Ready for School

On Tuesday night we were chillin' after dinner. Etta was wandering around. Montana Grandma had gotten her a monkey straight jacket - I mean - a monkey "back pack" and I put it on Etta so she could get used to it at home before making any scenes in public. She was so proud of her new back pack. I asked her if she was ready to go to school. To the door she went. But paused a moment and then went back for her...

...hat. Properly clad, back to the door she went. Already? I know that it is supposed to go fast, but...?

I'm ready for school!



[Look at the big grin. She is ready to go.]

16th Month Annibirthery

16 months. What to say? Etta is learning new things every day. She is so inquisitive about most things and is learning to "joke". It is so fun to just sit and watch her run all over the house playing, exploring and imagining. Sometimes hard to get upset with her when she is being bad, (ie: standing in her Papa chair) when she is just so. darn. cute.

Bob and I are starting to flirt with the thought of time-out though. As Etta is approaching the thought of "back talking". . . as much as a 16-month old can "back talk". But we haven't yet because she has still been obeying fairly quickly. Oh, the times that lie ahead.

Her newest word is "go" and she likes to say it repeatedly. Go, go, go...to Grandma's...the the gym...to the park...to Auntie Christine's...she really isn't that picky!

4 months old



...chillin' with Lena (at 4 months old)



And today. Dancing with the penguin again.



I kept saying, "Can you put your hand on the penguin?" But she just wanted to run at me every time I took the picture. Can't believe that I got this one. Although I did want a face front...Oh well.



[In her hand is Erik's graduation announcement. She carried that and his name card around for awhile today. She would walk around and then lay them both on the ground. Look at them, pick them up, keep walking, find some place else to lay them down...repeat!]

My Very Own Table

This is my table. And my chair. My Grandpa Steve built it for me. I call it my Papa Table (and) Papa Chair. I sit in it to eat snacks and to color.

Thanks Grandpa Steve.

First Day of School 2009

Off went Bob this morning for his first day of school. No deep, heart felt thoughts from me this year. But I do thank God every single day that He has given us the ability for me to stay home with Etta. He is amazing!

I don't want to laugh! You can't make me!!!



Okay, fine then!! You guys are hilarious.



[On a side note: tomorrow is MY first day of school. I am teaching band at Beacon Christian School. A private, Seventh Day Adventist Church here in town. I will be teaching Tuesdays and Thursdays for 45 minutes. Auntie Christine and Etta will be hanging out for that time. It should be fun for everyone!]

Big girl

One day I forgot to start the dishwasher on time and so when Etta's snack time came around her tray wasn't ready. We tried the big table.

Oh, mom!!



I like eating at the big table!

One sick puppy

All last week (starting the 10th) Etta was sick. I won't go into too many gory details though. On Tuesday the 11th we went in to visit our new pediatrician (long story) and she got two shots. Wednesday seemed to be a bit better but...on Thursday the 13th she was very lethargic all day long and just wanted to lay on one of us. Didn't eat much and slept quite a bit.

Friday morning she seemed to be doing much better. Perfect! We were packing up to leave for Bozeman for a quick trip to the cabin. Since she was so chipper when she got up I decided that I would let her have milk with breakfast since she hadn't had ANY milk for two days.

[Okay, okay, okay. Go ahead all you moms out there. Say it. Say it out loud. Leave comments. "No milk for sick babies!"]

About ten minutes before we were supposed to leave Bob yells from the living room, "Em! Come quick!" I go running in to see the gigantic pond of puke all over the floor. Off to the Urgent Care we went. Normally I wouldn't have gone, but since we were going on a trip...

"My grand daughter had that a couple of weeks ago. Her ears look clear and she's not running a temp. Keep her hydrated and everything should be fine." With that advice from the doctor off we went.

Stopped in Coeur d'Alene for a potty break and potty she did. Right through her first outfit. Well, puke, poop, we should be good to go.

About ten miles out of town as we are hurdling down the Interstate we hear a funny sloshing sound. Much like when Etta shakes her water bottle. Unfortunately that was not the case. Throw up ev. 'ry. where. Pull over. Stand in the cold wind and initial drops of rain and try to strip a sick, unhappy baby. Wipe up the chair and everywhere else that we can see "stuff". Squish her back in the car and drive like Hell.

By the time we got to Bozeman we had gone through all three of the emergency outfits in the diaper bag and had to haul the suitcase out and find one more. Thankfully we were going somewhere with running water and a washer and dryer. Thank God for the little things.

The next day (Saturday) she wasn't doing much better. Couldn't keep down the water and little bit of bread that we tried for breakfast. Didn't want to drink water, 7-Up, Ginger Ale, pedialyte...nothing. Finally bought a box of Popsicles. That seemed to do the trick.

