19 Months, Graduation and a Dog named Louie!

19 Months with Buster Bear

So we got a DOG!!! He walks. He barks. He wags. But he doesn't poop! What a dog! When we came home with him from the store, I asked Nadia if it was a girl dog or a boy dog. After thinking for a few seconds she said, "Boy!" Then I asked, "What is his name?" Nadia said, "Louie!" (which sounds like Wouie). So with great delight, Nadia now has a dog named Louie!

She sat him down beside her and started reading him a book.

When she woke up the next morning, first she asked for juice (as she does every morning), then she said, "Louie!"

Last weekend Uncle Jor Jor graduated from Clemson. We went up the day before graduation for a celebration picnic and day on the Clemson lake. Jordan took Andy, me, Mom and Dad out on his sailboat. It was a gorgeous day, perfect for some time at the lake!

Friday was graduation. We waded through the line of graduates to find Uncle Jor. Nadia wasn't sure why all these people were wearing black dresses and hats.

Our graduate!

Nadia stayed awake the whole time until the Alma Mater was being sung. She did great at the 3 hour graduation ceremony! A couple diaper changes, walks in the hall, some fruit snacks, books and crayons later, she was a patient attendee.

Celebrating with Uncle Jor, BS in Industrial Engineering

Miss Independent!

This is the hand motion that accompanies her latest phrase, "Stay back!" She doesn't usually say it harshly, just with the meaning that she's going to do this one on her own, without my help!

Playing at the park

Driving the boat/car?

Nadia's love to dogs continues to grow. She hugged and hugged on this statue at Old Navy last week! You should see her excitement with the real thing!

Friends

Nadia with her best school buddy, Katie Mae. Katie Mae turned two a couple months ago, but she and Nad look forward to each other's company every day at school.

Today they had on such similar outfits, I had to get a picture. When I told them to stand by each other and smile, they immediately reached out and got arm in arm for the shot. It was precious!

Playing outside together

They've become such good friends, we're sad that they'll be in different classes next year since their birthdays are so many months apart.

Nadia loves to eat cereal with milk all by herself.

No help please! And she wants to drink the milk from the bowl when she's done (which must be done while still wearing pajamas because it always results in a milky dribble down her chin.

Happy Easter!

Sweet girl in her Easter dress

The family pose the year Andy was in Chile. Nadia is missing Daddy big time. She keeps looking for him and wanting to see him. When we skyped yesterday, she just cried. She's been more cuddly with me even her usual. She's been waking up in the night every night since he's been gone - she definitely knows things just aren't the same. But we're glad he has this opportunity and are so glad he's having a great time so far.

Her favorite treat - "Cone!"

The Easter Bunny came while we were at church! In her basket were beads and some tabbed laces for stringing. She couldn't have been less interested in putting the beads on the string, but she spent an hour and a half moving 12 beads from one container to the next, to an egg, to my hands, to a bowl, to an empty bubble container, and back again - an hour and a half doing nothing but moving beads! We did eventually string them for a temporary necklace, but it was much more fun to take them off and put them back in the next container.

Playing with her new sidewalk chalk

Taking up a new golfing hobby :)

Coloring eggs - Ta Da!

The final product after coloring, dying and adding stickers! The bunny also brought Bathtub crayons - why haven't I gotten these out earlier? She had so much fun drawing in the tub and then "erasing" it with water and drawing all over. If anyone with a toddler doesn't have bathtub crayons, get some for some happy times! Happy Easter everyone!

Easter Eggstravaganza!

Today was our big Easter event at church, and since I'm in charge of it and Andy's in Chile, Nana and Auntie Al came to bring Nadia and help her have a great time. When I told Nadia that they were coming on Friday, she said, "Fun!" completely without prompting. Friday night they didn't get here until late and Nadia tried to stay awake long enough to see them. Dispite being very tired, she kept kicking one leg trying to keep herself awake. After nearly 2 hours of trying to stay up waiting for them, she didn't quite make it. But when Saturday morning came, the "Fun" had come in the night.

The Egg Hunt - we'd been practicing and all that training paid off! She knew exactly what to do and had great success in the hunt!

Look how many eggs I have in my basket!

Auntie Al helped navigate through the crowd while Nana got the good photo shots.

Checking out the loot. Her favorite things were tiny Easter erasers in the shape of an egg, duck, bunny and basket.

Making a craft

A picture with "Hop Hop". Nadia liked him a lot from a distance but not so much when he would get close.

Going on the big slide

More egg hunting in the backyard

Check out the precious basket Nana made! Oh so cute!Blowing bubbles - her latest outdoor favorite. She had a great day of Easter fun! Many thanks to Nana and Auntie Al for coming to make the day fun for Nad.

1 1/2!

18 Months with Buster Bear! She is so affectionate and loving - offering hugs, pats, cuddles and kisses to those she loves and any "baby" or stuffed animal or dog that seems to need some attention.

We sang and had cupcakes to celebrate her half birthday.

Enjoying the cupcakes!

Blowing bubbles with Uncle Jor Jor and Uncle Pat. She figured out how to blow to actually make a bubble. She loves putting the wand in and pulling it out herself. Her previous strategy had been to hold the wand up in the air and hope for some wind to make a bubble, but Jor Jor and Pat convinced her to blow gently with success!

What a pucker!

This morning she only ate part of her yogurt in the high chair, then got down and played. We later found her at the regular table, in a big chair, having some more all by herself! What a grown-up girl!

We made a blitz trip to NC Sunday afternoon/Monday to see Alison and Pat before they leave on their Round the World trip for the next 18 months. We can't wait to hear and see all about their amazing travels! Bon Voyage!