Bell's Newest Trick

Bella's vocabulary isn't exactly something to brag about (I don't think, I wouldn't have any idea though because I don't know where she's supposed to be at anyway!) but we're thrilled each time she picks something up, mostly because she's so darn cute when she says it! She's got mama, dada, dog, cat, plane (sounds exactly like dog, but whatever. an oversight.) and now "uh oh". She loves uh oh - so proud of herself each time she says it! her favorite lately? sitting in her high chair, saying "uh oh", showing us her perfectly adorable toothy grin, then dropping whatever she's eating on the floor and looking back up at us like she did something amazing. I'm sure the game will get old eventually, but for now, it makes my heart happy!

Congrats Cousin!

a BIG congratulations to my cousin Anna on her engagement last week!! I got the text on the drive home from Columbus and literally screamed out loud I was so excited for her! She and her fiancé live in Seattle and he proposed at the top of a mountain during a hike complete with the ring and champagne in his backpack to celebrate! Well done Barclay! I’m seriously so so excited for them and can’t wait for the wedding next spring/summer - we just booked our tickets to go visit my family in Seattle and Idaho at the end of the summer, we’re really looking forward to it and finally giving a congratulations hug and squeal in person!

I think one of the reasons it’s so easy to be happy for Anna is she’s so charismatic and happy that you just love to see good things happen for her. We’ve always loved when the other would visit, she’s literally like the older-sister I don’t have and we always got along really well and gravitate to spend time with each other when the families are together. Growing up we were pen pals and I still have some of the letters she sent me and our dialogue was completely ridiculous, it was awesome! I can still remember the thrill I got each time my mom handed me one of her decorated envelopes after getting the mail for the day, and the fervor to respond as soon as possible about the boy she liked and tell her all about my latest crush. I’m so blessed to have such a great relationship and influence as a constant in my life…

Anna, in celebration of you I’m going to wear the pink shirt, so you should definitely go purple. I love you!

We Heart America (and Fireworks)

Every year since I've moved to Ohio we've celebrated the Fourth of July by hosting a bbq for friends and family and consequently I've missed fireworks for four years in a row because no one's "well" enough to drive to a park to see the action... we've climbed on the roof each year to try to see something, but nothing. ever. four years. Did I mention 4th of July is one of my favorite holidays? There is quite literally nothing like seeing them at home in Loveland - the entire city goes to the lake and the show is awesome - complete with heart-shaped fireworks (what would you expect from the land of love?!)

This year I really wanted to see fireworks so Justin packed everything up and drove us to Columbus to stay with some of his high-school friends and watch Red White and Boom at the state's capital. Their show is rated in the top-ten in the entire nation (I still liked Loveland's better, expect the finale, theirs was phenomenal). Bella did great the entire day and woke up in the park just in time for the show that started at 10:00. I was nervous she was going to be scared and I'd still miss the fireworks because I'd be walking around with her, but she absolutely loved it. She was clapping and bouncing and completley giddy! Granted, we paid for it the next day keeping her up so late, but it was worth it. Happy Independence Day, God Bless America!

my new favorite picture of Belly Bean - and she's rockin' her first ponytail!
it's kind of a long video, but I love the end, you can literally see her face light up!