Dear Dash: Twenty-one Months

Dear Dash,

This happened a lot sooner than we expected, but you discovered how to climb out of your pack n' play. And believe me, it is quite impressive. You swing your leg all the way up to the rail like a gymnast and use your arms and leg to pull yourself up and slowly rotate over the edge, dropping to the ground with toes pointed. You have also had some falls as you lost your balance, so we've purchased a toddler bed.  It will be here in a few days.

Favorite Books: the Book of Mormon (no joke. you love the photos. we sing a different hymn or primary song for each one) and Hop on Pop.
Favorite Songs: Book of Mormon Stories and Barbara Ann.
Favorite Activities: Cooking eggs. Every. day. And watching "A SHOW" aka a slideshow of my childhood pictures.
Words of the Month: "writy" = library, "shishors" = scissors, jesus, or listen

And now, the pics of the month:

Trying to drink the milk from your cereal.

Alan the Alligator needs to snack, too.

Spiked hair after a bath

Drill time! We had a lot of repairs done on our apartment this month.
I let you use our drill so you wouldn't steal the handyman's.

You were thrilled with the large fan we borrowed to dry our carpets out after we discovered 4 water leaks.

Dash the kitty cat

Still obsessed with shoes.

Trying on Dada's cap and gown (Matt has to wear these several times a year for various events).

Taking out the trash- you love to help any way you can. I also let you bring in groceries from the car.

Munching on a burger as we shop for cars.

"Arrow!!" Part of our daily walk is to find all the spray painted arrows on the sidewalk.

We finally made it to the park!!

Conference selfie.

Making bread in a bag.

Chilling by the stands while Matt plays ultimate frisbee.

FHE object lesson backfire- you took "hold to the rod" WAY too literally.
We couldn't get you to let go. 

Rhetorically,
Rebekah

Dear Dash: Twenty Months

Dear Dash,

What a month it has been! We moved across the country, and it was rough. You were the crankiest we've ever seen you this month, and we attribute it mostly to lack of sleep. Now that you are back on your regular schedule, though, things are better.

This month was filled with happy memories, like:

cousin hand holding at our last lunch together in UT

matching with daddy

meeting one of mommy's missionary companions

being served by gma

looking at family photos and church videos

exploring our new sandy backyard

reading all of the books we get from the library
(we go several times a week since it's right down the street)

baking

begging mom to come outside

playing in the torrential rain

reading family histories

chilling at the pool

We got to see a lot of our North Carolina relatives, too! Grandpa, Uncle Scott, and Aunt Emily came down for Labor Day weekend, and Grandma Hiatt babysat when we first were moving in. You've settled in well to our new home and you love being outside. You don't let the heat or your multiple mosquito bites get you down.

Rhetorically,
Rebekah

Pride and Prejudice

Pride and Prejudice is one of my favorite stories. I own the book, and I love watching retellings of the story, such as:

I may have also seen the 1980 BBC version, but I can't remember. This week, I watched yet another adaptation known as "The Lizzie Bennet Diaries" on Youtube. This series was published on a weekly basis from 2012-2013. There are 100 episodes (not including episodes with side characters) that are each 3-7 minutes long. So it ends up being the length of a BBC series, and a pretty thorough retelling of the story. 

Of all the retellings of Pride and Prejudice, this one made me see things in a clearer light. Because this is set in modern day, there were certain things Lizzie did that made me question how prejudiced I may inadvertently act. Her prejudice almost got overbearing at times, but luckily other characters helped me through those parts. I loved the adaptations they made for her to be more relatable and realistic. I also liked the theme of well-intentioned advice. From Darcy to Bingly, Lizzie to Lydia, or Darcy to Georgiana, although the advice was well-meaning, a lot of times it ended up hurting the recipient more than helping. (It could also be the way in which they gave their advice.) Anyway, the series left me with a lot to analyze about my own personal interactions. I would definitely recommend it. Rating disclaimer for my mother: There is language and innuendo, mostly referring to events off screen. 

Rhetorically,
Rebekah

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