Halloween pictures!

After lots of searching for orange pants/duck legs, Daddy found a pair of light pink sweatpants that I dyed orange. She did NOT like the hat, but eventually decided it wasn't that bad and wore it most of the night. She LOVED collecting candy and caught onto the fun really fast! We pulled her in the wagon because we couldn't get shoes in her web feet but she walked up to all of the houses and didn't seem to mind! She did not enjoy the pumpkin carving this year. She loves playing outside and played for hours while Mommy raked the yard! It is so nice to give her a little space to explore and know that she will listen when you say stop or no....so she remains safe! =)

I have noticed...

that my posts have significantly decreased since she has been walking! LOL Maybe that is because I am chasing her everywhere and by the time she goes to bed, I'm pooped! She is running everywhere now and is MUCH taller/can reach everything...so I'm jumping even more! Oh and did I mention that she CLIMBS??? Yep, on everything! She also dives off couches...sometimes into bean bags and sometimes into end tables and onto the floor. I have managed to upload pictures to Facebook as it seems FASTER...so I hope you have kept up there!

What is happening with our little Raychel Joy? Oh my goodness, there are so many things I don't even know where to start. She is becoming this wonderful, joyful, ornery, sweet, loving, fun, and fantastic little person! Did I mention ornery? Her Daddy and I adore this little angel!

She sleeps...very well. She still takes 2 naps for a minimum of an hour and a half, but more typically 2 hours or more! Just like her Daddy there! That and she runs and moves CONSTANTLY when she is awake, so she has to recharge often!

She runs, very fast. She LOVES to be chased by Daddy and Grandmas and Grandpas! She runs around and around the island and the kitchen/dining room area. She likes to hide from you and jump out...she laughs, giggles, and shrieks the whole time. She will hide on the other side of her crib and try to crouch down low enough so you can't see her!

She climbs on everything. She throws her whole leg up, instead of her knee, on couches, chairs, table tops, and even her crib. She likes to stand on the couch, walk around, and always gives the "you caught me" look when Mommy says, "SIT DOWN!". She climbs up and down steps, on her own. She also can climb in and out of the car and her car seat.

She talks....a lot! Her favorite word, currently, is PUPPY! It all started with a puppy that she spent some time with at Thanksgiving. She likes little dogs and continually says puppy! Her day care has a small dog (puppy to her) that she plays with all day. Maybe her Mommy and Daddy will get weak and buy her a small dog to have as a companion! She also loves the word, "MINE!". She takes anything and announces to the world that it is now HERS! Oh and she also recently started with, "BOO". She has a Peek-a-Block with a chick hatching from an egg on the inside...you push the button and the egg opens further and she yells, "Boo!" Other favorites are...done, Mommy (which is usually repeated continuously), Dawn (her day care provider), up, down, on, off, cat, dog, out, go, Daddy, ooohhhh, uh huh, uh ohhh, yes, eat, all done, try again, cow, duck, and more. She has several 2-3 word phrases that she uses. She does not say, No...amazingly enough...but she does shake her head NO! =)

She is so serious. I think she is thinking all the time. She is a smart little cookie. She counts to one! She stacks blocks and puts one down and says, "One" and then looks to me to count the rest. She twists open bottles and cups, stacks things, and finds matches. She loves to play with food containers and cups. We have tea parties and make things with her pots and pans. For Christmas we are giving her my Strawberry Shortcake kitchen that I had growing up. I am sure she will LOVE playing with that!

She is also giggly. Did I mention ornery? Daddy has taught her how to lift the back of my shirt and put her cold hands on my back...which of course produces shrieking from both of us. She can be very ticklish behind her knees, armpits, collar bone, tummy, and toes. She likes to act like she is going to do something she is not supposed to do and then giggle when we tell her no or stop.

She is very good at feeding herself. She uses a fork and a spoon very well to scoop her food. Unfortunately she also likes to play with her food and if Mommy is not watching it gets dumped, launched off the high chair, or squished and swished across the room! She loves her veggies (broccoli, lima beans, and peas are among her favorites), pasta, grapes, bananas, raisens, and chocolate covered plums! She has a VERY BIG SWEET TOOTH! She loves chocolate and suckers...too much! LOL

She loves her dolly. She pushes her around in the stroller, feeds her, hugs her, kisses her, and snuggles with her. She also loves shoes and slippers. She tries to put them on herself and sometimes succeeds, but mostly brings them to me and says, "On Mom."

I could probably keep going, but I've probably bored you all by now! That is okay...I will have all the memories for later! =)

How to take care of "Doll" by Raychel and a few notes from Mom

First: Throw her into the stroller and PUSH!!!
Second: FLIP her over and OUT!

Third: Give her a hug and catch a little of your favorite show.

Third: Complain to someone about how much work this is!

Fourth: Drop the baby in the laundry basket to be washed.

\]\Fifth: Inspect baby. Sixth: Put baby in basket, so you can have some alone time.

Seventh: Take the airplane for a trip into town.

Eigth: Try on some fuzzy purple slippers.

Ninth: Try them out while you take a trip to the salon. Busy Moms need great hair too!

