Rebecca had a great birthday, last Saturday.  I thought I would share a photo or two and some video of her eating cake.  We skyped and facetimed the grandparents, and while it's better than nothing, and it's great that we can do these things, with all the new amazing technology.  I sure did miss getting through a big party.  I was day dreaming about how much fun we would have had back in Florida, with a cook out, kids running around the yard, and every body we know from Church hanging out for several hours that afternoon.

















Anyway, she didn't know the difference, and I did a few things to make it special.  We had a family field trip that morning, and I decorated the kitchen for her birthday.  I had trouble finding owl stuff, the really cute ones I found on line were back ordered, so I found some little birdies in pink and teal.  She loved the attention.  The best part, I didn't even get on camera, was when they sung Happy Birthday to her at Red Lobster.  She bounced and clapped, and grinned and everyone.  Then of course she tried to grab the candle.  Gary thought she might be one that would, and he was right.  She is still enjoying playing with the balloon, when she can fight it away from the other two.

I had my 1 year doctor's appointment this week.  I now weight 19 lbs 11 oz, and stand at 2 ft 3 and 1/4 inches tall.  I will be going to see a specialist in a few weeks about my clogged tear duct.  I did not like getting shots, and I have been informing everyone, ever since in my most complainy voice, while insisting on being held all day long.  I also have forced Daddy to sing pretty much every moment he is in my presence.  Maybe if I complain enough, next time they will think twice about giving me shots.

"Rebecca put Momma into a Cage"

Us painted at the library yesterday.  Us painted with strings and with paint brushes.  Us swirled them around.  It was very fun.  Me make pictures of Momma in a cage, and a rainbow.  Us read some books about painting.  I want Momma to get me some more art for school.  I like pink and purple art best.  I want to learn about mixing colors up.  You put your paint brush in one then two.  We have mixed blue and white, and it makes another blue.

Today we started learning about my favorite planet - Saturn.  Grumps and I are going to eat cacorn and watch it.  It is my favorite because it has all those rings made of ice.  Maybe the rings came from a moon that bumped into Saturn and it would be destroyed.  And now it makes all those beautiful rings.  It is a round ball of different kinds of gas.  The white clouds are made out of cleaner (ammonia clouds), and they have small great white spots that are storms like Jupiter's great red spot.  Saturn only has one really big moon - Titan. It is yellow like Io so I bet it has sulpher.  It also has two special moons - shepard moons.  They keep the rings together.  This guy found Saturn and thought it had ears.  He was wrong.  Someone else had "highscray telescope", that means a telescope that could see more far away, and found out that they were rings.

Rebecca,

I sit here typing, while trying to rock and hold you, humming our go to song when you are being pitiful, "When Sorrows Encompass Me Round".  I am astonished to think that you have been with us an entire year now.  You have such a open loving personality.  You prefer me, but aren't clingy the way Britt can be.  You are very happy, but have a fire about you that Ruth doesn't have.  Unlike the other two - one who is just like Daddy, and the other who is just like me in personality - you really are more of a blend of the two of us.  And yet of course, you are your own person.

You look up to see what Britt is up too, before burying you face back into my shoulder and sighing the way you've heard me do nearly every time we cuddle.  Then you pop that thumb back in your mouth find your taggie.  You are such a fun age now.  You can walk, but are still light enough to be carried.  You can entertain yourself or play with the other two, but still want to be cuddled.  You are finally done with breastfeeding and formula but aren't picky about what food you eat yet.  You aren't talking yet, but it's getting easier to figure out what you want, or don't.

It is amazing to me just how fast you have mastered walking.  In a week you have gone from falling about every 6 steps, to not falling at all.  You aren't moving that slow either.  You have sprouted 2 new teeth this month, and I think you may be working on more as you are rubbing your gums in the back alot and tugging at your ears again.  You are completely on milk in a sippy cup and table food now.  Though, I am using the last of the baby cereal to thicken applesauce in the mornings at breakfast, at least until we use the last of it up.  You continue to love all sorts of fruits and vegetables best, though you've started eating a little more meat.

I have packed up all of the 6-9 month clothes except for a few dresses, and that's only because we only have one long sleeve 9-12 month dress.  Surely it will warm up soon, all the cute outfits are summer time clothes, and I am sick of winter.  You seem to agree with me, as you make faces anytime we go out into the wind, and you weren't enthusiastic about your first time out in the snow last week.  I feel for you, since we aren't suppose to let you wear any kind of real coat in the carseat, moving between the car and buildings isn't exactly warm.  You remain in size 3 diapers, but they are starting to be a little more of a stretch around your belly.  When we finish the current mega box, I'll probably bump you up a size.  I'm curious to see what the doctors will say next week at your doctor's appointment.  I feel like you've really grown in the last two months though I think you are still short for your age, you seem to finally be putting on some weight.  Your hair sure has grown too, it will stay behind your ear now, and as long as you don't pull the clip out, it doesn't get in your eyes anymore.  I think I'll be waiting on that first haircut a while longer.  Your eye hasn't cleared up yet, so I expect that we will be getting a referal from the doctor as well.

