Welcome home...so where's Boppa?

Well, it probably goes without saying that Hannah not only survived our 9 day absence while we were Honeymooning in Spain, but she thoroughly enjoyed it! So much so, that when her dad went to greet her in her crib the morning after we returned, she looked at him cockeyed, pointed to the bedroom and said, "Boppa?" Apparently her nighttime cries for Momma quickly morphed into asking for Boppa, then Memaw. As for Daddy, well, she tried to call him a bunch of times, I'm sure figuring he must've just been at Work.

Anyway, it was a great trip for us, all the more so knowing she was in good hands here with her beloved Memaw and Boppa, who brought her love/obsession with creating artwork to a new level with the purchase of some sidewalk chalk. I don't think a day has passed since our return when she hasn't mentioned (demanded) sidewalk chalk, with a sense of real urgency of course. She really loved Boppa's new game of drawing faces so she could then draw on the hair. She now asks me to draw faces of various friends - sometimes I have to clarify if she's really asking about that person, not realizing she actually remembers their name/association/etc. Like when she asks for "Sawa" - and I inquire, you mean Sara? She nods furiously and confirms with a loud Yeah! And then as if to prove she knows who she's talking about, she'll follow up with a request that I then draw Reece (her daughter). It's pretty darn cute, I gotta say. Of course the last time they had a playdate, Hannah did give Reece many kisses, so I guess I have just been underestimating her fondness for her girlfriend.

In addition to her increased fervor for sidewalk art, Hannah has been putting together words on her own. We think her first independent phrase was "Big Pillow" - something she loves to throw off the sofa, bed, etc... That was before our trip. Now it is Daddy's pillow or Momma's pillow, Boppa's chair, Memaw's glass, My cup (I can see this last one becoming more problematic in the near future..).. Other words have gotten more clear - instead of Ava for Avocado, she actually sounds out the 4 syllables, and gets shockingly close. One of her new favorite phrases? "No way!" And I'll find her talking to herself sometimes, saying "no? okay. cool" - little mini sentences that's she's probably heard alot around here. But when we were having breakfast this weekend and she started yelling "Tom! Tom!" I knew exactly where that came from. My mom yelling for my dad, as is pretty common around their house. Too funny... It's only a matter of time before she starts reminding us of all the words we SHOULDN'T be saying around the house!

There are too may other developments to discuss here - I'll let Daddy detail the rest in another post. The bottom line is, we had a great time, but by the end could not wait to get back to see our little Rivercat! Every little kid in Spain made us think of her, and order another pitcher of sangria to quell our aching, but well rested, hearts... :)