Sunday she was still very cuddly and not much for walking. So much for showing off, I mean, being her cute, natural self, for the relatives that we see once a year. But they have all been there and understood.

For the most part Etta just wanted to be with Bob or I the entire time. She did sleep on Montana Grandma for a little while, but wouldn't let Uncle Erik anywhere near her.

Incredibly at one point she decided she was done being anti-social. Picked up her favorite book and headed off to read with Rick.

Am I sure that this guy is okay?



I'm scowling because I don't feel good...

Moose!

While up the Gallatin Canyon this past weekend to visit the Kabin Kids we were sitting down to breakfast and outside the door:



That was the yearling. And when I turned 90 degrees to my left:



Holy smokes! Moose are big. Etta was quite enamored with them and kept mooing. At one point my dad came around the corner and was taken aback. "You are getting pretty close with her. I don't think that you could out run that moose at this distance." I took the hint and took Etta back inside.

These Boots Were Made For Walkin'

Thanks for the new boots Aunt Molly! They fit pretty well, although they are a little awkward for me to walk with. I wanted them on today so my mom got them all zipped up. I went about 8 steps and then was stuck! But I got going again. But they made me fall down a bit and then I got frustrated. I'll keep at it though because I like to be stylin'!

Here is a pic from when I opened them at Great Grandma Barb's house.

Wary Friends

When we first brought Etta home Tubs was her guardian. If people came over to visit he was always right there making sure that no harm was going to come to her. It seemed like they would be friends forever. But as Etta slowly became mobile - and was more into exploring her surroundings by touch - Tubs realized that a fat, lazy dog can't just lay around enjoying the couch if someone is poking him in various parts of his body.

I really thought that all was lost. They could not be left alone together.

But thankfully over the course of the last few weeks he has come to understand that Etta really isn't out to get him. Last week I came into the living room because it was just too darn quiet. Tubs was laying on the rug and Etta was sitting by him. Kind of a peaceful truce. Of course by the time I got my camera out Tubs had started to move which got Etta going, but I did manage to capture...

New 'do

Starting next Thursday I will be teaching beginning band at a private Christian school in town. It will be twice a week for 45 minutes a time. While I am teaching, Etta will be going to spend quality time with Auntie Christine. Last Tuesday they were having registration night and I wanted to go. Bob had a church board meeting and so Etta got to have a chance to hang out with Auntie Christine early. Bob was home with Etta by the time that I got home and the first thing I saw when I looked in the big picture window was Etta with her new 'do.



She was VERY proud and was touching her head and turning it all ways so that I could get the full effect.



Christine said that she set her up on the bathroom counter so that she could watch in the mirror. The entire time that Christine was "jerking her head around" (not my words) Etta sat perfectly content and looking very excited about what was being done. Could she BE any more girly? How does that even happen when I am the mom? Good thing that she is going to get to spend lots of girl time with Auntie Christine!



And this is what the hair looks like after the pig tail holder comes out...

I Heart Chocolate Pudding

If you aren't on FaceBook you may not have seen my latest creation:



Neapolitan Pie.

The first time I made it Etta was kind of paying attention to what I was doing, but not any more so than when I do any kind of cooking. She was eating and really more focused on that.

But when I was finished with the first layer she got to "lick" the spatula. That sugar kick, it really reels a kid in. When making the two layers I don't quite use the entire bowl of pudding. There happens to be just enough to put in a little sundae cup. For the next few days she got to have a bit of pudding with her afternoon snack.

The day I gave her chocolate pudding I thought that she would enjoy feeding herself.

Boy, did she ever.



Don't want to miss one bit.



More please!

Spelunking

Etta Grace, Intrepid Explorer

Restin' and readin'

Etta's very favorite activity...

Always ready to go

A hat is necessary to go outside. This girl is always ready to go.





[I think that she may have learned that from Jonah...]

Not really

It's not really naked if you have on a hat and shoes, right?

Queen of Sheba

We are truly enjoying the blessing of being able to swim in Dan and Russanne's pool. This was a "new" floaty that we hadn't seen before. Etta didn't like the other - simpler - floaty. But she loved this one. And after we got her on she did not want to get off again!

Mommy, I'm the queen!



Throw the ball daddy!



No, I don't want to get off. More! More!!!

St. Gertrude's and the Raspberry Festival

Sunday after church we loaded up and headed to Cottonwood and St. Gertrude's for the Raspberry Festival. We um, didn't actually EAT any raspberries...(c'mon, when Grandma and Grandpa have their own bushes all summer....) but we had a great time anyway. Hoping to get back again a couple of times during the fall and winter.

Coming up to the monastery



Waiting for the tour



Beautiful



Inside the sanctuary



Rosette window



Festive decorations



First clown



Alpacas



She was okay when they weren't close to her