Where's My Baby?!

When Maren emailed me this picture, the first thing I thought upon opening it was that Bridgette doesn't look like a baby anymore. She's become a little girl. Bittersweet, no?

As a little girl, she's got a mouth full of teeth. In fact, she's finally getting her forth front bottom tooth. She's been lopsided with three for some time now.

She uses more and more words. Her vocabulary now includes dog (woof, woof), bird, go, snack, night (as in good night), ba (as in bottle), raff (for giraffe), mine, and her favorite word, book.

She loves to read books more and more every day. Her favorite books lately are Goldilicious, Purpulicious, Baby Giraffe, and any of those ABC books with big, bright pictures. She has very strong opinions about which book she wants to read and can't get enough of her favorites.

She's definitely not a baby anymore.

The Boys Are Already Chasing Her

So, it's already started. The little boys see my gorgeous daughter and just can't contain themselves. In the last 2 days, 2 different little boys have expressed strong feelings for Bridgette. Our friends, the Melcher's, little boy Kaid repeatedly told her that he loved her and gave her kisses on the cheeks. Then, last night at our Peter Piper Pizza FHE, another little boy shamelessly chased Bridgette all over the play area. I hope Kaid doesn't read this as he may become very jealous. I honestly didn't expect to deal with these issues for at least a decade. We seem to be on an accelerated plan (much as we were relative to our engagement).


Notice my look of concern, if you're not distracted by the adorable children.

Picture Perfect

Kevin is the designated picture hanger - even amongst the extended family now. So, when the new reception area furniture was delivered to our new law office, he was brought in to put up the pics. Don't they look lovely?




Meanwhile, Bridgette was kept occupied with the bubble wrap that the pictures came in. This was a great new game!! She also quite enjoyed the measuring tape.

First Booster

Bridgette loved her first try at a booster seat. Lately, she's been all sorts of resistant to getting strapped into a high chair, but there was nary a protest at the booster. She must have felt like a grown up - sitting in the booth with everybody else.

Cool?

Kevin said to me this morning, "It's been kind of cool the last couple of days."

Really?!

Only someone in Arizona would say that 102 degrees is cool. I guess it is at least cooler relative to the 115 degrees it was about 2 weeks ago.

More Music

This week I have been trying to teach Bridgette how to put the CD's in and out of the player. Unfortunately, more often than not, she puts them in upside down. And when she does put them in right, she immediately opens the player's lid because she likes to see the CD's spin.

Bridgette is also very fond of being sung to. Grandma Tobler bought her a book that has illustrated pictures to the lyrics of "Whenever I Hear the Song of a Bird." Bridgette likes Kevin and I to turn the pages and sing it to her again and again.

Kristi - her frequent watcher - mentioned that when she tried to just read the words to Bridgette, Bridgette started bouncing up and down, as if to say, "No. Sing it!" Which Kristi gallantly did.

Moving Opportunities

At the end of this month our law firm, Tobler & Associates, is moving locations. I'm really excited about the new location, the bigger space, the open windows. It's going to be a great change!

We've been at our current location - the neon blue light building in Mesa - for over 20 years. It is the tallest building for miles and miles. And I can recall being junior-high-aged, literally seeing the building from Tempe, and thinking, "there's my Dad." Very comforting.

Thus, it was hard, but right, to make the decision to move.

But one opportunity of the move that I didn't keenly appreciate until this weekend, was the opportunity to clean out 20 years worth of junk. This Saturday, we were throwing out and taking to Good Will, bags and bags of out-dated law books, obsolete computer programs, and old office supplies.

I'm anticipating that I'll be spending my next few Saturdays continuing this cleaning project.

Sand is Delicious

Sand is delicious... and Bridgette is delightful!

Our weekend trip to San Diego impressed upon me and Kevin what a great-natured girl we have! For 3 days in a row, Bridgette didn't get an afternoon nap, yet she remained charming during all our California adventures.

Friday was Bridgette's first trip to the beach where she did more than snooze on a blanket. And she gleefully trotted all over it.

"Oooh. What's this? What's that? And that?"

I imagined Bridgette saying this as she explored and explored. Kevin commented that she was the beach's official sand castle inspector. If she saw a castle that wasn't up to par, she dug right in and assisted.

We also loved taking Bridgette to the world famous San Diego zoo on Saturday. Once Bridgette got beyond the trauma of forced hat wear, she found the animals quite intriguing.

"Raffe! Raffe!" She mimicked us, pointing towards her cousin Lorin's favorite tall mammal. The coolest animal though (as voted on by all the cute Clifford kids - Kate, Emily and Andrew), was the hippopotamus. The awkward-looking beast, glided/galloped along its pond floor, next to the glass wall, right in front of our eager eyes.

Lastly, we took time out to lunch at the beautiful Four Seasons. Errol and Anastacia Phippen drove down from Dana Point to join us and the Cliffords. Bridgette ran and played on the patio with young Grace and Andrew. The adults caught up with each other over fancy food.

Thanks Chad and Michele for hosting us! We had a spectacular time!!