HVN Walking !!!!!

She's Walking !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Independence is upon us, HVN has been taking two to three steps over the last few weeks. However last weekend while at Grandma and Grand daddy Nicely's she took eight to ten consecutive steps so I knew this week would be exciting. Hope is officially walking and loves her independence. Like others she gives a little squeal everytime she falls and we encourage her to get back up and she does. She'll shake it off and be so proud of herself when she gets back up reaches her destination! I love the look when she's walking as a beginner with both hands in the air to maintain balance, with it comes a little waddle as she's concentrating on each step.
Last night we took her to a high school football game and the bleachers were too boring. I had to walk her up and down the sideline, sometimes she wanted my hand and sometimes not. All the while she was watching the lights, clapping with the band, waving "Hi" to many she doesn't know and loving her new gift of walking.
This picture was taken at the park yesterday afternoon, Rick's day off is on Friday so we had as much family fun as possible!!!!

Practicing for the Offeratory

HVN here with her friend, Hunter. I can't believe she is almost 3 months older that he and almost four inches taller.

Hunter & Hope Having a Moment

Hunter is the son of our new College & Singles Pastor and his wife. His mommy and daddy were moving into their house today, so Hunter came to play!!!

Fourteen Month Birthday

I love her in reds, violets, blues, pinks, yellow but esepcaiily green!!! I'm not so sure she loved standing by the tree, but it was cute for a moment. The top picture was snapped when I ask Hope how big she is and those arms went up and stretched out wide. Last night while brushing her teeth we found four more teeth coming in; three mollers and one eye tooth. This explains the runny nose and inflamed ears. I would have never thought she would get these big teeth altogether but she is! If you think of it, say a prayer for her we can tell she's hurting a bit since she's much more snuggly than usual and was up at 5am this morning...that is sooo not our girl...praise God!!!!

Reading Time

When HVN was first brought home I'd lay her on the guest room bed at night, lay next to her, hold a book up and read to her. Someitmes she would get three to four books read to her a day. Her eyes would light up, her limbs would get going, it was sweet to watch.
Still today she loves books. I'll often hear her in her room talking away, when I peak at her she's flipping through the pages of a book...reading! Like here in the picture!

Beautiful from the Outside In !!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9I5UV4VWCSk&feature=player_embedded

Happy 14 Month Birthday Hope Victoria !!!!!

Where Are Hope's Ears?

She knows them all...head, eyes, ears, nose, belly, knees, toes, feet, fingers, tongue, teeth, mouth and she especially knows to sit on her bottom!!!!
This has got to be one of the funnest stages of watching her discover her world!! She learns someting new and laughs in pride at herself!
The sweetest thing is when she sits down to eat, she reaches for our hands and bows her head to pray!! As we pray at night she automatically gets quiet when we say, "dear Jesus". He is so good to grant us the privilege of being her parents!!
Thank you SN for my darling outfit and Minnie from Disney!!! I love it on her!

Tomorrow HVN Will Be 14 Months Old

She loves outside play! Here she is playing ball, exploring the grass and watching the airplanes!!!

What's the Puppy Do?

Hope was watching Riley out the back door when she began doing this!!! She gets to feed him cookies from the door and he knows when she is there so he starts licking is chops! LOL !!!

Too Independent !!!!

Rick and I had the great privilege of going away with our other pastoral staff and their wives last week. It was a time of rest and relaxation. We were gone for about three days and really enjoyed ourselves. I did not realize how much I had been missing alone time with Rick over the last thirteen months and how very much it is needed. Hope has belssed our lives and we love every moment with her, part of me wanted to take her. However, God used this weekend to show me that the best thing we can give to HVN is a great marriage. A marriage where two people love one another, enjoy time together, challenge one another spiritually and can communicate about anything. One day when HVN is independent (its happening way too fast) we want her to look back and have fond memories of mommy and daddy loving each other and aiming every day to honor God. More importantly, we want her to see faith in action from those she has been closest to!

Thank You Howie for HVN's Birthday Gift!

Labor Day Weekend

MaMa & PaPa Pearce were at a local campground so we visited them several times throughout the weekend. HVN Loved her time with them and the great outdoors!!

HVN Loves Her Baby Alexander

It amazes me how young maternal instincts kick in! She knows to love her baby and feed her, but she doesn't feed her three times a day!

Shoes....but No Purses in Daddy's Closet!!!

She thought she new better than Daddy what shoes he should wear that day. She is a girl, so she's probably right!!!

Sweet Sounds

When Hope finishes all her lunch and dinner I normally offer her a vanilla wafer, she loves them! Well, on Wednesday, I said would you like a cookie? She responded with the "Please" sign and said, "Tootie". So I said of course you can have a tootie!! How cute was that??

She Does Like To Dance

I wonder if being a ballerina is in HVN's future, if not, she sure does look cute in the outfit!!!! So hard to believe she is getting this big. She can't twirl but she will be soon enough.

We Are Great

HVN moved up to the walker room on Sunday for promotion Sunday :(. She did great and seem to enjoy being with them, she is almost walking but not quite ready to let go of mommys hand. Thats quite alright with me. She looked precious on this day too, She was able to wear her Easter dress one more time, can't believe it still fit her.
She received a couple vaccinations today but more importantly she's off the charts in height and head measurements...and she looks perfect. She weighs 24 lbs and is 31 and a1/2 inches long at 13 months old. Gonna be a tall girl!!!!
She's eating anything she can get her hands on but especially loves chicken, veggies and fruit. Her favorite dessert is vanilla wafers. She loves her cold water sippy cup but it has to have ice in it. It just doesn't taste right without the shake and rattle effect of ice.
She's saying Hi DaDa, bye, Amen, PaPa, Momma was her very 1st word and she still says it :), She can sign Please, bye bye, More, and thank you.
She understands so well and follows many directions such as; sit down, take that out of your mouth, thats not a toy, come here, give it to mommy/daddy and STOP! Stop is basically for her safety and she is very good at obeying. We've refrained from always saying No, but give her clear directions and she responds much better.
We are having to work on Teeth are not for biting right now. She doesnt bite kids yet, but bites the furniture and us. I think because we play with her and blow on her skin and nibble on her chin that she is trying to do it back. Anyway, we know we have to stop it soon.
Her other favorite thing is to be outside. She loves her pink cadilac and swing. She also enjoys her new kitchen and the Zebra bouncy!!
She recognizes songs,people, food, and her favorite toys/books and baby dolls.
Her mind is expanding and its such a blessing to watch and be a part of!!