Selah is 2!!!

Well, my sweet girl is two years old today. The comments we have been getting regarding this milestone seem to imply that we should fear this age. Oh the "Terrible Two's"! However, we have found that her wanting independence and testing boundaries starts well before this age, and I actually look forward to it! It is a process she will go through like every other human being in shaping her personality. We can either embrace it and learn ourselves as parents or become a ball of stress and overreact to our child's new desire for independence.
Selah definitely has plenty of personality already! Every day she learns something new or says something funny. Dan and I watch her as she sleeps at night in marvel at this precious child God has blessed us with. It is overwhelming the love I have for her. I know other mom's who may read this feel the same way. I believe as we are created in the image of God it is a reflection of our relationship with our heavenly Father.
There is so much I want to say about my daughter, because I am so proud of all that she has done this past year. Hmm...where do I start. Some of her favorite things to do are:
Dance and sing songs
Read books (I often find her sitting on the floor with a book reciting the story as she turns each page)
Somersaults or other acrobatic feats that usually scare mommy.
Being bundled with blankets and cuddled, even when it is 107 outside.
Play time with Daddy when he gets home
Tickle time
Talking on the phone
Playing in the water
She is very good at communicating things she does or doesn't want, and what she is feeling (scared, sad, tired).
She knows her colors, is getting better at counting in English and Japanese, and knows a few Spanish phrases.
LOVES to eat cranberries, avocados, and anything sweet!
Selah is excellent at sharing, very selfless, and I really hope that this trait continues.

Happy Birthday Selah! You are the greatest joy of our lives, and the most perfect blessing. I am so thankful that I get to spend everyday with you and watch you as you grow and develop. I LOVE YOU!

Love,
mommy

Family Reunion 2009

Selah on her new trike. We got it for her birthday and just gave it to her early.
She pretty much lived on that thing while camping.

Selah carrying on the tradition. I learned to ride when I was little too.

This is what my uncle cooked the Chinese dinner on. He was very fast and organized.
In this picture he is just cooking bacon for our breakfast.

The cousins: Shannon, me, Nick, and Jason

The siblings: (Patty) my mom, Uncle Gerry, and Auntie Sonie (Joanie)
There are two more that weren't there.

We just got back from a weekend of camping with our family down in West Fir, OR. Unfortunately we couldn't join the rest of the group until Friday afternoon, they were there the whole week. My uncle, cousin and her husband came up from California. My parents, brother, aunt, and another cousin and his family (who just moved here from Texas) were there as well. I haven't seen my cousin (from California) since we were 5 years old at our grandma's funeral. It was a great time visiting and reconnecting after so long. We spent the weekend lounging by the river (some of them went rafting), sitting by the fire roasting marshmallows (yumm!!!), attempting to ride our unicycles after several years, eating good food, and fighting off the bees and daddy long legs. The bees were horrible during the day, biting or stinging 5 of us. And as soon as it was dark the daddy long leg spiders started moving across the ground. Saturday my uncle cooked a delicious Chinese food dinner for us, all over the campfire with a wok. Best chinese food I've ever had!!! It was a great trip, and I look forward to next year's trip! But next year us Oregonians will make the drive down to California.
Selah did great on the trip. Her routine was a little thrown off which meant for a cranky girl Sunday when we were getting ready to come home. We did not take a pack and play, instead she slept on the ground with us. She did not have any problems with it, until during the day when she was supposed to take a nap. I had bought a pack of 12 mini muffins and she decided to get into them when she was supposed to be taking a nap. Apparently it was more fun to take a bite out of each muffin and line them up, and then take her diaper off to run around naked in the tent. No accidents, though! We also enjoyed waking up with her right away. But really laying there an extra minute wasn't an option. The first morning I woke up with a book laying on my face with her saying, "mommy read book please!", and the next morning with her cute little button nose pressed to mine as she stared at me. I love that girl!