At home with Hope, Vol XII

Hopey and her little friend playing in the kitchen. :o) I think she was teaching the dolly how to dance.
It's so sweet to see how she likes to show the dolly new things. She'll be a great big sister.
Uhmm.... we won't let her do this with the real baby though. :o)
With winter setting in, my hands have been cracking easily from washes dishes or whatever, so I took out the rubber gloves to see if that would help.
After finishing in the sink one day, I gave the gloves to Hope, because she seemed interested in them.
It was great entertainment for her trying to get them on herself, and for me watching her try to get them on!
In the end, I helped her put the second one on, as she kept getting frustrated with it. Big grins!
Hope and a little friend reading a new John Deere tractor book together. We went to bed Friday night, and when we got up Saturday morning Auntie Chloe was here! She came up for a quick weekend to help me with some things in the house and be here in case the baby decided to come. :o)
After Saturday brunch, Hope showed Chloe the ipad. :o) Once Chloe figured it out, they were away.
Playing with "the pond" on the ipad, and walking across it with their fingers.
Chloe helped me clean out the kitchen cupboards, (which were badly in need, not having been done since we moved in a year ago...) and of course, Hope helped us too!
All ready for bed Sunday night, but time for laughs first!
And this was last night - Monday night. Josh and I were doing a quick little project in the living room, and Hope amused herself on the couch. (gotta teach her and Josh that the couch isn't for bouncing and pouncing!)
Now just watch....
She knew right where she wanted that dolly afghan and what she wanted to do with it.
And this is what Josh and I were doing - assembling a small rocking chair for Hope, a special gift from my Grandma. Now Hope will have a rocking chair of her own when the baby comes, and Mommy and Hope can rock their "babies" at the same time.
For now, though, this is how Hope enjoys the rocking chair most - putting her dollies in it and rocking them. :o)
And... yesterday.... my sweet hubby picked up some beautiful flowers for me on his way home from work "just because."
They were a timely thing of beauty in a day that held it's share of challenges and frustrations. The blessings to count include that baby inside me is still kicking, the house is still standing, the mold is getting taken out of the closet and ceiling, and all the water that leaked onto the bathroom floor and basement carpet from the downstairs tub is now cleaned up!
"He makes all things beautiful in its time." We are so thankful for that promise as we wait for our baby to be born. :o)