The end of June and first half of July have been filled with regular summer fun. We haven't gone on any trips, but we have been having a blast here at home. Miss L got a tricycle as a prize for filling up her sticker chart. She actually earned it before we went to our hometown on vacation, but we waited until we got home to actually purchase the thing. Now it's an almost daily occurrence that miss L and her dad walk around the neighborhood with her bike in the evenings (except on the days when we might boil walking ten feet out of the house). One evening in late June we decided to take the bike to a local park for a change of scenery.
She rode right onto the playground.
...and eventually abandoned her bike to play!
There is seriously a moment each and everyday where I almost cry thinking about how little she used to be and how big she is now. There's a slide at this particular park that can only be accessed by climbing up a ladder made up of a series of disks. A few months ago, she'd not have even attempted it but now she just climbs right on up.
...and down the slide she goes.
You know that my big girl wasn't the only kid at the park that evening. There was also a handsome chunk of a baby hanging out with us. I'm a SUCKER for a baby in a hat (or shoes!) and I love this baseball cap. It's getting to be too small (as you can see) so I'll have to find him a larger one. I love those chins!
Miss L spied on us through a hole in the side of the slide.
Miss L had never done these before. When I showed her to step from one to the other she had a little trouble balancing and reaching at first, but kept practicing and by the end was hopping from one to another. I just can't believe how big she is.
... and we rode off into the sunset...
Early July always brings fun. Brad grew up in a family that celebrated the fourth of july in a huge way, so it's a time of fond memories for him and we're figuring out what our family traditions will be. Since having children we've skipped the fireworks. Miss L has always been in bed long before the fun began. This year, that was our plan again.
Miss L didn't nap on Saturday the 3rd. She seems to be in a place where she'll nap everyday for a week and then not nap for awhile and then just go back and forth, and that day she didn't. We decided to set up the pool and the ball sprinkler in the backyard and enjoy the lovely weather we had that weekend.
Miss L didn't spend too much time in the actual pool but she had a BLAST playing in the water.
Sweet baby W got in on a bit of the action.
After a short dip in the water he was very happy to have a rest on the blanket.
At least the car got washed.
Then we made a spontaneous plan. Of course, there was a time when we made lots of those, but not anymore! I was sitting in the backyard and said, hey Brad we've never been to that fourth of july celebration in a nearby town that they have every third of july. Maybe we should check it out. Brad said, yes! So we grabbed a bucket of chicken and made our way to the high school football field where the festivities were held. Remember miss L didn't have a nap? Well, she fell asleep on the way there and was rather serious when we boarded the shuttle bus to get the actual football field. I thought she would be so thrilled about riding the bus, but she mostly just stared straight ahead. When we got to the stadium she remained serious as we found a good spot for our blanket and got set up.
The third of july was also the day of my niece's wedding. I can't believe I'm old enough to have nieces getting married and we were so disappointed not to be there so we took some photos to send them a special message so that they'd know we missed them.
Then we got to the important business of eating that chicken.
Then there was a little excitement for the evening. Miss L actually used a portapot, which was shocking but wonderful and she spent some time with the big kids on the moonbounce. There was a beach boys cover band playing that evening and we were located way too close to the speakers for our poor baby, but so far he seems to still be able to hear. He never did go to sleep like I thought he would. We blew bubbles and hung out until fireworks time.
When it was nearly time, we laid down on the blanket to get ready!
There were a few things that didn't cross my mind when I was spontaneously coming up with this. The biggest one, of course, was the fact that there would be fireworks and we had a BABY. So the music is blasting away, then the fireworks started going off, and they were close and LOUD. Poor baby W SCREAMED his way through the first twenty minutes or so of the show. I tried to cover his ears and then realized that was making him more mad than the fireworks. After that it started raining ash onto us and that's when I really felt like I failed the poor guy. I know my lungs were feeling a little, well... fireworky, so I know his had to be a lot worse. All in all it was a great night and we're already plotting our return next year. I made some notes in my calendar so I wouldn't forget to sit far far away from the speakers! We stood in the line to get back to the bus for nearly an hour, after which both kids were nearly asleep. She rode the bus back to the car with the same expression we came with. Of course, you know what the first thing she said when she woke up on Sunday morning was? "Can we ride the bus again?" :o)
So the fourth of july isn't the fourth of july for Brad unless you set something on fire. He went to the local fireworks stand and got some of the pop things you throw at the ground and some snakes for him and miss L to enjoy. We skipped church that morning and so when sweet baby W was taking a nap we headed out front to play.
Miss L did not know what to think at first, but quickly enjoyed watching the things grow out of the fire.
She had a hard time getting the little poppy things to pop, but enjoyed trying!
The following weekend included two birthday parties. One for a child in miss L's regular playgroup and one for miss L's friend C a family friend.
At miss L's friend little miss D's party we made sand art. We'd never thought to do that before, but it was so much fun! She loves the little whale she made and it makes me think I should get some things for that and hide them for the inevitable rainy (or 500 degree) day.
Miss D is too cute!
Mmmmm... cupcakes!
Between parties miss L had a really good nap and Brad took sweet baby W's elephant photos. I can't believe how big he is already. 5 months old?!?!?! It's just not possible!
He's doing all kinds of things now including teething! Oh goodness!!
We had to wake up miss L to go to miss C's party.
She wasn't sure she wanted to wake up, but by the time we got there and saw all the fun she was ready to go. She was a little girl at this party, the other guests were all around miss C's age (five) and so miss L felt like a big girl. So cute!
The party was a pirate theme and there were pirate bandanas, patches and beads at the door to help get you in the spirit. Sweet baby W channeled his inner pirate.
Brad did too.
What a great day! Miss L has been talking about birthdays ever since. She wants to go back to miss D and miss C's parties and has been singing happy birthday. Two great parties on one full day! We all slept great!
The next day, still talking about how much fun she had the day before, miss L wanted to wear her pirate patch. She actually ended up wearing it to church.
She got suckers at both parties. She's never had them before so this was a first for us. She did great though. This was the last one (and she did great with the others which is why she's sitting on the couch). She was very excited that it made her mouth turn blue.
Today was a GREAT day. We had a little reunion of sorts. My roommate from the hospital (those who followed me on carepages will remember her as the great roommate that I was so fortunate to have in the beginning) came over today for a playdate. She has a son around miss L's age and they never got to meet in the hospital, but they definitely hit it off right away.
It was also so fun to get the babies together and see the fruits of all our hard work in the hospital. I have to admit that I love this photo of the three of them, but when I look at it I see the little boy who is missing. There are supposed to be four babies on that couch. I think those moments are just always going to be there. The fact of the matter is, he is missing and is missed.
These three are too cute though! They don't even know that they were hanging out together before they even exited the womb!
I also love these pictures with the big brother/sister pair. I love how sweet baby S is looking at miss L's hair and thinking, how can I get that, and how sweet baby W looks like he's just wondering what in the world is happening!
I really love this one too. What a great bunch!
Finally, I was in the kitchen tonight making dinner when I looked into the living room and saw this scene. Don't judge me! Brad's been gone for several days (home late tonight though, woohoo!). I just thought this was sooooo funny!
See you next week! (or you know...)
