Dear Dash: Eighteen Months

With all of the 4th of July excitement, I'm getting this post out a little late.

Your newest words are "eyebrow" and "eyelash" which you try to poke on other people.
Nursery adventures: you love the games and activities, but hate it when mom and dad leave. one week you snuck out and tried to find us, and our home teacher found you wandering the halls.

you're in the 25% for weight and 75% for height.
I have to get 2T shirts for you but you are still in 12 month shorts.

cuddling with raja the tiger at grandma and grandpa's

when we told you the sparkler was hot, you tried to blow it out

you can climb almost anywhere in the apartment now

I pulled out my childhood stuffed animals and nearly doubled your collection

to dig dig dig dig dig dig dig is what we like to do

why read on your own when you can sit on mom?

you love to see the temple

hey neils, check out this "beef" (leaf)

great-aunt amy has the best toys

you loooove your cousin "abba" (abby)

we have a nice shaded sitting area in our front yard that you enjoy exploring in.
so many ants and bugs and dirt to play with.

you love your blanket 

you love dada, and we had a great father's day with him

we went to olive garden for aunt jenny's birthday,
and all you wanted to eat was a bowl of olives

blueberries are a new favorite

we got to see so much family this month

you've never been this high!
mostly because you have parents under 6' and our apartment ceilings are 7' and under

we try to go to 7 peaks waterpark at least once a week

staying safe and cool

Rhetorically,

Rebekah

Moving Plans FAQ's

For those of you who may not have seen the Facebook announcement, we are moving to South Carolina in August! Matt has accepted a job to work at Claflin University as an Assistant Professor of Psychology.

Question: When will you be moving?
Answer: Matt and my dad are driving across the country from August 10-13, and Dash and I will be flying to SC on the 13th.

Question: Where will you live?
Answer: We are looking in the Columbia area, but haven't found a place yet. We're currently debating between two different apartment complexes.

Question: Are you buying a home?
Answer: We'll rent for a year, and if everything works out we will buy one next year!

Question: Will Rebekah be working?
Answer: Not until she passes the SC bar...which she may have already passed. They have yet to release their passing score standard, so we are waiting to find out before making any plans.

Question: Will you be close to any family?
Answer: Yes! We will be within a few hours drive to Matt's sister, his grandparents, and his parents. Rebekah also has a cousin living in SC.

Rhetorically,
Rebekah

Temple Work

For the last three weeks, I've had the opportunity to work at the Provo City Center Temple in the Youth Center as a volunteer. This means I get to babysit all of the "kids" (age 21 and younger) that will be sealed to their parents. It has been so fun to play with these kids and then watch them be sealed to their parents! Each family has an incredible story, and although I don't get to hear all the details, it's fun to catch glimpses of their journey to the temple. When I was set apart, I was blessed to be able to feel the love of the Lord for these families as I served, and that has certainly come true.

Rhetorically,
Rebekah

Dear Dash: Seventeen Months

Dear Dash,

I have a lot to write about this month! You have so many mannerisms and milestones that I want to document so I won't forget them.

- You love to bark/growl at dogs when you see them.
- For some reason, you consistently call balls 'books'. Books are also 'books', as well as bugs.
- Whether we are pulling a shirt over your head or hiding in another room, you try to say 'boo' whenever possible.
-You love the pool! It makes us nervous sometimes that you will accidentally go in over your head.
- Although you love the outdoors, you would rather play in the dirt than go on a hike (see pics below).
- Your 12th tooth, the last of this set of molars, is finally in.
- You can drink from a straw!
- Dad and I switch off getting up with you in the mornings and you inevitably go to our door and bang on it in an attempt to get the other parent up.
- You finally say 'mama' and 'dada'!
- You sleep through the night most of the time.
- New words learned: 11 (my favorite is "a-na-da" meaning "another")
- Your favorite outdoor toys: sticks and bugs
- You like to help with chores, even if it means they take longer. You help push the vacuum with us, take clothes out of our hampers when we are doing laundry, and put clothes in the dryer.
- You have a happy stomping dance you do, especially when we let you walk on our bed.
- You learned to blow kisses, thanks to operant conditioning by Dad's general psychology class.
- You are getting a major farmer's tan. You inherited mom's complexion over dad's.
- Lastly, you will shake your head 'no' when you do something you know you shouldn't (like bite mom or dad).

"Are they twins?"
Shopping with cousins.

Busy balls at Grandma's house.

You loooooove your Aunt Megan. And she doesn't even try that hard to play with you. It must be her aura...

This photo was taken when you were really trying to get me to follow you up the stairs.
You were so proud of me when I finally came up.

Backing the grocery cart up.

This looks like you had a blowout, but the brown stain is really from you playing in the dirt.

Your favorite park past time: digging with sticks. 

Here James, let me show you how it's done.

We're trying to hike and you're like, "but we're passing prime patches of dirt..."

This is what happens when mom tries to rest on the couch.

Braving the splash pad!

Here dad, let me massage your shoulders while you work. Jk, I just want a piggyback ride.

Anything can be a phone. Whether it's a play phone, a ball, a car, or a stuffed animal.

Rhetorically, Rebekah

Memorial Day

We visited the Spanish Fork cemetery and they had flags and crosses out for everyone in the cemetery who had served in the military. Dash loves flags, but seeing so many in one spot was kind of overwhelming. 

We found Grandpa Slocum's cross and flag!

We visited Matt's Grandparent's grave. They have a temple etched in the middle, and since Dash loves temples, he couldn't help but point to it. 

Family Selfie! Apparently Dash was distracted by the dozens of flags and pinwheels.

We have Seven Peaks passes so we went for the first time today! Dash had a blast. We had our first swim lesson where we worked on kicking and teaching him to hold his breath if his face is covered by water. Dash has no concept of drowning, so we had to stop him several times from jumping, running, or crawling into water that was over his head. 

Surprisingly, he wore his sunglasses for the majority of the time!

Rhetorically,

Rebekah

Dear Dash: Sixteen Months

Your great-aunt Kristi died at age 42 this month. She loved you sooooo much! Our last memory with her was in March when she came out and greeted you by saying, "Dash! Did you push a car under the door? Did you push a car under the door?" because she had seen the instagram video I posted. She had a picture of you pinned up in her room and was always thrilled when we came to visit. 

You now say three new words: "boo!" "umbrabra (umbrella)" and "guck (duck)"

You are learning about colors with the help of our beautiful yard.

You graduated! Just kidding, Dad did. 

You are so curious and willing to try new things. Like play the korean danso.

This month's illness was hand-foot-mouth.
Except instead of getting boils/blisters on your hands, feet, and mouth, you got them on your chin, legs, and butt.

You are so independent! You want to get out and explore wherever we go.

I tried styling your hair. It didn't last too long.

You love to wave good-bye at any opportunity!
Even though your wave looks more like karate chopping.

Rhetorically,

Rebekah