You don't really talk, though you are very expressive with your actions.  I am always amazed at how you play with your siblings.  I know they say that babies can't play "with" others at this age, but you really do.  Britt and Ruth have pulled out the tools and are working on my furniture now, and you were reaching for them.  I sat you down, and you immediately went and found a tool and started "helping".  I see this alot, you grab the little knife when the others start to sword fight, or get your little combine to drive, when Britt or Ruth pull out something with wheels to drive.  If they all jump on Daddy to wrestle you waddle over and grab a leg.  I even noticed this week, Britt asked Ruth "Do you want to play with dinosaurs?" And you went to pick one out before she could decide and came back to Britt with it.  I think you understand alot, and always want to be a part of the action.  You like to sit and turn pages in books, but don't care for me reading too you.  You always act real impatient to get the page turned, like you are bored with the entire process.  It's the only thing that you don't care to do with the older two.

I have no idea when you wake up in the morning, since you are always playing quietly in your bed when we check on you, sometimes even when Daddy peaks in before 7.  Around 9 or 9:30 you start letting us know you are ready to get up, eat, and get out of the bed.  You take a long nap, usually going down around noon or one, and sleeping till 5:30 or 6.  Then you eat supper and want to spend most of the evening being held, before heading to bed anywhere between 8 and 10.  Our days are pretty routine other than Friday and Sunday.  Friday we spend in town running errands, and you nap while I wear you in the grocery store.  Occasionally like today, we will all venture into Harrisburg on Saturday. Sundays are harder because you don't nap well unless you are laying down in your bed, and we are gone all day.

We hope you keep your laid back personality and determination.  I really do think that you can do anything you put your mind too, if you pursue it.  But being able to go with the flow is something that your Daddy has the market on, that I don't.  If you can hang on to that trait, you'll find that you have alot more peace than your Momma has, that you can make adjustments and still get to where you want to go.  We love you so much, Little Bit, and can't wait to see where you go in life.  You are a blessing, and we pray only God's best for you.

Love,
Momma

I painted Tinkerbelle and my Ice Fairy.  They came from my aunts.  My aunts are very sweet.  I got them for Christmas.  I like them.  I am going to put them up on my shelf with my things.  My like both best.  Britt got somethings to paint - Spiderman and a bad guy.

-Ruth

Happy Valentine's Ruth,

Daddy loves you.  You are 3 and 1/2 today, but you seem almost older than that.  you are no longer dependent on diapers.  You are capable of eating with a fork, though you don't always.  You can get your clothes on and off without assistance.  In many ways you've become very self sufficient in this very short year.

Britt and you seem to be just as close if not closer than you were last year.  You continue to play well together, and you seem to be right with Britt in school.  And now that Rebecca is getting older and more mobile, you try very hard to include her in your games and theatrics.  You get to be the big sister now, a role you seem to enjoy.  This past month you've started going to a local homeschool co-op, every other Friday you get together.  Momma says you are doing very and well fitting it.  It doesn't surprise me, as you play well with others and know no strangers.

In other areas you do still seem young.  You still need Monkey WAY too much.  We've started limiting you on where all he can go, because you lose him, and we have to frantically search, as no other monkey or toy can compare.  You still like to suck your thumb like a "Ba-by" which you hate to be called.  Part of that is monkeys fault though, it's a reflex when you have him.  One more reason we are beginning to limit him.  Getting you to eat an entire meal is a real struggle.  I know your hungry but forcing you to sit down and actually swallow food is frustrating.



Things we need to work on this year are not whining, getting better at picking up and cleaning up, and we are going to start doing more little task.  You have some like putting away dishes after you finish eating, but Britt really does most of the chores.  We also hope to do more school and projects with you.

You tend to have a very loving and happy personality.  You enjoy playing and being with others, not just Britt, but kids at Church.  You have an eagerness to learn and figure things out.  Your favorite saying is "in just a second."  You are a bit too demanding at times, especially when you want a cup.  The bad thing, is that you demand it, take a swig or two and then leave it.  I guess you weren't dying of thirst after all.  You want to do everything Britt does - play in the bathtub, sleep in the same bed, fight swords, dress up as superheros at the same time, but you tend to have a much more calm demeanor than he does.  He runs head long straight forward into life, and you tend to be more go with the flow.

In that line of thought, what I hope to help you learn is to be content.  One of our main problems, or disciplinary concerns with you, is that you whine and complain alot.  Being content isn't something that you can learn overnight.  It is something that everyone struggles with, but with brothers and sisters you will learn sharing and a concern for others more quickly.  Contentment, to a certain degree is learning to put the needs of others ahead of yourself.  If Rebecca is playing with a certain toy, even if it is one of yours, it is always better to let her play with it, while you pick out another toy.  We have more toys than we know what to do with between you three, and I find it important that you learn to share with one another and play together without fighting.  I love the fact that you tend to be easy going and happy, but you sulk when something doesn't go your way, or when you lose in a game.  You can have a temper, and you need to learn to more content with having a good time with what you have, rather than what you don't.