Tenth: Decide the left slipper is NOT for you. But the right one is quite nice.

and Finally: Watch some more of your favorite show. The baby is okay, right...afterall she is in the basket!

This whole episode took place one after another, like she was really on a "mission" to do all of these things! I wish I had the video camera charged, it would have been hilarious to share!

Raychel has quite the personality. She gets very excited about some things and extremely frustrated within seconds if something doesn't go her way. I think I've taught her to be neat as she picks up after herself whether she dropped food or toys. Don't get me wrong, our living room still gets littered with toys but sometimes she determines that some things MUST be put away and NOW! She has a lot to say and can be very loud if she chooses!

She loves climbing on everything! This is dangerous for us...cause she has very good balance, so she tries to go HIGH! She is able to climb our front steps without holding onto anything. She will use the hand rail more often to help herself up the steps.

Raychel has said a few phrases: "Go see Dad!", when she wants to go to Dad's 2nd job at the apartments, "I try 'gin (again)" when she tries to do something and then fails, "where Dad?" especially in the morning when it is just her and I, and "Hi (insert person or cat here) (Mom, Dad, JJ)". Sometimes it sounds like she says other things but I'm never quite sure. These sayings are very clear!

Just recently she learned how to laugh at things and thinks everything is hilarious. Daddy and her have many special games, but one is to chase each other around the kitchen. While I was making dinner the other day they chased each other giggling around and around the island for 5 minutes solid! It was sooooo funny. I wish I could have gotten the video camera to record those giggles...but I knew as soon as I would leave to get it she would stop! OH SO FUNNY! In the bathtub the other day she figured out how to throw her water balls at me. They are like fabric covered sponges that are ping pong ball size. She loves to squeeze them out! Then, she threw one when I wasn't looking, started giggling, and I did too...totally caught off guard! SILLY GIRL!!! She did this several more times, especially when I wasn't looking, and we both left the bathroom with wet hair!

She changes SO much everyday it is almost impossible to recolect all the funny little things she does when I'm late in posting things! LOL I'll have to stay up to date as I know I want to remember all her "funnies"

State Fair 2009

Our day started of really early, as we headed to the Post-Wide garage sales on Fort Riley. On the list...18-24 month clothes for this growing girl! JACKPOT...we found a LOT of very cheap and very nice clothes and a few toys. By the time we were done and headed to the fair, this was the sweet little girl in the backseat! We HAD to have this picture. This is how Raychel sleeps, with the blanket around her neck. Even if she is laying on ther stomach in her crib, the blanket is wrapped around her neck. She is so funny!

She is a little more awake now, as we start through the fair. She was a little confused with all of the people and happenings around her!

We found a giant sock monkey and HAD to take a picture! She reached over and touched the monkey gently...oops....the eye wasn't attached!!!! LOVE her reaction, the photographer didn't even know it happened but the camera caught it!

We stuck the eye back in place and decided this was the safer way to take the picture! LOL

Then, we entered the kiddie discovery area! Raychel LOVED playing with the different grains (wheat, beans, sunflower seeds, etc.)!

CHEESE!!!!!!

Look Mom...I'm a bronc rider! LOL...okay maybe not a bronc rider, but a cowgirl for sure!

Daddy and Raychel took a ride on the train. Notice her hands behind her head. This is how she rides in her car seat too! LOL

She loved the train...HI MOM!!!!!!!!!

We had supper with Nick and Crystal! Nick worked at his office's booth for the evening, but was allowed a lunch break!

Derek was just THRILLED to take this picture, huh??? LOL

This was the BEST part of our whole trip! We let Raychelplay in the splash park before we went home. This is a giant sunflower with several different types of fountains that pop up and down randomly. Some come straight up, others have three rings of water.

She thought this was WONDERFUL after she realized we were going to let her get wet.

It was hilarious to see her stick her face in, like.....water, where did you go? Then it would pop up and hit her in the face. She was scared and would go running for Daddy. She got a hug and would run right back out!

This was the big fountain in the middle! Raychel looked but decided that she didn't want to attempt that one!

GOTCHA! Water in the face!

After getting wet in the fountain a diaper and clothing change was in order. We headed to the petting zoo before leaving for the evening. She was interested until the VERY first animal we COULD bet was more interested in NIBBLING her!!! She was way too scared to touch anything else, but did want to stay and look!

They had a baby zebra, giraffe, and other fun animals for the kids!

Shoe fetish!

She has a shoe fetish! Not sure how she became so obsessed...
Check out this ensemble! LOL Gotta love the monkey PJ's and black patton shoes!

I LOVE THESE SHOES!!!!!!!!

They make me happy!

BAD MOMMY AWARD....Okay, just BUSY award!

Daddy and Raychel at the Zoo at the end of August! (Yep...it's been a while since I've posted...sorry!)
We had to take a "text" break...She LOVES Daddy's phone.
This is one way to help Raychel leave the zoo...she likes it too!

She was just learning to climb...this one was a little too high!

Ahhh...this I can climb on!

Daddy and Raychel checking out the wolves!

Look Mom...I can climb up on the little wall!

Up I go!

MONKEY!!! The monkey was looking right at us...Raychel thought that was pretty neat!"DUCK!" Well...something like that...they are all ducks to her!