I guess I will eat this after all

Well, we thought Maria would never change her dislike of potatoes. Especially since we had gone way over the stated "you have to introduce foods as many as 15 times before a child might decide they like them" information we had read. We usually have some on her plate even though we know that most times it comes right back out of her mouth about as fast as it goes in. She started this early too...one of her earliest starter foods was potatoes and as you can see from this picture she didn't care for them!

So much to our surprise over the last couple of weeks she has started trying and actually eating them. She had soup last week and ate some, we had chicken and baked potato on Sunday and as you can watch on the video she actually ate it. We know she prefers something on them...ketchup, sour cream, butter, whatever...but hey, we're just happy she is eating them now, most of the time anyway! Let's not jinx ourselves just yet.

Oh, and just a random photo of Maria as a superstar in her new sunglasses(a thrift store find by Maria). She thinks its fun to wear them around the house, especially upside down! Don't you think she looks a bit like Elton John?

We have plenty to praise God for; you can change your habits...and how appropriate as Lent starts this week. Maybe mom needs to stop eating so many sweets!

round and round

Maria has really started loving certain songs lately...here is her helping me sing one of them.

She will ask for us to sing Wheels on the Bus by doing the round and round motion sometimes. At night she requests us to sing twinkle, twinkle, Jesus(Jesus Loves Me), puppy(How Much is That Doggie in the Window), EIEI-O(Old MacDonald), sunshine(You are My Sunshine).

It's very cute how much Maria is saying these days. She communicates pretty well and even refers to herself as I in sentences. "I potty" "I want cracker"

She is doing well on the potty this week. She has had 5 days of "panties" and seems to be friends with the timer(we figured we'd let it be the bad guy). When it goes off she knows it's time to head to the bathroom.

She has fun twice a week when I watch a 4 year old girl after preschool. Ruthie and Maria especially enjoy running the circle through the house. Maria can't wait for me to pick up "Uthie" from preschool next door.

We were able to go out for dinner on Valentine's Day thanks to our sitter Sarah or "Warah" as Maria dubbed her. She could have cared less we left her for the night, Sarah was so much fun.

Since we have been back from vacation, Maria keeps asking to go on a "hike" It's funny to think about hiking here in town!

Also since vacation Maria seems to think bedtime is a negotiable time...as she screams when we leave the room. AH, tonight she went to bed with no problem...maybe it's the bathroom light we left on. The beginning of "dark is scary" stage??

Maria knows that a baby is is mommy's belly, but sometimes gets confused and thinks she has one too. Let's hope that she continues to understand that some things are for the baby and wants to share when the baby is actually here.

Maria's favorite game is "tickle, tickle" where we chase her around the house and tickle her!

She also has started figuring out hide and seek; well, sort of...sometimes she hides when she is supposed to find Daddy and sometimes she counts when she is supposed to hide! It's a work in progress.

She can sit for at least 30 minutes "reading" books from her basket. She also loves for you to read to her on the potty. It requires parent patience as she usually wants the same book every time!

We have PLENTY to praise God for; a beautiful, loving little girl to watch grow up and learn all about the world.

vacation shots

Last week we enjoyed another week in Jamestown, Tennessee at the cabin we stayed at last year. On the way down we were able to stop and see friends Mike and Reed and daughter Susanna. Mike is finished a program at Asbury Seminary in Wilmore, KY. Larry and Mike are good friends from seminary and he performed the dedication on Maria. It was fun to see them and hang out for a bit. We enjoyed our time at the cabin, especially when the weather decided to warm up a bit. It was only in the 20's and 30's the first couple of days and the cabin stayed pretty chilly. Then the temps were in 60's maybe 70's and we could get out and hike more. Maria enjoyed actually hiking herself some until she was too tired and Dad carried her.

We hiked about a mile in to see the Twin Arches. They were pretty amazing, we even were able to go on top via a huge set of steps, but the view was worth it.

The North Arch.

More hiking.

The South Arch.

South Arch.

Hiking beside the arches.

Our view from on top of the Arches.

On top of the Arches.

Maria and Daddy hiking...lots of steps!

And lots more steps!Maria in the warm sun!

Maria was enjoying looking at the trees and clouds in the sky!Maria hiking part of the trail.

A visiting deer, (sorry, it was cropped closer), he is in the middle to the right of the pine tree.

A Red-tailed hawk

(this was edited to be cropped closer too, but for the life of me I can't figure out Picasa sometimes...any advice out there!)

Maria and Daddy

Mike and Reed

Maria and Susanna playing.

We have plenty to praise God for; a very cheap, relaxing, uneventful vacation!

more sewing

I wanted to make some slippers for Maria as she has grown out of the ones we bought. Well, I should have made the pattern a lot bigger than I did, so baby #2 will have an extra pair in a bigger size. I made some newborn sized ones already, for her and for a friend's baby.

So here are the re sized pattern pair I made, much more the size she needs with some room to grow. The only problem I have encountered is the bottom material being a little more slippery than I wanted it to be. I couldn't find exactly what I wanted at the store.

I also made a flannel sheet to fit Maria's toddler bed, and a pillowcase for the small pillow she had. It was super easy, and cheaper than buying a crib sheet, besides I didn't like the patterns they had where I looked.