TG’s Many Skills

Flexing her calves. Seriously, can you believe she didn't end up on her bottom after standing like this? I was amazed.

Attempting the splits. Darn patent leather shoes!

Demonstrating "uno." Yep, she knows the sign and Spanish word for "one."

And in other talents, she is waving and saying, “Hi,” waving and saying, “Bye” (sounds more like “bah”), and playing peek-a-boo, although she covers her ears for that instead of her eyes. Also, today she was playing with her baby phone. She babbled at it and then tried to hold it up to her ear! Wowee!

Maybe a Bit of Mommy in There?

Typically I think TG is pretty much the spitting image of her dad (okay, maybe with a bit more hair). Especially when he’s holding our sweet daughter, they really look so much alike. So it was kind of fun to catch her yesterday in a photo that I think looks a bit like me for some reason. What do you think?

The Lima Kids Are Geeking Out!

After a day of playing with cars, stacking birdies, teething toys, wrestling, crawling, visiting friends, and kitchen play, the kids opted for some solitary techno-time late this afternoon.

  

  

Trimming the Tree

We waited until our “Guatemala family” was here to put up the tree. The kids wanted to help too. It was a very fun experience, and only a little furniture movement required! Thanks to Mamita for adding the most ornaments and being my extra set of hands with the hard stuff.

Prepping the train

Testing the sturdiness of the ornaments

"Helping" Mamita

Watching from afar

Sampling the fruits of our labor

Sneaking one off the tree

 

Yay, More Family

LB and TG got to spend some special time with both sets of grandparents and a sweet auntie yesterday. One big, loving family!

Mutual adoration

Where's LB?

And there he is!

I'm thinking she's got these guys wrapped around her finger

 

Copycat

I’m sure you don’t remember back to September 23, 2009, as clearly as I do. Or really at all, which is why we saved a video of little LB at the time. Doing something he shouldn’t. But doing it anyway. And enjoying it!

 

Looks like TG discovered it as well!

Finally!

Finally, Colts, a game to be proud of this season. VERY nice to see #18 smile at the end of the game!

Yay, Family!

The Limas got here last night, and everyone’s been loving on each other. What a fun Christmas we’re going to have. Here are some highlights from this morning already…

TG's first bite of egg

TG's first bite of beans. First bite of MANY bites of eggs and beans. Yep, she's a Lima!

A Lima breakfast pro

Merry Christmas!

Happy times!

Memories

Dear Gail,

I ran into Mr. and Mrs. Ramesh at the grocery store today. After catching up about their kids (who are both doing great), they asked how things at CT were. After the typical “it’s busy, but the kids are excited about holiday break,” discussion, Mr. Ramesh asked how you were. Then he jumped quickly to saying that he and his wife needed to come in and visit you sometime soon.

It caught me off guard to have to explain to someone that you were gone. They were very surprised, and of course expressed their condolences. They wondered if you had been sick, and they remembered you making such a difference at CT.

Gail, I hope you are able to see now how much of an impact you had on so many lives at CT and beyond. I hope as you’re relaxing and laughing in Heaven that the love that people have for you here is felt so much more there.

I think of you so often, almost every day. But I haven’t felt your loss so acutely as I have this week. Your love of the holidays has also been upfront in my mind.

Be at peace, dear soul. Merry Christmas.

Rachel

I guess times are busy busy!

Okay, looks like we’re just shy of a month since our last post. Geez!

And a lot happens in a month, especially when you’re little. So here’s the breakdown:

LB – Full time undies while he’s awake. Woohoo! He’s done an excellent job, and again our kudos to his awesome teachers, Missy and Ashley, who have supported him (and us) every step of the way. He’s got some great “secret” songs he’s prepared for his holiday school concert this Thursday, but we all grin when he’s singing “Feliz Lah-dee-dah” to himself while he plays. The alphabet is a lot of fun for him lately, and he has been working on actually reading his first book. (Still mostly memorizing, but he’s starting to make some letter and word associations.) We’re trying to avoid daily tantrums, but they seem the norm these days. Everything from getting his face wet to not having his mittens on to TG taking his toys sets him off these days. He’s busy building a Christmas list for Santa, and it’s really a hoot to see him thumb through toy catalogs these days.

TG – Killer army crawl. We keep catching her up on her hands and knees, poised for a real crawl, and then she sprawls down flat and scoots like crazy! It’s adorable! She’s been starting to eat some finger foods: Cheerios, bits of fruit and bread, potatoes, and baby puffs. She’s super jubilant most of the time, and we’re still taking bets on when she’s going to outgrow LB. I’m sure it’s only a matter of time. Favorite fascinations: jewelry, shoes, and hair (ALL girl!), along with paper, tissue, and, of course, our phones. She rolls over and sits up all on her own, and she’s just starting to pull herself up to her knees on things…and tonight to her feet once.

  

And some Thanksgiving merriment…TG’s first mashed potatoes (LOVED!) and the kids playing together.