13th Month Annibirthery

[two days late...]

I had a brilliant idea a couple of weeks ago. Instead of having Etta lay on her foot rug for the next 12 months of growth pictures I can have her STAND next to her penguin!!

#1. Take a picture of said penguin on said foot rug to get a perspective of how big the penguin is.

#2. Have Etta stand next to the penguin and get a shot. Granted, I realized that she may need a little help the first couple of months since she is not quite standing completely on her own yet.

#3. Put adorable picture on the blog.

That's it. Three easy steps.

But guess how easy it WASN'T?! Step #1. No problem.



Step #2. Bob calmly suggests that we "just try" to get one picture of Etta laying on the foot rug. (He really really likes the foot rug.)



[A different perspective: Here is Etta at 1 month - 1 year ago...]



We then proceed to the actual step #2. Etta decides that this would be a good time to turn to baby jello and that making faces at mommy is WAY more fun than standing next to an old stinky penguin.









I put the camera away for a few minutes until I think that Etta has forgotten about it. We play for a bit and then I sneakily hand the camera to Bob, grab the penguin, grab baby Etta and get her to stand up. Notice - she does not look nearly as happy as she did when 1) she was laying on the foot rug or 2) she was posing for mommy...





I'm hoping that next month it goes a bit better. [Bob also mentioned that I should have chosen something STATIONARY for Etta to stand by. Not a roly-poly penguin who's job it is to NOT stay upright.]

P.S. Bob decided he wanted to get in on some of the blog fun. What a guy.

The first of many

It was a weekend for bbqs. One of my favorite things is a burger off the grill and enjoying good company. Sunday evening we had Cathy and Steve down to join us (along with my folks) for a relaxed backyard dinner. After Etta took a dip in the pool (I can't believe that I didn't get pics!) we threw some burgers on and had a great time.

What's that dad?



A chip? I think I like it!



Ready? One. Two. Three.



Bite.



Self portrait close up. Use your imagination...



Nice dude. It's an okay pic...



Relaxin' and enjoying the Doctor.

Thinking about walking

There is part of me that wants Etta to start walking and there is part of me that is just fine with her not walking. I know that it will come, she is actually very close. Things will get more hectic - BUT - when she can actually walk on her own then she can get down and run around instead of having to be in the stroller or be held.

Saturday was a perfect example. After being in the car seat on the way up to Moscow, pushed around the Farmer's Market for awhile and then held at the bakery she was ready to go. [If you ask my mom she will tell you that I let Etta crawl around on the - GASP!!! - sidewalk for a bit. I just felt sorry for the kid.] We did find some carpeting, so she could crawl, and she is okay at holding on to a hand to find her own way.

If. I. Could. Just. Pull. The. Table.



Intense concentration.



I think that I'm moving!



Here we go!



Can I get in the water Mom?



No! I won't jump in! Promise!!

Some more new toys

With MT Grandma, Gramps and Uncle Erik here for the weekend of course there were a few new things...

A cell phone and a squeaky rat [thanks Carla!] Etta loves them both. She sat on the floor and pushed one of the cell phone buttons over and over about 100 times. But she loves it. And she likes to have the squeaky rat in one hand and the squawkey chicken in the other!





And a new ride thanks to Uncle Erik. He even put it together for us. Etta helped of course - by handing him the tools. What a smart chicky. We went around the block a couple of times.



Either pull or let me out to do it!

Bling Bling

[First post of a "Memorial Day Weekend" marathon.]



Etta can put on her own beads now! Hopefully the collection won't grow too quickly.

It's pool season!

Since the temperature has been climbing the last few days I decided it was time to break out the cool hippo pool that Uncle Erik got for Etta for her birthday. Not being the brightest of parents we filled it up straight out of the hose. Nice for a photo shoot though. Next time we'll be sure to fill it up earlier in the day!

Is this my new pool dad?



Um, are you kidding me?



I'm not too sure about this cold water.



Where's the hot water switch? [Check my sweet new shirt from the half-marathon!]



I think the hippo's going to eat me!



Seriously?



I think I feel a warm spot.



[Etta did eventually "warm up" to the experience. I think that it will be great for Lewiston's hot summers.]

Rendezvous

Etta and I joined Bob at the 4th Grade Rendezvous at the Nez Perce County Fairgrounds on Thursday. For those of you who don't know - rendezvous is a huge gathering of 4th graders that have spent the year learning about Idaho history. It was my first time attending and I was pretty impressed. The music teachers get to ride wagons all day and sing songs with groups of kids. We got there just in time to make the before lunch ride with Bob.

Our view from our seats in the wagon



After the ride, visiting with the horses



Killer hats. Aren't we the coolest - EVER?

Post Race Fun

After the finish we meandered on over to the Big Red Wagon. Etta loves slides and we wanted to let her try it out. She had a great time and we did too.

Now that's a big wheel Mommy!



Sweet daddy, let's go!



Ready...set...



Go! Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!



It's okay mommy, it's not scary.

Windermere Half-Marathon

This morning Christine and I ran the Windermere Half-Marathon from the Spokane Valley into downtown Spokane. The weather was PERFECT, the scenery was BEAUTIFUL and overall the race went really, really well. We stuck true to our training times and both feel so good this evening. We are officially past the half-way point of our training and are looking forward to the Missoula Marathon on July 12th.

Approaching the finish



Christine blowing by Bob



Successful finish!

E.T.T.A. (Or-Daddy's there to save the day)