Cooing and Ahhing

My first Mother’s Day was a beautiful one.  Hannah has been “cooing” for some time, but now she is making a variety of noises that are so fun to listen to.  She smiles back when Craig or I smile and talk to her.  She is very interested in her environment, taking everything in with those big, blue eyes of hers.  She is attracted to bright lights, ceiling fans, and is fascinated with trees.  With the windy spring days our “tree time” is quite fun.  Being a teacher and having an appreciation of the learning process, it is extremely rewarding to watch Hannah process her world.  Getting to know more of her personality and temperament, I predict she will be very assertive.  When Hannah wants to let you know she needs something, she really lets you know.  So far, there is nothing shy about her. 

Craig and I believe in the importance of teaching Hannah she is in charge of her destiny.  As her parents, we are to educate her and give her the tools we feel see needs to make it as an independent woman some day, but ultimately she is her own person, free to make her own decisions.  Based off the principled way we will raise her, we hope those decisions are good ones.  The best thing we can provide her is a strong familial foundation.  Our example will speak the loudest when it comes to teaching her what to do.  If we want her to eat healthy and be an active child, what better way to teach this than to live it ourselves?  If we want her to be honest and respect all humans, we must be honest and respect others first.  It is not always easy, but we try to live with no contradictions.  Our choices and actions align with our chosen values and beliefs.  We hope Hannah will see this and put it into action in her own life.  And possibly challenge us to be even better individuals.  

Saturday a friend of mine and I participated in Urban Dare, an Amazing Race style scavenger hunt in Dallas.  We were given a list of clues and we had to answer them, then find the location of the answer and get to it.  Once there, you take your picture or do a dare and go on to the next place.  We had a blast and only got really lost once.  It was a cool way to see downtown; that is on foot.  We didn’t win, but we didn’t come in last either.  All in all, we walked about 4 miles, found some new places to go back and visit, and had a great conversation on our mini journey.    

I’ll be writing more this week so keep checking in.  Out the door now for a little exercise. Good for the mind and body.  

Peace