Fall Family Fun List

So I wrote up our "Fall Family Fun List" and posted it by the calendar. 

And Saturday we checked off the first two items!  We took you apple picking and then I made apple crisp.  The weather was perfect and we got lots of great apples, and I mean LOTS.  We also got to go on a little hay ride and you had fun quacking at some ducks.
We went to Cider Hill: http://www.ciderhillfamilyorchard.com/  

 You've spotted the ducks.

I love these of you and Daddy:

My favorite:

look at those sweet little hands

our bounty

It's almost FALL!

Hi Baby,
We had a busy day today.  Momma had her first BSF class (Bible Study Fellowship), which I was a little iffy about when I signed up but now I am excited.  I think it will be a great way for me to connect with the Lord and with some other women.  And I am excited that you will have a couple hours to play with some other kids in the Infant Room.  I think it will be really good for both of us.  The only concerns I have are that the class is during your normal nap time (and I hate messing with your schedule), and that I am not sure how well I will be able to keep up with daily reading and answering questions to be prepared for the group discussion.  It seems like it will be pretty intense.  But I am going to give it a shot and try my best to put in the hard work because I know I could learn a lot from this study of Genesis and I am excited to spend time being intentional about reading God's word.  I really liked the other women in my group and I think I will feel comfortable with them.  We will see how it goes!

After BSF you took your nap and then you went swimming in your little pool.  It may be the middle of September but it was still close to 90 degrees today so I thought we'd enjoy the pool one more time. 

After the pool we came in for some Fall-ish activities like eating corn on the cob and making Cinnamon Maple Scones.  Yum!  You played with oatmeal while I made the scones.

I am very excited about the Fall season this year!  I am especially excited to take you apple picking, on a hay ride, to a pumpkin patch, and TRICK OR TREATING!!  I am also excited for Sonic to have their Pumpkin Pie Shake that is sooooo tasty.  I am working on a "Fall Fun List" with activities for us to do during the week and with Daddy on the weekends. 

LOVE YOU!

Love. You.

I am so in love.  Baby girl, you are growing and changing and becoming more of your own individual, independent little self every day.  You are walking, talking, being funny, being cuddly . . .

In just a few days you were able to walk across the room.  You've started saying "Hi baby" when we say it to you.  Yesterday, after we went to play with Jude, we practiced saying his name and you were saying it!  You are funny too; in the mornings we play on the bed for a few minutes and you will fall over and lay on the bed and then sit back up, get a big smile, and fall over again.  You love to make me smell your stinky feet and crack up when I say "P-U! Stinky feet!"

I wish I had the words to write how amazing it feels to be your momma.  I could have never imagined the love I have for you.  God is good.

STL Megan's Wedding

This weekend we went to St. Louis for cousin Megan's wedding.  You got to be the flower girl!  I pulled you in your wagon down the aisle.  You did such a great job, you just smiled and looked around.  The wedding was beautiful and in a gorgeous old Catholic church downtown.  We stayed in a nice hotel downtown, which was a lot of fun.  You loved the hotel room.  We got in pretty late Friday night after dropping the dogs off with Grandpa.  But even though you were tired you crawled around the room all excited, exploring the new space.  After Daddy and I put you to bed we had a date in the hotel lobby with some wine and cheese.  The next day was the wedding, which was beautiful, and then the reception was later in the evening.  You stayed up late again at the reception and had so much fun dancing with all the relatives and taking pictures in the photo booth.

 

 

 At the Arch

Milestone!

On Thursday, August 30th, you took your first step.  It was very special because Daddy and I both got to see it.  It was in the evening and we were about to go get ice cream.  I called Daddy in to show him a game we were playing and at that moment you stood up on your own, so we froze and watched as you took one big step and then you froze standing for a few seconds, maybe thinking about taking another step, and then you sat down.  Daddy and I were so exciting and clapped for you, you had a big smile on your face.  Now, a few days later, you can take three steps before falling.  Every time you have this big grin on your face- you stand up, take your steps, fall and then you look up at us all proud of yourself.  I can now officially call you my little toddler!

