, Grandpa & Friends .

In April, Grandpa and some friends came on over to meet Riley and spend some time in our city:

Riley was happy they all came and that she got to meet her Grandpa

 (so were we!)

 

Our house always feels more like home when we have precious guests from America:

 And they came bearing an EXCITING ABUNDANCE of blessings in their bags:

(Thanks so much- makes our hearts so happy!)

 Yep- we were all so happy!

Jet Lag is hard on all of us:

:)

So grateful for this man, he was SO incredibly wonderful with both Riley and Levi:

 Levi always loves having a plethora of folks to summon downstairs to play with him :)
"Meeerre Crap-pa" :) was his favorite!

Riley was looking extremely adorable in her new sleeper Kassie had sent (see last post)

Some precious time with Grandpa:

Levi misses his playing partner Grandpa- hope you come back soon :)

PS- We finally put new batteries in the truck you brought & Levi is having a blast, once again,with it!

Yay for fun times with friends & family!

...:::* Levi Elliot ~ 2 1/2 YEARS OLD *:::....

. April 12, 2013 .

Our little boy is officially 2 1/2 years old!
He's been accomplishing a lot over the past several months, so I thought I would give you a brief snapshot of fun things from each month since he turned 2:

Memories & Milestones:

25 MONTHS (October- November)

- Made the official shift to your big boy bed and love having your bunk beds
- Ask to "pwimb" all the time (aka- climb)
- Spent some fun time swimming and hanging out with great friends from the Summit at the Palace
- Got your first "boo boo" on your chin
- Enjoyed dressing up as a "truck driver" for your first Costume Party @ Jack & Max's house

26 MONTHS (November - December)

- Bought you your airplane "bike" and you have never stopped zooming all around the house- by far one of your favorite birthday gifts :)
- Every time Bubble Auntie leaves, you put cry to go "outside" with her- so she (of course) scoops you up and walks down the way to pick some pretty flowers and then brings you and them back to me :)
- Such a great little entertainer for our guests

27 MONTHS (December - January)

- As we started to teach you to say sorry after you disobeyed- you complied and said exactly what you heard: "say sorry" - how could we not forgive such a cute request. haha.
- First Christmas in our official "home" in South Asia (started the Jesse Tree)
- Visited old friends in our language city/ your first home in South Asia
- Attended two South Asian weddings- of which you MAY have been in more photos than the bride!

28 MONTHS (January - February)

Jan 21- Found out you were having a little sister
- As we sat in a restaurant in Thailand, I cracked open a shelled peanut and gave them to you to play with.... next thing I hear is  "boogies"!!! OH DEAR- you had done the thing I feared...
shoved each one up your nose!!!! As I tried not to panic completely, I just held you and looked very desperately at your Papa and said "HELP"... of course, he saved the day :)
 - "Bless you" is your kind response to sneezing, burping, coughing, etc... pretty cute
 - You love bursting out laughing and then saying: "that funny?"
- You love to "honk" Mama's nose and hear our noses "eaak" when we are nose 2 nose
- Counting (above ten too)
- Good manners " please, thank you, your welcome" unprompted too :) so cute
- Attempting to sing "Jesus loves me"
- Fake sneeze just so you can say  "Bless you"
- "I love you" (I have LONGED to hear those precious words come off your sweet lips!)

29 MONTHS (February - March)

FEB- MARCH:
- Became a big brother
- "eye brownies" = eye brows
- "drive" your car in your McQueen slippers- you totally put your whole body into it
- still in love with Alvin
- count 1-10 on own
- dancing machine ( You may have a special dance to the music on the "Office" intro that Mama & Papa watched while waiting for Riley to arrive- oops!!!)
- repeat everything you hear ( English & Hindi)
- " ere are you?" "come here" " wait" "namaste"
- First forward role ( Delhi) on marble!
- first time on a real "rock" at park in Delhi
- Love stories ( Mama reads "To: Levi... Love:....." and Levi finishes with "love Grammy" and acts out stories with cars)
- Incredible imagination.
- giggled at Riley squeaker's hiccups so hard you gave yourself hiccups. Haha.
- the dinosaur (hand). "Gonna get you" = Come and get me. Giggle festival
- "oopsy daisy" :)
- "fuffins"= muffins
-"icing McQueen"

