August 2013

We have just been crazy busy since Canada trying to cram in summer activities before Fall is upon us. Even though the weather turned cooler and the leaves have been falling, we continue to enjoy summer until we were hit with a record heat wave. We biked or walked to the the nearby water fountains and have picnics with our friends. We explored some natural playscapes with our play group. We continue to grill out once a week and even hosted a fish fry with our neighbors making some great feasting and fellowship.

This month we went to the Iowa State Fair twice as a family celebrating the end of summer. On our first trip, the kids really enjoyed doing chores on the Hands on the Farm activity. Judah rode his produce around in a tractor while Krissy carried her baskets full of vegetables. Each got to buy a special treat with the profit they earned. We also watched dad participate in the storytelling at the kids stage. Then Judah took his first ride on the chair lift with dad. We finished the day with the fish exhibit at the DNR building and feeding animals at the petting zoo. Krissy even had her first corn dog ever.

The second weekend we started out at the John Deere tent to learn about the farming process. Judah and mommy then went into the snake and reptile building. We paused for some delicious Lamb Burgers at the Sheep Association. Next, we followed Judah through the barns stopping at the sheep show and touring the Hall of Breeds. We trekked up to the cultural building to see the balloon exhibit and then the Ag Building for the Butter Cow before we made our way to the Dairy Barn for some ice cream. We finished the long day with a camel ride.

Once the heat wave hit, we all came down with the flu which put us out mid-August. It was a good time to stay inside with 100 plus temperatures watching television and resting. Luckily we celebrated Emma's birthday with dinner and a movie before the flu. Tim took a day off to recover himself about a week after the kids came down with the flue. All the neighbor kids got also had the flu at the same time. By Labor Day weekend we were much better to enjoy family that came to visit. Emma's family came Saturday to watch football as the girls went shopping. Tim's family came down on Monday for shopping and some grilling out.

We also had to get our car fixed this month from a fender bender. Emma also got a new bike for her birthday cause her old high school bike was stolen out of the garage on night when we accidentally left the door up. Mommy tried many new recipes though this month and got her craft area all cleaned up for some card-making. Tim continues to work hard at Principal Financial even though he moved over to a new department to do business analysis. 

Krissy's vocabulary increases everyday and more and more she talks to us in two syllable words or short sentences. She says "bubble" when she puts bath bubbles on her belly button. She rolls her tongue when she says, "I love you." Other words she repeats are puppy, doggie, mommy, daddy, Papa, Gigi, Nana, up and down, Amen. She gets excited when she sees an animal and responds with what they say: sheep is "baa," kitty is "meow," doggy goes "woof," and duck (which is her favorite) says "quack." She also points to her eye, saying "eye," and nose, saying "nose," and mouth saying "mouth." She loves to play "peek-a-boo" with you as she hides behind the couch and then hops out or puts her hands on over your eyes. She also rolls her "L" sound in "hello" as she walks around with her play phone. By the end of the month, she has learned so many words and phrases (if you listen carefully), that we cannot keep track. Here are a few common words "apple, yes please, shoe, sorry, ball, kitty, baby."And she started saying the infamous, "why."

This month Krissy sported pig tails for the first time. Her hair has grown so long down her back. Mommy can now pull her blond hair back in the entire front. She however, still pulls out any ties or bows mommy tries to put in, often taking them out again and again, and looking like a ragamuffin. At her 16 month appointment (even though she is 17 months), she weighed in at a healthy (but small) 18 pounds, 12 ounces. She continues to grow as she outgrew shoe size four and literally fashions all her size five sparkly shoes that she borrowed from a friend. She likes to take her shoes off in the car and puts them on in the house, hanging out at the shoe basket often. She also is working on another set of molars keeping us at nights or forcing us to drive her around in the car to help her fall asleep. She appears to be advanced in all her motor skills too making mom laugh when the doctor asked if she was starting to climb and say a few words. If he only knew how this girl keeps mom on her toes.

She prays with us now folding her hands inside. Bowing her head, she shouts Amen after we finish. She cuddles her babies, giving them smootches and rocks them. She also likes to put them in her stroller (with her little purse draped on her arm) and race them around the house as fast as she can. She continues to bring two books, one for you to read and one for her to read while you sit next to each other. She spends most of her day looking at books, pulling them off on the shelf, and flipping through them quickly before she gets another. She has also learned to stack her blocks by herself, making towers. Sometimes you will find her playing with her farm animals and tractors too. She still helps vacuum and fold laundry (maybe unfold). She still loves to play ball tossing it to you and going after it as you toss it back. And she runs behind her little car pushing it around the neighborhood or scooting it down the road.

Krissy also mastered climbing up the kitchen chairs. She likes to get in a chair, sit down, stand up, and get out repeating the process over and over again. She now likes to be in the table chair to color and eat snacks. She still continues to hang from the stove and dishwasher handles when mommy is not looking as she knows it is naughty. She also mastered walking backwards. She finally learned to go down the steps scooting on her bottom which makes mommy nervous. She also can climb up Judah's bed, to his dismay, to say good morning, and wakes him up. One morning she even climbed out of the exer saucer while mommy was in the shower, hanging out on the top of it. And she tries to peddle the tricycle or scoots along on her little car.

Judah keeps growing taller. He too grew a shoe size into 7/8. At his well-check visit, he showed a height of 38 inches. Still flirting with 30 pounds but really 28 or 29 pounds, Judah got new 3T pants and 4T shirts for preschool. He still remains in his car seat though, only now he can buckle himself in the car.

Judah's love for curiosity has us doing science experiments often. This month we made rock candy, watching how rocks crystallize and form. We try new recipes to decorate cupcakes. We tried moon sand and sidewalk paint. We made more play dough, which Krissy tried for the first time. He continues to practice with his scissors and draws pictures (in particular of Jesus dying on the cross). Judah implores us constantly with questions on how things work and why they work that way.

Judah likes to play outside. He is really into kicking his soccer ball back and forth. He also knows how to hit the baseball with his bat as mom pitches. His love for nature has us picking up rocks and acorns along with other treasures we find. He continues to show us how fast he is by running barefoot around the neighborhood.

Judah really has become a big help around the house. He dresses himself and brushes his teeth so well. He even washes his own hair now in the bathtub. He helps do chores such as dusting, dishes, and vacuums around the table, often doing them without being told.

Judah is so interested in reading. He is constantly asking what words say. He pretends to read his books to Krissy through his memorization of the story. He is always sounding out words telling us what letter they start with.

Judah went to his preschool orientation to meet his new classroom, classmates, and teacher at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church in West Des Moines. He starts preschool every afternoon from 12:30 to 3:00pm. He told mom, that "I want to go to school because I want to learn."And learn he does!