A couple other things to mention:

You have been pointing to yourself when you see a photograph of yourself or when we say your name or when you see yourself in the mirror.

You love having me put on your shoes.  If you see your shoes, or ever my shoes, you will bring them to me and demand that I put them on your feet- meaning you start making noises and hold your foot up, putting the shoe next to it. 

You are able to follow simple directions and help clean up.  In the morning while I get ready in the bathroom you take things out of the cabinet and drawers.  When I am done, and ready to take you down to eat breakfast, I sing the "clean up" song.  Sometimes you try to sing it with me and you do a great job of putting things back into the cabinet and drawers with my help.  I can even point to things like a bar of soap and say "Can you put that soap back in the drawer?" and point to where it goes and you will do it.  Yesterday you helped me put wet clothes in the dryer and shut the door.

13 months

On Monday you were 13 months old!  This last month, since that big 1st birthday, has flown by.  You have grown and changed so much.  You've started making animal sounds.  Some you imitate from us and others you already know and identify with the animal on your own.  You are pretty solid at doing the sounds for puppy, monkey, and cow.  You love to bark at the dogs whenever you see them or when you want them to play with you.  It's the cutest thing because you puff out your cheeks and make a "ruff, ruff, ruff" sound. I took you to the dog park earlier this week and you loved ruffing at all those pups.

Last week I took you to the library for story time and you walked next to me just holding on to one hand.  You haven't done that since but you have been standing up on your own.  Earlier this week I caught you on video in the yard standing yourself up in the grass.  It won't be long before you're walking and running and kicking that pink soccer ball that Grandpa Bill gave you when you were first born. :)

Not only have you been making animal sounds but your new favorite words are "Uh oh".  Anytime you drop something or you see someone else drop something you say "Uh oh" and you look very concerned.

You are also learning some body parts.  If we ask where your nose is you point to your mouth, so we are working on that one.  :)  But when we read your book where you pull up the flap to reveal the baby's body parts you know your fingers/hands and toes/feet.  You will actually pull your foot up and put it on the book where the baby's foot is.

I love watching you learn.  It is so fascinating and astonishing to me.  I'm so glad I get to be with you all day to catch these moments and encourage your growth.

You are still doing a great job feeding yourself yogurt every morning.  I even bought you some new spoons to help.  You are becoming very interested in what Mommy and Daddy eat, which means we have to make sure we are eating healthy foods that we can share with you.  Sometimes you still don't want to eat what I put on your tray, but we are working on it.  This week you did eat some lasagna and you seemed to like it.

One morning last week I peaked in my room and you were walking along, holding on to the edge of the bed, peaking up over it and playing with Bosco.  You were patting the mattress like you've seen us do when we play with him.  Bosco was barking and running around on the bed playfully.  It made me hopeful that he will continue to get use to you and be nice.

One of my favorite things now is when you crawl over to me and crawl up into my lap to sit with me.  It makes me heart melt.  I love my sweet girl.

This past weekend we went to Springfield to visit Grandma and Grandpa and Aunt Paige and we got to go to the lake.  It was your first lake trip and you loved it.  You loved being in the water but did not love the life jacket.  I think you wanted us to just throw you in to swim!  We had fun watching Grandpa Ben and Aunt Paige do flips and dives off the dock.  In a few years you'll be able to jump in from the dock too.  On Sunday we visited with Great Grandma and Great Grandpa on the farm and you got to see some cows.  You had fun mooing at them.

Earlier this week you got to do some finger painting with edible finger paint that I got from "We Can Too Art Supplies".  http://www.weecantooart.com/ 
Daddy wanted you to paint a picture for him to take to work.  You painted two beautiful pictures.  One at the picnic table with your hands . . . and then one on the patio with you whole body.  :)  It was messy but fun.  Then it was bath time.