November 14th

I totally spaced November 12th.  But rallied on the 14th.  I'd really hate to miss a day now that I've been blogging a day each month for more than 2 years.

Joseph loves to bounce.


Rachel loves to entertain her little brother. 


Do you like Rachel's hair?  I wasn't feeling up to fixing it so I just pinned it back with a bunch of flowers.


There was spilled milk everywhere at breakfast.  No, I didn't cry.


Rachel made the most of the situation by feeding the milk to Joe's elephant.


Rachel watched Charlotte's Web while I cleaned house and worked on projects.


We took Doug's old computer armoire from the front room and made it into clothes storage for Joe's room.




Rachel loves to play "candycand."


Joseph entertained himself with a box while I folded laundry.


Rachel took a bath.  This basket is one of my favorite things.  I bought this basket of sand toys for $2.00 at TJMaxx.  I kept the shovel and pail and filled the basket with the kids' bath toys.  The water drains out the bottom and doesn't get all gross!  Rachel has until the water drains out of the bathtub to put all her toys in the basket.  Whatever doesn't make it into the basket becomes a lost toy.  If she gets all of her toys put away before the water drains she gets 2 of the lost toys back.  It's made getting out of the bath so much easier.


Joe is almost always happy at the end of his nap.


Rachel likes to help put away groceries.


Isn't he cute!



Rachel likes to use the oven as a mirror.



Joe got tired of reading.


So he decided to practice crawling.  But he can only scoot backward.  Stuck again.


My new found interest in pinterest.com has precipitated a ton of new crafts (for better or worse).  This is a "settle down jar."  The kid is supposed to sit and watch the glitter settle down to the bottom.  Then they can get up.  My  jar takes about 10 minutes.  I'm going to have to find a way to water it down.  Plus I need to find a plastic jar.  I'm afraid that it's going to get broken.  There would be glue and glitter everywhere!
 

The transformation of the front room into our library continues.


Rachel loves to help her dad.


Sweet peas.  Mmmmm.


"Nemanems" are Rachel's favorite treat.



We played Farkel.


Time to get ready for bed.  Joseph always giggles when we leave his onesie on his head.

Letters

This reads "Rachel."


You know this because it is underlined.  When we first began showing Rachel how to write her name we always underlined it and said, "Rachel."

"See?"  "Rachel!"

Stuck

(10/31/2011)
"I'm stuck."


"I backed myself between the couch and the end table and now... I'm stuck."


"Ooh!  A captive audience!"


  "Head, shoulders, knees and toes...eyes, ears, mouth and nose."
 

"It wasn't supposed to make you cry.  Maybe I can help you."


"Pull!"


"Well, now what?"


"Here's something to do while we think of something."


"Maybe I can chop my way out."


"That's it.  I'm exhausted."


"This is the face of resignation."

Rachel - 2 Years Old

I have put off writing this post because I wanted it to be perfect.  I wanted to make sure that I captured everything about Rachel at 2 years old.   Now 8 months older.  She has grown and changed.  I don't clearly remember everything.  So I am going to jot a few things down and post these beautiful pictures before she, or I, get any older.


At 2 Rachel could count to 12, name 10 shapes, identify the basic colors, and tell you the numbers and letters at sight.
 


(Switching to present tense even)  Rachel loves all things music.  She sings all the time.  Her favorites are "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star," "Old MacDonald," and "The Wise Man and The Foolish Man."


Rachel loves her little brother and would like to play with him the way she plays with her dolls.  She has no idea that he is going to grow up, start moving and stealing her toys.  On the flip side she will learn that making him smile and laugh will be one of her joys.



Rachel doesn't open doors or climb on furniture.  I'm not sure if that is because she is so busy reading books and stacking blocks, if she is just that obedient, or if she doesn't realize that she can. 


Rachel's favorite foods are oatmeal with applesauce, peanut butter sandwiches, cheese, and mandarin orange slices.  She tends careful about what goes in her mouth and is often hesitant about trying new foods.


Rachel likes "Sesame Street," "Signing Time," "Caillou," and "Little Einsteins."


 Rachel would prefer to be outside or in the bath at all times.

 
 

 Rachel is a joy to be around.  She is pleasant, loving, funny, polite, imaginative, curious and cuddly.  I can't imagine a sweeter, more wonderful daughter.  We love her to the moon.