Stella Spike!

The "Stella spike" is back!!

Spring Fever

We had gorgeous weather all weekend and spent more time outside than we did inside. Yesterday we went to lunch with Pop and Gram and then played in the park and enjoyed some ice cream. Later Rafe got his go-cart out and took Stella Ross on her first ride. He was such a good driver and Stella Ross loved it. I am sure she will want to start doing her own driving soon!!

Ready to go!

This girl loves her Pop and Gram

Rafe was doing some spying

Enjoying her new favorite food, ice cream!!

Bowser is so funny!

Tucker's 1st birthday!

Saturday night we celebrated our cousin, Tucker, and his first birthday. Tucker was born a month and a day after Stella Ross so we always have a great time when we all get together. Rafe and Charlie, Tucker's brother, were WILD boys playing football and jumping on the bed. Tucker and Stella Ross enjoyed playing with his new toys and eating the delicious cake and ice cream. I had a hard time getting Stella Ross away from my pocket book. She had a blast pulling everything out and putting things in. We even came home with one of Tucker's birthday presents, Elmo bath fizz! Was that an accident!!!!????

Stella Ross NEVER wears this or any bib, but she was so proud of herself for pulling

it out of my pocket book that she just HAD to put it on!!

Happy Birthday, Tucker!!

Monster Jam!

Cory and Rafe went to the Monster Jam truck show Friday night. They had a blast and are still trying to get their ears adjusted! All Rafe talked about was getting a Grave Digger hat. The only way you could get this hat was by purchasing cotton candy, which Rafe does not like. However this particular night he decided he LOVED cotton candy!! He was so excited and wore his hat the entire time!!

DOGgone good fun!

Stella Ross is proving to be a dog lover like her mommy. Rafe has always liked the dogs, but when they decide to nip at him or bite his toys, he gets really upset. Stella Ross has enjoyed Bowser and particularly likes to take him things to play with which sometimes ends up being one of her brother's toys! Uh -oh! Her favorite place to go is in the closet where we keep Bowser's food and water. Her baby even got a special bath in Bowser's water bowl!!

13 Months!!

Smile!!

Stella Ross is 13 months old today and boy is she a lot of fun. I feel like she has changed SO MUCH this past month. She is certainly not a baby anymore. She is now a babbling, spunky, on-the-go toddler. Once she started walking she has not looked back. We can hardly keep up with her now! It is quite challenging to keep her off the court during Rafe's basketball games. She wants to be out there playing with the big kids. Could we have a future WNBA player??!!

Here are some fun things about SR at 13 months:

• she has mastered smiling on command. Let's just say I am glad I have already had her portrait made! CHEESE!!
• LOVES books ~ her favorite books are flap books. So much fun to see what is under the surprise
• carries her baby doll around with her everywhere. I was lucky enough to find another one so I can attempt to keep one clean after it "mops" the floors at Wal-Mart! Gross!!
• Her favorite breakfast food is grits and her newest discovery is tomatoes. It could be the dressing on top, but she appears to LOVE them. Her all time favorite food continues to be cheese any time of the day.
• Drinks all whole milk now and is doing really well with her big girl cups. She is definitely ready to get rid of the bottle. I am the one not ready. That seems to be our only snuggle time!
• She is slowly transitioning to one nap. She takes her morning nap later and later every day. She now takes her second nap after we pick Rafe up from school and this gives me a chance to do homework with him. SR still goes to bed at 7:30 and sleeps until 7:00. This girl loves her bed.
• She is becoming more and more social. She loves to play with the children at church and Gymboree. It is so cute to see her interact with them.

GI Rafe

Playing Around!

We got a new video camera today so I was playing around with it to see if I can figure it out without Cory's help!!

A TERRIFIC Day!

Rafe's teacher sent a note home from school on Tuesday that said Rafe would be getting a "special" award at the 2nd nine weeks awards ceremony on Thursday. Rafe was not told about this so it was fun keeping this wonderful surprise from him. Thursday morning I dropped him off at school like any other morning, however we did a big circle after drop off and went into his school for the big award. I wish I had caught the look on Rafe's face when he walked in and saw all of us sitting there. He was SO excited!! The "special" award that Rafe received was being chosen as the Terrific Kid from his class for the second quarter. To say we are PROUD parents is an understatement. The best part of it all is how proud Rafe is of himself. This is such a wonderful award and one that means so much to me as a mom. I know Rafe is pretty terrific, but to be terrific at school and to his friends means so much more. Rafe glowed all day and was extremely excited when we surprised him to dinner at his favorite restaurant, Kanpai, to celebrate. What a TERRIFIC day! Rafe, you will never know how unbelievably proud Mommy and Daddy are of you. We love you SO much.

Rafe before the big surprise!

Rafe with one of his teachers, Mrs. Farmer

Pop and Stella Ross didn't make the cut. Thank you

to Pop for keeping SR entertained!

My laundry helper????

While I was putting away some laundry this morning, Stella Ross decided she would help organize Rafe's shirts!! She was so proud of herself.

Marshmallow Sculpture

After school yesterday we went to the library for craft and story time. Rafe was so excited because they were going to make marshmallow sculptures. After listening to a book they were given toothpicks, markers, paper and marshmallows and told to get to work creating their masterpiece. (Of course Rafe had to eat one of the marshmallows. You have to have a full belly to think clearly!!) Rafe made a dog and an elephant and they turned out so cute!

Stella Ross missed her nap for us to go to the library.

She looks excited to be there!!!