Iowa Initiation

It's official - we are Iowans. We were invited to our first driveway party. I have no idea why, but people congregate in their driveways here. Everyone brings a lawn chair and they all sit in a circle. Some church friends invited us over this weekend and lo and behold, it was a driveway party. As soon as we rounded the corner and saw their house, I said, "oh, so we're doing this Iowa style?"

I've been trying to explore our neck of the woods recently so that when winter rolls around and I am whining about how much I hate Iowa, I can (faintly) remember that it's not so bad in summertime. We've had a remarkably cool summer (we've made it to the 90s like twice?) and while it's kind of a bummer if you want to go to the pool, it's pretty awesome for hiking.



Jared and I did a 3.5 mile mud and obstacle run at a nearby park that I previously did not even know existed. On our run, we came across wild blackberries and stopped for a snack. The next week, I took Libby and Piper back to the park to look for the berries again, but couldn't find them. I had to get Jared to come back with us (for the 3rd time in a week, if you're counting) and we easily picked a few pints worth of blackberries.

I also found a great trail for walking and riding bikes. (I say that like I discovered it myself - it's actually a very prominent greenway that I pass all the time in the car but had never hiked on.) Libby is getting really good at her balance bike and this trail is a great place to practice. Mostly shaded, and it's exactly 1 mile from the parking lot to a playground. And, to top it off, there are mulberry trees on the route. I'd never had mulberries before, but they are delicious!

There is a minor league baseball team here (they're called the Kernels and their mascot is an ear of corn. Be afraid.) and we've been to 2 games. We might go once more this season. Libby really enjoyed it, especially when we sat on the lawn.


And of course, we've been going to the park as much as possible. I feel like a terrible mom that it took me all summer to finally go buy a $1 shovel and pail for Libby. Every time we went to the sandbox, she would sweetly and pathetically say "I don't have any toys." I'd usually tell her to dig with my flip flop. Now, she has a proper bucket and shovel and life is good.

Piper - 10 months

At 10 months, Piper

• crawls well...and quickly
• stands as much as possible
• does "nursing gymnastics" every time I feed her (last week, I was lying down to feed her and she ended up upside down, on top of my face AND managed to take my earring out with her toes)
• has 8 teeth (she's had these for a while)
• can climb up stairs 
• can slide down the stairs on her tummy (no falls yet!)

Park Date

We went on a family date to feed geese at the park. It was pretty cool to see the huge field of geese. As soon as Jared threw the first piece of cracker, they all started converging on us.

Piper - 9 months

I feel like the best way to describe Piper at 9 months old is to compare her a koala bear. She certainly has the ability to be mobile - she's crawling well, standing, walking along furniture, climbing the stairs - but much of the time, she's either riding on my back or hanging desperately to my neck, shirt, legs, etc. By the end of the day, the neckline of my shirt is always stretched and baggy from her refusing to let go when I need to put her down or change her diaper.

But as much as she likes to be held, I wouldn't describe her as a needy baby. She is happy and calm and nearly always smiling.

The other way I'd describe Piper is "awesome." And that's exactly how the nursery worker at my gym described her when I was picking up the kids on Monday after my workout. She said Piper is awesome - just happy to explore and watch Libby. And that is so true. Libby is usually playing in the ballpit when I pick them up and Piper is sitting just outside of the play structure (as close as she can get without getting trampled by the kids climbing in and out), staring and laughing her head off at Libby. It's just the cutest thing ever.

Stats
Birth: 7 lbs 12 oz, 20 inches long
2 Weeks: 8 lbs 5 oz, 21 inches long
2  Months: 11 lbs 5 oz, 24 inches long

4 Months: 14 lbs 6.5 oz, 26 inches long
6 Months: 17 lbs, 27 inches long
9 Months: 18 lbs 11 oz, 29.25 inches long

Libby speak - summer 2013 edition

I've had a piece of paper sitting on my kitchen counter for about the past month that I use to jot down funny things Libby says. My paper is getting full, so it's time to transfer them here.

Some are funny, some are quirky, and some are just so typical-Libby that I have to record them.

In response to telling her that something is broken/not working/out of batteries: But you will fix it! (I love her unconditional confidence in me.)

In response to telling her that we don't have something: But we will get some more at the store!

After I told her I got a bug bite: No bug will come and bite you again, ok?

During a conversation about marriage, Libby said she wanted to marry Grandpa. I told her he was already taken. She said she wanted to marry Daddy. I told her he was taken, too. Pointing to the man across the street mowing his lawn, I want to marry that boy so he can mow for me.

Can you do this? (holding up middle finger) We hear this one about 20 times a day, though the gesture/action is usually a bit milder. Sometimes it's standing on one foot, or crossing her legs a certain way, or intertwining her fingers. Sometimes it's hard to figure out what she is even referring to and she gets really upset when we can't copy her exactly.

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ at 3 am, while stroking Dad's whiskers. We were sleeping in the basement for a few weeks before we got a new A/C and Libby shared an air mattress with Jared. She doesn't normally wake up in the middle of the night, but something about sharing a bed with Dad was just too darn exciting. She would wake up almost every night and sing the ABCs over and over and over.

I won't do it again, heard every.single.day. after she gets in trouble for hitting/biting/knocking over/sitting on Piper.

I'm a scary robot!

I'm a happy monster!

In response to me using my tablet after she put it down, You not being really nice! I was using that!

In response to someone saying "I'm sorry," You fine or You are fine. 

When I told her it was time for Piper to take a nap: Uh, actually, I have to play with her.

During a potty training conversation: Libby, what do you do when you need to poop? I have to tell Mommy to take me to the ice cream place. 

Indepence Day in Nauvoo

My little sister, Leighana, had a youth conference trip to Nauvoo last week. And my mom was a chaperone. So, with Nauvoo being only 2 hours away from us, we had to make the trip down to see them.

It was a fun day. We went on July 4 and had beautiful weather. We spent the day visiting the "Old Nauvoo Village" and ended the day by seeing a show called "Sunset on the Mississippi." We considered going to the fireworks show in nearby Keokuk, but the kids were tired and it was out of our way, so we had to make do with the sporadic fireworks we saw on our drive home. I think this is 4 years in a row that I've missed seeing fireworks, which is usually my very favorite part of the holiday. (You know, other than having a free country.) Next year!

Oops! Somehow I didn't get any pictures of Leighana on my camera. I'm a bit child-centric when it comes to taking photos.

Piper - 8 months

 At 8 months, Piper:

-has 8 teeth
-eats sweet potatoes, apple sauce, yogurt, oatmeal, rice, bread, tortillas, mashed beans, bananas, and popsicles. (This girl loves popsicles and will use both hands to grab one away from anyone who has one.)

-crawls with her tummy off the floor, but only for a few steps at a time
-can push herself up to sitting
-can pull up to her knees
-can pull up to standing (she shocked me when she did this for the first time!)

-naps twice a day
-wakes a few times a night and is really good at convincing me she neeeeds to nurse and neeeeeeds to sleep in my bed
-loves to take baths, especially with Libby

I walked out of the room for a minute this morning, and when I came back, I found that Libby had taken over feeding Piper. She did an awesome job!