Naomi LaNeal: August 2017

Well, we have officially moved and are in Texas!! Naomi has had a harder time moving this time than she did last year. And I don't blame her!! It's because last year we were home and she was surrounded by all of her grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins! She had an army of friends and loved every minute of it. This move has been a bit tougher. It's hard because we don't know any girls that are her age. All of the girls we know are a year younger or a year older. So it's been hard trying to find a place to fit in. I'm so proud of her though because every time we go to a play date and meet other little kids, I encourage her to play with new friends, and she does it! Some days are easier than others, but she pushes herself outside her comfort zone and tries to make new friends.

Thankfully, we were able to go back to Idaho for 3 weeks after we had been in Texas for a month. I could tell as soon as we got back to Idaho she felt like she was home. She was so happy and relaxed. I totally felt the same way. She had a blast playing with her cousins and being with her grandmas and grandpas.

Naomi has really grown up these last couple months. She decided on her own that she was going to learn how to swim!! I wasn't able to get her in swim lessons since we were moving and everything was all filled up by the time I looked into it. I've been able to take the kids swimming almost every day out here in Texas. One day we were heading to the Summit's swim pool and she told me she wanted to swim without her puddle jumper. I didn't think much of it. But we got to the swimpool and she jumped in and just started swimming!! She does really good for figuring it out herself. She still needs to take swim lessons and figure out how to do the different kind of strokes, but she does pretty good on her own.

Naomi also got a haircut while we were in Idaho. We cut off about 4-5 inches!! That haircut really made her grow up. She looks older now, and I can't believe it. It's so cute on her and I love it!! It's a lot easier to do her hair now too.

Naomi has always been really good about helping me in the kitchen, but it's even more fun having her be my little helper when I make dinner. She can get things out of the fridge by herself and is really good at following directions. She helped me get dinner and dessert ready today after church. We put on our aprons together and she let me know that her apron was cuter than mine haha. And I don't disagree. Grandma Rhodehouse really did an amazing job making her apron and it's adorable!!

A few of Naomi's favorite things these days include makeup and talking! She LOVES putting on makeup and will let me put LipSense on her anytime I say yes. She wants to wear it every day! She also loves to tell stories (which isn't new. She's been like this since she was little). She will talk your ear off. Then she loves to follow up her statement with a question by saying, "Right?" She has to hear you confirm everything she says.

Naomi starts kindergarten in a couple weeks! I can't believe our baby is starting school. I don't want her to go, but I know she is ready. She's been talking about it since she finished preschool in May. We took her school shopping in Round Rock at the outlet malls this weekend. We found her the cutest wardrobe and she is all set to go. Then we ate dinner at Fuddrucker's and got Round Rock Doughnuts afterwards. It was such a fun day together as a family.

I signed Naomi up for a ballet/tap class this fall. I am so excited for her to start this class. She is our little dancer and it's about time I got her in a class. I was able to sign her up with two other little girls from our area.

I'm sad to see our little girl growing up, but I'm so proud of the beautiful girl she is becoming. I love her so much and am grateful Heavenly Father sent her to us. We love you Naomi LaNeal!!