Happy 4th and Fourteen Months!

Sorry, I'm a bit behind, but better late than never, right? I hope everyone had a great 4th of July weekend, celebrating the freedom that our many service men and women work so hard to protect.

We spent the afternoon at a cookout/pool party at our Program Director's house. We enjoyed good swimming, good food, and good fellowship with our fellow Residents and their families.

July 4, 2008

(Laney was just 2 months old)

July 4, 2009

In addition to fun in the pool, Josiah tried out the homemade slip n slide, complete with dishsoap (helps in gaining distance).

There were also games. Josiah was excited to be able to participate this year. I think he was even more excited about wearing matching bandanas with Randy.

Our evening ended with a small backyard fireworks display. It was a great night...bright moon, no clouds, light breeze, and NO mosquitos. After spending the last couple of days saying how he wasn't going to be scared of the fireworks this year, Josiah ended up hiding out inside while Daddy, Laney, and I enjoyed the site, sounds, and smell of the fireworks outside. Laney even fell asleep during the "show", that's how much she enjoyed them. Oh well....maybe next year.

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And while we were celebrating our country's independence, we were also celebrating Laney's 14 month birthday. Laney is getting so big and is doing and saying so many things. A couple of weeks ago during a visit to see Randy, I weighed her....26.5 pounds, so still a big girl. She is still wearing 2T clothes and has grown into a size 6 shoe...and speaking of shoes, she loves to wear them. If she sees them laying around, you can most certainly expect that she will bring them to you, say "shoes" or "here ya go" and sit down. Definitely a girl (well, except for the whole not-wearing-a-bow thing)!

In addition to saying "shoes", Laney now says "juice", "go", "ouch!", "uh-oh", and "up". And she will clearly sign "please", "thank you", "milk", "more", "eat", and "all done" (and she'll also open her mouth REAL big if she sees something she wants to eat and say "ah, ah"). Laney is also thoroughly enjoying learning her letters and sounds along with her brother, she already knows that "the A says ah, the A says ah, every letter makes a sound, the A says ah". She is also learning her animal sounds and has cow, dog, and goldfish down pat. If you ask what a goldfish says, she'll open and close her mouth silently...it's SO cute.

Laney is still seated rear-facing in the car (her feet are just now barely touching the back of the seat). However, she will get an opportunity to see the world from a whole new perspective when we turn her around this week for my sister's wedding. I hope that she won't like it too much because I do plan on turning her back around when we get home....until her new car seat and baby brother/sister arrives.

Laney sure does love her brother...if imitation truly is the highest form of flattery. It's 100% "Monkey-see, Monkey-do" around here. And in just the last couple of days, she'll walk up to Josiah and give him a kiss. It's darling! Eeek, so many cute things to capture on video before they are gone and forgotten!

Laney, you are definitely one quirky, sassy, funny, and cute little girl...and we just love that about you.

Happy 14 Month Birthday!