July 2011

July started out by picking up Uncle David at the airport from his officers training in the Air Force to celebrate the 4th of July with family. With the Kreis family at our home, we celebrated Nana's birthday as well as get Uncle David caught up on his laundry. On Saturday night we took Judah to his first baseball game to watch the Iowa Cubs. Judah sat through all nine innings making the rounds to each adult, listening to the music, and watching the sights. He especially liked the costume of the big hot dog running down the field. After the game we dawned our rain gear for a light rain while we watched fireworks before leaving the stadium.


On Sunday, we spent the morning seeing the sights and hearing the sounds of the Urbandale 4th of July day parade. On our way back to the car, we stopped at the Urbandale Fire Department to see the fire trucks. One fireman even let Judah sit inside the fire truck. Then we enjoyed the rest of our day at home, cooking up Nana some the last of the Walleye with some sweet corn for her birthday.


After the 4th of July, we made a trip up north to spend the following week in Waterloo and Cedar Falls. Traveling back with Nana (after seeing David back off to the Air force), we stopped at her place for a few days. Here Judah found Aunt Rachel's school markers and made some artwork all over the bedding. Then we came out to the farm for some additional fun outdoors on the 4-Wheeler and the swing. Judah also went fishing for the first time catching some fish out of Papa's pond. His first bluegill scared him a little and after much excitement, he went off to play in the sand with cousin Jacob a few minutes later. We also hit up some garage sales finding great bargains on toys for Canada.




We returned home for a week at home to unpack, do laundry, and repack to pack for Canada. Judah helped me and Miss Sarah make oatmeal raisin cookies for Canada. And he insisted on packing up his winter pajamas for the trip by emptying out his drawers and packing it into the bucket.


Judah grew again this month. His two year molars on the bottom were working their way in (July 5). One day mommy just happened to notice the left bottom one already in while the right side started peaking through. His hair also keeps growing darker and by middle of the month (July 11) Judah had to get his haircut with daddy. It never ceases to amaze us how much hair they cut off that little round head.

This month we spent some time outdoors enjoying the summer. Going to the pool a couple of times, we played in the water. At home we hit up the sand box or played in the sprinkler. When it rained, we did some puddle jumping. When it was too hot to go outdoors, we updated our wall with more giant finger paintings.


Judah especially played with his toy tractors this month. He would pretend loading, hauling, and plowing things around the house. Often, he would tell me in great detail what they were doing. He also played with his workshop building and fixing things around the house.

Judah's ability to think progressed this month in the areas of pretending and correlating things. He would pretend to carry a conversation on the phone. He practiced his matching skills. He expressed himself in what he wanted to wear such as winter pajamas and winter boots (even though it was 90's outside). In addition, he really started singing songs like his ABC's and Ring around the Rosy.