Dear Dash: Nineteen Months

Dear Dash,

You are big into kissing these days. You will kiss your stuffed animals, sleeping parents, and one time you literally grabbed me from behind and kissed my butt. Alternatively, you like to hit us and say "ow." If you see mommy or daddy playfully spank one another, you go on a spanking rampage. You make a fake snoring noise whenever you see anyone "sleeping" (with their eyes closed). You open and close your mouth like a fish when you want something to eat. You run full speed ahead, with your arms behind you. You had a "Little Mermaid" moment when you found a dry paint brush and when I told you it was a brush, you immediately used it to comb your hair. Your newest word is "wow!"

July was hot, hot, hot! Here's what we did to cool down:

Exploring in the shade

Playing inside while mommy tries to sleep in

Watering the yard with our landlady

Cleaning house with cousins

Sidewalk chalk!

Trampoline time

Rocking on porch swings

Eating out for mommy's birthday

Learning about the letter "o" (your favorite) with Auntie Angela

Sharing ice cream with grandpa

cleaning the table with tissues

Vacumming

Walking in daddy's shoes

Storytime at the library

Shopping with mommy

Rhetorically,
Rebekah

Lund Oregon Reunion

The Lund Oregon Reunion has been in the works for over a year now, and the only disappointment was that we couldn't stay longer! This was Dash's first airplane flight, and I'm so glad we could get a "practice run" in before flying out to SC next week. 

Here are some highlights from our trip: 

Dash really wanted to push one of our suitcases, even though it weighed more than him.
This is my mom and sister blocking him from escaping outside with it. 

Dash had to say "hi" to the people behind us...for at least ten minutes.

We took the Portland TriMet to get to our car rentals.
Dash loved being on the train. 

The biggest anticipation for me was Dash meeting his great-great-grandmother!
Unfortunately, he burst into tears the minute he saw her. I guess 95 year olds have a lot of wrinkles or something.
Anyway, it took two teddy bears and a lot of coaxing to get him to warm up to grandma, but he finally did!

By the end of the trip, Dash felt comfortable running up to grandma and sharing his shark.

Chatting in grandma's living room

Dash found this decorative duck at grandma's house and could not stop playing with it.

Five generations! Ages 1, 27, 50, 75, and 95.

Hug Point

Dash loved it when grandpa ("papa") squished him.

Cousin time! This is actually my youngest cousin, Sarah, who is a year older than Dash

Drawing with cousin Katie

Ukulele lessons with great-uncle David.

Chatting with cousin Sunnie and great-aunt Lora.

And now, THE BEACH!! Dash enjoyed playing in the sand, running into the water, flying kites, and riding a boogie board. Also, Matt made a zen garden.

Rhetorically,

Rebekah

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