I had no idea when I gave birth to Arabella that it would be 15 months later that I'd get my first full night's rest (that's even debatable since Adelaide still wakes me up). It's a pretty monumental accomplishment that Bella slept through the night last night. Since being in the States I've gotten her off the bottle which has led to longer nights sleep for my girl. When she wakes up now it's because she can't find her binky. I usually have to retrieve her pacifiers that have fallen out of her crib and bounced all over the floor. Last night she went to sleep at 7PM and didn't wake until 6AM. I changed her diaper put her back down and she slept until almost 9AM. I had to go in and check on her at 11:30PM just to make sure she was ok. That's the sort of thing you do when your child has been waking up multiple times at night for the past 15 months. Arabella has grown so much in the past 5 weeks in Washington. All the new experiences have led to lots of new milestones and more talking too. She says "Mama" all day now. I love seeing both my girls grow like little seedlings when they are in the States.
This picture of Arabella was taken in the hospital on day 2 of her life.
No, my 15 month old didn't feed herself her ice cream with a spoon but according to this picture she sure knows how to. Clever girl.
Chocolate sauce trip for sure!
I love this shot even with Addie's eyes closed. Bella looks to her sister for everything. She copies everything her big sister does. Bella things Addie is pretty awesome. 
Walking the Salmon Creek trail I used to run as a teenager. It was hot and tougher with a monkey on my back. 
Arabella and Grandpa after they both had a three hour nap today. Sporting the same bed-head. 
We love you Em! Thanks for being such a wonderful and willing Auntie this weekend. The girls love playing with you. All you need to remember is how on Friday night Addie wouldn't calm down to go to sleep until I told her that you were going to be at Grammy and Grandpa's house all weekend and that she could play with you the entire time. "She's not going back to her house?" she asked half a sleep in her bed. "No sugar, she's staying with us." The look of relief on her face was noticeable. 
Anyhow, we ate, played and got wet! Always a good combination for lots of fun. 
Fish tanks, always a crowd pleaser. We are missing our tropical tank back in Manila. I hope Yaya and Dad are keeping those fish clean.
In the play grocery and deli area where kids can shop for play food, scan their own groceries at the check-out stand and fix meals for one another. Arabella was in heaven here. She held that fake pear the entire time she played here. As you know she's a produce lover anyway. How much do you want to bet that she's going to have a summer job at a roadside farm selling peaches somewhere in middle America? The best part of this area for me was watching Bella watch the other kids . She was obsessed. Just taking it all in. This cute little boy was being very imaginative and pretending to talk on the pay phone about what meal a friend of his wanted on the daily special list (on the black board). Bella was enthralled. 
She kept on staring at the phone long after the boy left. 
Hmm...do I want watermelon or my pear? Definitely the pear.
There is my new pal again, scanning his groceries. How does he make that thing beep every time an item passes the scanner? Amazing. I hope I can get back to this place when I'm taller!
Serious clay making. A little clay tasting for Bella. 
I'm just a few inches too short still! She loved every bit of this museum. I could see the wheels turning in her little head.
Tube crawling awesomeness. 
She's so tall already!!
