so excited not only to take Rebecca to the Fox but to see Dora. As I might have mentioned before, she hearts Dora.

The Fox and the show did not disappoint. As soon as we walked out of the parking garage onto Peachtree Street, she was mesmerized. There were tall building, cars speeding by, flashing lights, and lots of people. She could not get enough of it as we waited on our friends, Ellen and Julie.

Once we were inside the theater, there was even more to see. I tried very hard to get a picture of Rebecca looking at the camera, but she was too busy taking it all in.

Rebecca got very excited once the show started. As each character came out she would scream, wave her arms, and say "Hey Boots!", "Hey Tico!" and on and on. It was so cute. The rest of the show she did not take her eyes off the stage.

At the end of the show, she stood up in my chair and danced and danced with the rest of the people in the Fox. She was bouncing up and downing and swinging her hair from side to side. I have never seen her dance so hard. I wanted to badly to pull out my camera and take a video, but I was scared to let go of her. Needless to say, Rebecca LOVED Dora Live.

Before the show, Ellen bought her girls both Dora dolls. Since Amelia wasn't at the show, Rebecca decided to take her Dora doll. I am not sure if she has let go of it since she stole it. (Not to worry, I bought Amelia a new one.) Dora has to be buckled in a seat belt when we leave the house. I have to hold Dora's hand when we walk up stairs. Dora naps when Rebecca naps. It is like I have two children.

In other news, Rebecca finally learned to jump getting both feet off the ground. She has been jumping for a while, but not properly. Here is a video of her practicing her new skill.

She also did some decorating in our Den. Dora does wonders as window treatments, don't you think?

First Haircut

After several days of bad hair, I finally came to terms that it was indeed time for a haircut. It really was killing me on the inside to cut her hair. I think it was a combination of that cutting her hair means she is growing up (Never mind the fact that she is about to be two. That doesn't bother me.), and that I wasn't ready for her to loose her curls.

Anyways, I decided to man up, with several tears along the way, and go to Pigtails and Crewcuts. Here are some pictures of Rebecca playing in the waiting room. Yesterday was humid, so of course Rebecca's curls were out. But on days that it is not very humid, her hair is a mess. Some of it curls, some of it is straight. She looks like a wild child on those days, and I look like a mother who doesn't care about my child's appearance. In this first picture, you can see how uneven the front and back are. There was at least a two inch difference. Mullet anyone? NO THANK YOU!

Rebecca was so excited about sitting in the car, but did not like the cape. She couldn't get her arms out. She cried a little at this point, but the hairdresser gave her some animal crackers. That seemed to help. Also, after I took a few pictures I read Rebecca a book in between my tears. The hairdresser told me I wasn't the first Mom to cry. That made me feel a little less like a crazy.

Rebecca did great, and did not want to leave the car. In the end, I am not sure if I would call it a haircut. It was more like a trim. I told the hairdresser not to touch the front or sides. Just to even out the back by cutting no more than an inch. I think it turned out great. John said he couldn't even tell she got a trim. Men! Here she is modeling her new do:

It's MY Party

I had a fantastic birthday yesterday. John told me I could sleep late, but for some reason, by stomach did not get the memo. I woke up at 7:00 hungry as a hippo. Luckily, I was greeted with this sweetness.

After breakfast and such, John and I dropped Rebecca off at Mimi and Papa's house and we went out to lunch and a movie. John has not been to a movie since Rebecca was born, so he was super excited when I decided I wanted to go see Harry Potter.

After the movie we went back to Mimi and Papa's house for cake and presents. Rebecca was going to help me blow out all the candles, but in the middle of the "Happy Birthday" she started to cry. She did not get the memo that it was not her party.

Once I blew out the candles, she started to cry even more because she wanted to blow them out. So of course, we lit one back up for her to blow out. Then we ate cake and peach cobbler. Yum-O! But Rebecca continues to ask for cake. She did not understand why she could not have cake for breakfast this morning.

In One Month

It is so hard to believe that in exactly one month, my baby girl is going to be two years old.  How did this happen?  It has gone way too fast!

She is growing and changing every day.  I thought that I would make a list of some of the things that she does that stick out in my memory.

*If she wants you to pick her up she says "I need me!"

*If she wants something she says "I need ...!"  Such as, "I need to watch Dora."  If she does not know what the thing is called that she "needs" she says "I need this."

*She says "I'm sorry" and "I missed you so much" a lot, but hardly every in the right context.  This morning when I went to get her out of bed she was looking for the book that is usually in her bed.  I pointed out that Daddy had taken the book out and put it on her chair.  She looked up at me and said, "I'm sorry!"  

*She is getting into the "I do it myself" stage.  She insisted that she put on her pajamas by herself last night.  She did a pretty good job if you ignore that her shirt was on backwards.  I did have to help pull up the back of her pants and find the arm holes, but other than that, it was all her.  

*She has to wear her rain boots everywhere we go.  She wore them to church on Sunday with her smocked dress.  Whatever!  If she is happy, who is she hurting wearing her boots to church?  I don't think God minded.  Plus, I think it is kind of cute.  

*She loves salad.  Mostly, she likes to eat the topping on the salad and lick the dressing off the lettuce.  In fact, she asked for salad for breakfast this morning.  

*"That's mines!"  is a new favorite saying.  

*She says "I'm otay!"

*She loves to be outside.

*She is not so sure of bugs.

*She is a complete and utter mess, but I would not trade her for the world.  She is my almost two years old baby doll!

Pictures from Cleveland

Rebecca and I had a great time in Cleveland.  Rebecca got to do some of her favorite things.

She found an old Halloween costume , which is made of thick felt, and wore it all morning one day.  It was hot, but she didn't care.  I am not sure if I told you about the time she found her old winter coat and wore it while we ran errands.  It was 97 degrees outside, but she did not care.  She wore her too small, winter coat all over Atlanta.  She just loves to dress up.  As I type, she is running around the house in a tutu.  

She splashed in puddles with Nannie.  There were no shortages of puddles seeing that it rained almost everyday we were there.  

She played with Carrie.  

She discovered a new love of microphones.  She loves to pick anything up and pretend it is a microphone and she sings.  

Playing dress up with John's batting helmet.

Playing with her cousins and kittens at The Hollywood Cafe in Tunica.  

Mae, Rebecca, Meredith, Mary Ann, Kate

We met John in Tunica for my cousin Joanne's wedding.  Here is Rebecca pulling up her dress.  This is something that she likes to do when we are in public places.  Should I be worried?  No Mardi Gras for her!

The wedding was held at the Mississippi River Museum.  It was right on the river, and it was beautiful.  Like I said earlier, it had been a monsoon in the Delta all week long, and Saturday was no exception.  It poured earlier that day.  Luckily, the outside wedding was able to happen outside.  

Here are a few pictures of Rebecca posing for some pictures.  Notice the stains on the front of her dress.  Someone gave Rebecca chocolate without asking her parents first.  We could have told them that it was a bad idea that would only end badly.  

Rebecca is a dancing queen.  She LOVES it, and I couldn't be more thrilled.  

Denise, her cute belly, and Mae

We stayed at the reception until after 9:00, which is 10:00 to Rebecca.  Once we got back to the hotel, I was sure that she would fall out.  BUT she was wired.  She even wanted to play dress-up.  Here she is with her Daddy's belt on. 

We had a great time in Mississippi, but we are glad to be back home with Rebecca's Daddy!