book worm once more

I've been collecting picture books for years. I adore them and am working toward a large library. When I did well on a test in college, I often rewarded myself with a book from the bargain table at the BYU Bookstore. Jonny was so sweet to share in the excitement of each new treasure - I'd usually read my new books to him in bed! I also love to scour Scholastic book orders and browse Amazon for good deals. Anyway, when Julia was born I couldn't wait to begin reading to her. For months she sat on my lap in the rocking chair while we read more than once daily. She'd sit happily through three to six books. But then came the inevitable. When Julia started grabbing for EVERYTHING and putting whatever she snagged directly into her mouth, our regular read-a-thons came to a standstill. This was a tragic day!

But for a month or so now we have been able to get through many board books. Naturally she still loves to grab these, but no longer are they only chew toys! She will help me turn the pages and stare at each one for some time. And the biggest excitement happened a week or two ago. I sat her on the floor with her favorite book (an animal one with fuzzy parts that she likes to feel) and she looked at it for nearly 1/2 hour! She just sat there, turning the pages over and over again. And she never once put the book in her mouth. I am so proud of my little book worm. Now try to imagine my excitement when we can read normal books together again...

Little Bo Peep

I love this bonnet and jacket my talented Grandmother knitted for Julia. Doesn't she look like she belongs in a nursery rhyme? These days they don't really make baby clothes that look like clothes for babies. Don't get me wrong - there are darling clothes out there. (I just bought the cutest tankini for Julia - bring on the sun!) But when Julia wears this outfit she looks like a baby doll. And there is something indescribably sweet about that.

Special Privileges

I get a kick out of the sign on Katy's door every time I go in there to put Julia down for a nap. Check it out.

Visitors from Afar

We LOVED having Sarah and Jesse here for the weekend. I have reason to believe (smiles, laughing) that Julia adores her Aunt and Uncle. They made the LONG trip from Oregon to little old American Fork just to meet their newest niece. After leaving us, they headed to Boise to spend some time with their newest nephew - Baby Hudson, two months younger than Julia. We all had fun chatting, eating (Jonny made his delicious green chile-smothered burritos, a Rejholec family favorite), bowling (I didn't do as poorly as usual!), playing games (Wackee Six, baby), watching movies, and playing with Julia. Now Julia has been properly introduced to every member of Jonny's immediate family. What a lucky girl to have such fun grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Thanks for coming, Sarah and Jesse! We love you and hope to see you again before too long.She's making such a funny face that I had to add this one here as well as in the slideshow. Also, note the pictures Jonny took at the Bowling Alley. It's fun to see the facial expressions and guess how many pins were knocked down!

Purse Contents...

It's been so fun to read about the contents of Cami's, Mom's, and Emily's purses that I decided to accept the tag and do it myself. Right now I LOVE my red purse, and yes, I am one of those people who is always on the lookout for a perfect bag. This one is nearly there.


A little history before I reveal the contents:

Amber gave me this purse as a birthday gift a few years ago. I used the opportunity to announce my pregnancy by saying, "This would be a perfect diaper bag come June." Until then, I used it while student teaching, all the while counting down the months until it would be full of diapers and cheerios. And so it is.

6 Outside Pockets:
-camera, cell phone, small water bottle that doubles as Julia's favorite toy, gum, lotion

3 Inside Pockets:
-small blue ROXY wallet that I hope never falls apart (has a picture of Jonny and me on a mountaintop, SCUBA cert. card, gift cards, and the other usual items - hardly ever has cash), lots of gift cards waiting to be used, check book, Julia's immunization record, pen, 2 bows, bib, Ju's socks, washcloth, hand sanitizer, chapstick (No longer does it leave its mark on the right back pockets of my jeans)

1 Main Compartment:
-burp rag, 3 diapers, wipes, ziploc bags, cheerios, rattle, small book, toy keys, cool crinkle toy, small first aid kit with all the necessities (including teething tablets), binky and binky tag, a cough drop wrapper, a few receipts

Attached:
-silver carabiner holding keys, fingernail clippers, key-less entry remote, Poland key chain (I love having my keys attached this way - never have to search in a pocket)

-I used to ALWAYS have a book. But now Julia keeps me plenty occupied in the checkout lines and elsewhere. Oh, and I usually have an extra outfit. I used it the other day, better put a new one in quick! And I just threw out a snack bag of those pastel mints with the white dots on the bottom. They melted together when my purse was over the heater vent. Oops, I love those.

I tag anyone else interested - it's kind of fun.

Mad (Gab) About You

I'm in the habit of leaving little notes around for Jonny to stumble upon on Valentine's Day. This year an idea came to me while nursing Julia at 5 am (this is when I usually get my good ideas, consequently, I can't fall back to sleep) for Jonny's notes. We love the game Mad Gab, and since he needs a little practice (so we can REALLY take on Marianne and Paul) I made some game cards for him with some love phrases. They were fun for him so I thought some of you might try your hand at decoding. (In case you are unfamiliar with the game, you just say the phrases aloud until you hear the answer.Hint: Say the words quickly, slurring them together. Or try saying them with a foreign accent of your choice.) Here are some of the phrases. And below Julia's festive socks (Thanks Matt, Cort, and Jack!) are the answers.

Aye Yum Grays Eve Or Ewe

Vein Cue Form Air Ring Me

Aisle Of Few Ands Um

Lest Ant Sin Thick Edge In Toon Eyed

Knack Is Meal Red Tea

Jonny had a hard time with the last one! Here are the answers:

1) I am crazy for you 2)Thank you for marrying me 3)I love you handsome 4)Let's dance in the kitchen tonight 5)Now kiss me already.

Hope you all had a wonderful day of love.

Twin Powers?

Today I noticed I had lots of potatoes and some celery that needed to be eaten, so I figured I'd make a big potato salad for Jonny's lunches and whatnot. I didn't really feel like preparing it, but I decided it'd be best to be resourceful and use the produce before it spoiled. So I peeled/cut/boiled the potatoes, chopped the celery, poured in lots of peas (my favorite part), and continued on adding dressings and spices. After shaking in LOTS of paprika (my second favorite part) I mixed it up and took a bite. YIKES! With my mouth on fire, I checked the label on my "paprika" and found it was none other than the infamous cayenne pepper. (I've spoiled a few meals by adding to much of the stuff, but never in place of my beloved paprika! And unlike the graphics here, my bottles look nothing alike. I really had no excuse other than absentmindedness.) Anyway, here is the upside. I called Emily to vent my culinary woe and you'll never guess what she said. Well, first she laughed. Then she told about how she did the very same thing with her soup last week! Cayenne for paprika! Ha! This may be a common mistake in the kitchen, but neither of us had done it until now.
Do twin powers exist? You decide.