HVN & The Hammock

Happy Father's Day Grandpa

We spent Saturday afternoon with my dad to celebrate Father's Day. Its so cute to see how Hope is now finding those in her life more endearing. Of course, when Rick and I are there we become chop liver compared to grand parents. We love how they love her and are able to spend time with her. She takes it all in and loves being with them...their toys are better (don't worry shes not riding on that bike anytime soon), their desserts are the best, they let her get dirty and play at her speed and we can't forget to mention how much she loves "Sadie' their Yorky. I thank the Lord for those who are loving and investing time in Hope's life, she needs them and that's part of God providing all that she needs. What a blessing!

Happy 71st Birthday GG

HVN calls Rick's mom "GG", we spent yesterday afternoon taking her and PAPa out to lunch for her birthday and for Father's Day. It makes Rick and I feel wonderful that Hope has wonderful grand parents that love all over her and make time for her. We both have such fond memories of our grand parents...growing up fishing, golfing, baking, helping in the garden, building doll houses (me not Rick), doing vacations and so on. I pray they all have many more years of life so HVN can enjoy them and build lasting memories .

Is She Really 23 Months Old TODAY?

Yes, she really is 23 months old today, not far from 2 and she can tell you and show you with 2 fingers that she will be "Dwo" on her birthday.
She is certainly one of life's blessings that we constatnly thank God for. She has a very sweet disposition and a smile that will melt your heart. She's quickly learned that her"pwease" with a little tilted head will get her just about anything. Recently, in the last week or so she has started to form sentences like "I want to do dat", "Pwease hold dat".
HVN is full of energy and loves to wrestle with daddy and play t-ball in the evenings. She continues to love reading books and playing outside and Kindermusick is a real love for her. Her favotire foods are now cashew nuts, ice-cream, pizza, any kind of fruit and chocolate milk. She's right on track with wearing a size 2T and just went into a size 7 shoe. She weighing 27 lbs and she's 34" tall. With legs taht long its hard to catch when she starts running! Her other favorite games are hide and go seek, flash cards, counting and leaning her ABC's.
As I was rocking her last night (as we have each nap and bedtime since birth) I was thinking of how fortunate we have been with a healthy little girl. She loves to eat and run and play and not much holds her back.
She's very special to us, so much so that our hearts are more endearing as the days go by. It seems as though we can never get enough hugs and kisses in before she's off and running again. I am loving this age and all the new sounds, words and immitating that she does.
Hope has loved being in the kitchen with me, especially when we make cookies...yes homemade/the old fashion way. I let her play in the flour and cinnamon, I let her take chocolate chips out one at a time for her sweet tooth and she is learning to mix.
Its hard to imagine that a day will come when she doesn't quite sit so still with me. But one thing is for sure, she will have a Rocking Chair in her room til she leaves home. Thats our special place and I'll rock her each and every day as long as she allows me and somedays I might not give her a choice. I have found that we chat, giggle, rub noses, kiss a million times, sing, pray, read books, quote scripture and more all in her rocking chair...this momma loves that place. In the evenings and nap time there will never be a place more important to me.

Colorado Continued...

Vacation's are from heaven, no doubt. Rest, family, fun, fresh air in the mountains and it doesn't get any better. We enjoyed a little over a week away. The sights were breath taking and it was great to be a part of many family celebrations; with Andrew's AFA Graduation, Andrew and Kristins wedding Shower and so much more. My favorite part was watching Hope experience planes, trains and all the things that go. That wa she is learning about in Kindermusik so each time we got on, saw or heard a plane she was doing her hand movement for a plane, then the choo choo and so on. Her mind is amazing, she doesn't miss a beat or a person. She is well aware of those she loves and calls them in anticipation hoping they will be at our next destination. It's precious and a reminder of The Maker and Giver of all good things, our Heavenly Father. To Him we are thankful for each new day together.