I love you, Ruth, and want you to keep on smiling and laughing.  My prayer is that you grow to be a loving and caring lady.

Love,
Daddy

Dear Rebecca,

Momma is being her normal self, refusing to let me call you Becky J.  On a good note, Britt calls you Rebecky sometimes.  Which is funny, because Momma can't stand for you to be called anything but Rebecca.  But it is fun to call you Becky J, and RJ, and many other shorter versions of your name.  So, Rebecca, Happy Valentines Day, and happy one week early birthday.

It's been a year of lots of changes for our family and for you.  You being our first child to not be born in the South, so Britt would call you a "Ankee".  You were born in Feburary.  I got a job offer in March.  I started to work the first of April.  You all moved here the first of May.  Life has been changing all the time.  From your last post I wrote, you were just starting to have a real crawl, now you have progressed from speed crawling to standing up and walking.  You are now eating alot of table food.  It's great because you aren't a picky eater, and especially love fruits and veggies.  You seem to really enjoy noodles and grapes.  We've discovered that you are already better at this eating thing than Britt and Ruth.  You have started taking baths with the other two.  While they are playing in their own world, you are content to watch and listen to them, and maybe chew on a foam toy.  I can still wash your hair without you having a meltdown about water in your eyes unlike the others.  You still have a very contagious smile, and seem to light up when people make contact with you.  You seem to love to be picked up and held by anyone and everyone.  Also, to Momma's joy, you really love snuggling and cuddling.  You seem to be easy going and happy with most things in life.

You really enjoy following Britt and Ruth around.  You try to play with them often, even though they are much bigger than you.  Seems that they will run into the dining room playing, and you crawl off after them.  Or when Britt plays on his leap pad, and you try to sit in the middle of it to see what he's doing.  One of Britt's favorite toys that you like to play with is a retractable toy knife.  You like to wave it at him, and sword fight with him.  You with the dagger, and Britt (very careful) with the sword.  It seems the most animated you get is still with your bottle of formula.  When we mix it up, you bounce up and down, and it's really no surprise since your siblings were the same way.
















Comparing you and your siblings, you seem to pick things up much faster.  Particularly crawling and walking.  You seem very good at feeding yourself, with actually very little mess.  You also seem to be able to entertain yourself for a time quietly in the bed or the floor.  Also you have a fondness for Kita.  You like to sit and stare at her, and you try to edge up as close as you can, right within licking range.  While, Kita's still not quiet sure what to do with you.  Some of the things that you are not as fast as the other two at this age.  You don't talk and communicate much.  The only time you really only communicate is when you are fussing wanting to be picked up, or if we aren't coming fast enough with a cup or bottle.

Each year, Momma forces me to pick out something that I want to teach you, some important character trait that I want to instill in you over time.  I hope to teach you to be gracious - as in giving and forgiving.  To have a giving spirit, is a wonderful gift.  It is something that I have to work at on a regular basis.  It isn't just poured into you, but something you have to cultivate.  To give of yourself, to be love and kind to others even when they aren't, to be an encouragement in times of distress, these are hard things, but
this is a trait that is God honoring, because we are serving and helping one another.  The second part of being gracious is also to be forgiving.  This is even harder to do, especially when someone has done something wrong to you, mistreated you.  You have two older siblings that in someways will be pushy, headstrong and it will be helpful in your life in your relationships with them to learn to be gracious.  However, this will also serve you in the rest of your life.

Happy Valentine's, Sweetheart.
Love,
Daddy

So yesterday, was a normal sort of school day.  Britt and Ruth were sitting and playing playdo.  Momma was reading from Exodus, something about a tent.  I was hanging out in my high chair munching on peanut butter cheerios.  Kita was sprawled out on a kitchen rug.  When all of a sudden she looked up and saw this.
 It was going something like this.  One for me.  One for you.  One for me.  One for you.  She reached over, grabbed the camera, and got a few pictures before fussing at me.  I don't know why I'm not allowed to share.  All she does is talk to the other two about how good it is to share.  Sides, that's what Kita eats for a treat when she is training.  It's not like it was bad for her.  We were having a real good time till she broke up the party.

I had fun in the snow with Daddy.  He scooped up big snow and threw it everywhere.  Throwing snowballs was my favorite part though.  I rolled them all up in a ball, and then I couldn't throw them.  Daddy took them and threw them at Britt.  I forgot to sneak one and throw it at Daddy.  Maybe next time.

Kita likes snow too, she's so funny.  She eats snow, and puts her whole face in it and shakes it around.  Then she runs.  I like to watch from the window.  I don't like outsie much. I don't like cold.

I got a magazine from Ahna in the mail. It was all about Musk Oxen.  They have curved horns and big big fur.  They have it to stay warm when it is winter. They live close to us, almost at the North Pole. It is cold there. They live in a group called a herd, and their babies are calves too. I really like it. It was a good idea Ahna.