Another week :)

Just a couple updates from Rose's 17 month update. I wasn't sure how consistent these things were so I didn't want to check them off yet, but this week Rose continued to purposefully kick balls and take only one nap; so those are some things I will give her credit for at the 17 month mark :)

Rose is continuing to play outside as much as possible! I was able to find a really nice snow suit and an extra winter jacket this week, so when it gets cold, we'll just bundle her up and head outside :)

Rose has also been much more interested in Tahnee and was even willing to share her snack, what a sweetie!

I'm not sure if you can see it in this picture, but Rose is reaching for the peanut butter. Rose LOVES peanut butter and begs for spoonfuls of it, ah well it could be worse.

It was the fall JBF sale this past week and I sold some items for the first time and also volunteered, so I got to shop early and score some really nice items for Rose. She and Justin went with to the early 50% off sale and she picked out this duck. So I am really convinced that Rose loves all things birds :)

Ah, look at the nice hug Tahnee got...

And Rose even shared her favorite stuffed animal :)

Rose and I ended the weekend in our matching Eagles outfits :) Justin and Rose surprised me this week (really that was quite a feat!) with an Akers jersey. So, yes, he doesn't play for the Eagles this season, but he is my favorite player to date, so the jersey is PERFECT.

{almost} 17 months!

Tomorrow Rose will be 17 months!! (I think after 18 months, I will not post monthly updates on development, but just keep everyone updated as big stuff happens)

Anyway, so what is Rose up to at 17 months? LOTS of trouble ;)

So, whether you agree or not, we don't have many 'rules' for Rose in our home. I feel that at this point Rose learns through exploration and so as long as she is not hurting anyone or in any danger (or potential danger), we try to let her, well just let her explore her world. Anyway this month Rose not only climbed up on the dining room chairs, but also made it onto the table (pull my hair out, now). SO we have established a rule of "No Rose on the Table". I sat her down and clearly explained to her why this was dangerous and where she could play that was safe. Since this discussion, she has only tried to climb on the table once, and stopped when I asked her to play with me on the floor :)
Rose is continuing to learn new body parts and this month mastered nose, toes, and is working on lips.
Rose can eat a whole container of yogurt feeding herself with a spoon.
She can also drink from a small open cup without any assistance.
As far as new words, Justin thinks he heard Rose say 'purple'.
Rose seems to be enjoying books more and she will bring me a book and sit on my lap to look through it.
Rose also enjoys playing with her stuffed animals and pretend play with her farm and dollhouse.
Besides climbing Rose is getting down stairs without assistance now and ALMOST running :)
One of the activities I took for Rose on our long car ride was pipe cleaners and large beads, she definitely understood what to do, but needed a little help to get more than one bead strung. 
Rose is able to follow TONS of one-step directions: give to... or get the...
At 17 months, Rose is amazing! She is still my baby and always will be, but I can't deny that this little girl is growing up so very fast.

So how did Rose spend her last weekend before turning 17 months?

Friday was the Oley Fair. We had seriously thought about taking Rose last year, but decided against it. This year she was able to enjoy some of the displays and the fair food :)

 Rose and I spent most of Saturday together since daddy had a play date (he and a friend picked up yet another VW and were out in the garage...) Rose has the best time crawling in her tunnel and waiting for me to run around to the other end and 'surprise' her.

Sunday Rose {finally} made it out to see Uncle Bruce and Kate at the farm! She really enjoyed watching the show and LOVED her first pony ride.

We ended the weekend with a *new* wagon and enjoying the beautiful weather outside.

On an end note...
Between Rose's 17 and 18 month milestones, I will be turning 30. YIKES! I know, I know, you think that just can't be right, that is very sweet; but yes, I will be 30 in a few weeks. SO, I have been doing a lot of thinking...and more thinking...and the fact that I have this much to think about leads me to realize that I am very blessed. I am blessed with so much, but without hesitation, I feel most blessed to be a wife and mother. If you asked me at 10 what I would want to be at 30, I probably would have said the youngest Supreme Court Justice...or at 20, I wanted to join the Peace Corps (I even got the application filled out for that once or twice...), but here at 30, I feel that I am doing exactly what I am supposed to be doing and I am SO HAPPY :)

Everything Vacation :)

Here they are...our vacation pictures!

Justin and I realized the last time we were on vacation for a whole week was our honeymoon! And the last time we were all off together for an entire week was after Rose's birth! It is A LOT of work to take a whole week off and get away from home. Lucky for us we have terrific neighbors who agreed to feed Tahnee (they also had to deal with a possom in the yard, I will spare you the details). They surprised us with also mowing our grass, so that was one less thing we had to catch up on upon our return. We were really glad to have today to clean and get groceries before heading back to work Monday.

Anyway here are the pictures :)

This is the home we rented with my sister and her family of 7! Rose was never at a loss for playmates this week and she loved all the attention.

My parents came down fo\

r a few days and I really enjoyed getting to spend this time with them. They also babysat one night, so the adults could go out for dinner (it was the BEST seafood I have ever eaten!).

Monday everyone went to the Virginia Beach Aquarium. Rose was fearless is touching slimy creatures :)

We went to the beach EVERY day. Rose loved the sandbox and feels that we should upgrade at home.

So Rose was just fascinated by the birds. I swear I heard her say "I Love Birds", haha

We cooked seafood at the house one evening including live crabs...

Girls in our hats :)

Ok these bikes were a lot of work to peddle and Rose lost a shoe :( On a happy note, she got a new pair :)

On Thursday we decided to have family afternoon and so went out for lunch at Flip Flops (it was on Dinners, Drive-Ins, and Dives) and then went to a petting zoo.

More beach...it was really nice most days, but also windy. I was glad to have long sleeve swim shirts and some pants for Rose. 

Aunt Laura got to paint Rose's nails for the first time.

We gave Rose stickers for the first time on the car ride down and she loved placing them on EVERYTHING!

Rose did very well in the car on the ride down and back and while traveling around. She loved the picture book I made her, but her favorite activity was stickers :) She especially liked when we placed them on the ceiling of the Jeep. 

We used the Ergo more than the stroller just for ease and quickness, here we are shopping.

Ah, sandcastles with daddy and just lots of time in the sand.

Is there anything cuter then *little* footprints in the sand :) We also took a jar along and filled it with sand from the beach, so Rose always some of her first beach sand!

We all thought Justin would avoid the ocean, but he turned out to be in it just as much as the little kids! He often took them out to jump waves (can you spot them?).

I don't think we'll do a whole week again next year, but I definitely see at least a long weekend at a beach in our future next summer :)