30 MONTHS~ 2 1/2 YEARS (March- April)

- Separation anxiety
- Nana & Pappy came to visit- and now every time you hear a plane you say "Nana, Pappy airplane"
- so social -you wave and say "hi hi hi" to everyone
- Became such a good traveler- stay by our side, walking and holding our hand, not fussy. Hands out to side at security checks. So proud!!!
- Enjoyed jumping in the waves at ocean
- 3/18bottom left molar
- 4/20 bottom right molar
- South Asia has become the Longest time you have ever lived in one house/place
- Can semi count to twenty... however eleven almost ALWAYS goes missing :)


Our sweet son, Levi Elliot
You always keep us laughing and on our toes, Levi.
We can't imagine how much JOY we would be missing out in if you weren't in our lives.
BEYOND Grateful for every minute of these 2 1/2 years.

~All our Love~
Mama & Papa

Best PACKAGED Package Award:

We feel SOOO loved by all the super fun packages people send to us!

And THIS package was just BEYOND awesome :)

Check it out:

One of my (favorite- not that I had favorites ;)) students from NC, Kassie, decided to send

 a "Shower in a Box" for Riley/all of us:

 Isn't it the PRETTIEST PACKAGE you've ever seen?!?!?!

Levi LOVED his little trucks, tractors, and airplane the moment he saw them:

 SOOOO Thoughtful:

Cars & books for Levi

Adorable outfits for Riley Jo

Yummy treats for the whole family

and yes... do you see that wonderful gift down front???

i-Tunes gift card (I LOOOOVE music)

 Every part of this package was created with detail and love:

I've never received such a BEAUTIFULLY packaged Package :)

Thanks Kassie for being the thoughtful, loving, precious young lady that you are!

We love you :)

. Little Chef .

Levi LOVES to help me in the kitchen-

So one day I assigned he and one of our friends, J, here to make some birthday cupcakes for our other friend, JJ :)

They were a great team!

Ooooopsyyyyy! What happened here?

 Let's take a closer look.... yep- bummer, the one handed egg crack didn't work out so nicely this time:

(hahahaha)

 Stir- Stir- Stir

Then after pouring the cupcakes and baking... 

The best for last:

 Dipping the finger into the batter left in the bowl- Yummy!!!

Gotta love good times :)

:: My Giggle Girl ::

Her very first giggle fest :

(Caught May 30, 2013 ~ 3 months old)

:: Singing ::

Levi asked to "Hold her" one day, and so I said "Why don't you sing to her"

To which he didn't even hesitate, but busted straight into song...

I sat completely amazed at how much of this song he already knew by heart 

(I had never heard him sing it all the way through prior to this moment)

Recognize the lyrics?

:)

"Jesus Loves Me"

(He sure does...  I am thankful for the many times that I feel His love through these two little ones)

. Bubble Auntie Moments .

 Our house helper (Lovingly referred to as "Bubble Auntie") has really become part of our family.

She has adored Riley since the moment we brought her home & is so precious with her and Levi.

 

One day, Beth and I decided to give her the day "off" of work and instead we all sat down and watched the Magdalena film with her.

It's been awesome to see how watching the way Jesus lived & loved can stir ALL of our hearts!

 This is how these two sat for most of the movie... 

Hand in Hand:

Our house helper & her daughter bought myself, Levi & Riley all some new outfits for Riley's birth (So thoughtful!)

Here is Levi showing his off:

Bubble Auntie & Her Buddy:

One day she even brought her son along-

Levi thought it was GREAT having a friend to play with, ride around the with, and speak some Hindi with :)

I love hearing his little voice saying things in Hindi!

 As she was working one day, Levi felt the need to also be her side kick:)

 

He adores her daughter- he always gets SUPER excited when he sees her and says "DIIDII" 

(which means older sister in Hindi, but is used to refer to younger ladies as well)

She was lovin' on Riley here:

 

A quick reminder of how "Bubble Auntie" was so named:

.B.U.B.B.L.E.S.

Like I said, she has become QUITE dear to us!

There is no one like our Bubble Auntie :)