Whole Food

*Note: For some reason I could not publish blog posts from my mom's computer while we were in MT. Hence why it's been two weeks since the last post. And on a side note, Mae actually has eight teeth now. Yes, yes she did cut six teeth in the last six weeks...*

So I figured that since Mae has six teeth poking through we ought to be trying to feed her something besides pureed food and Cheerios. So on our trip over when the waitress at the restaurant offered up some Saltine's I thought, "Why not?" And she loved them.

Wednesday evening I thought that maybe she would want to eat some whole cooked carrots instead of mushy glop. Um...not so much. But we'll keep trying!

Serious thought while eating a cracker.

But she loves them. That's "Mae the Destroyer" for you!

Fun to Eat...and Wear!

Mae has been liking most everything that I try and feed her. Apparently sweet potatoes are no good unless mixed with something else. And one of her favorites is beets, just like her big sister. So even though this picture may look like she wasn't enjoying eating, she was just having a super fun time smearing it around.

Unlike this picture where Etta was not enjoying what I had to offer. I think that their facial expressions say it all! [Note: there is only about 3 weeks difference in age as to when these two pictures were taken. Some times they look completely different...but sometimes they look just alike.]

Farm Work is Hard Work

This is Etta after a busy morning on the farm:



Always a good time.

Road Trip Pit Stop

On our drive to MT on Tuesday we made a pit stop at Bonner Park in Missoula. Initially Etta had said, "I don't want to stop at the park, I want to go to Montana!" (We have figured out that "Montana" is my parents house...) But boy, was she glad that we had stopped.

"Can I go again mommy?!"



"And again?!"



Mae did not want to be put on the ground, but she enjoyed watching all of the kids.



And since on Sunday Etta informed me, "I don't like you. Mae doesn't like you. Daddy doesn't like you. Anybody [by which she means nobody] likes you". I needed something to raise my status a bit. Blah. I knew that she would say that someday, I just didn't think that it would be when she was 3!

Summer Vacation!

Summer vacation is upon us! It was delayed a couple of days due to the fact that Bob got the flu on Thursday night, but we are in full swing.

But Etta is ready to celebrate with:

A mud bath!!

First you dig a big hole and get some water.



Then dig right in.



It's only dirt, right?

9 1/2 Month Annibirthery

Better late than never, right?

Mae had her well baby check yesterday. 17 lbs., 1.5 oz., 27 inches long with a head of 44 centimeters. Still little, but fairly average. And healthy!!

Mae is really trying to crawl now. Gets up on hands and knees and rocks and rocks and rocks. But some how she can get from Point A to Point B - I am just never watching at the right time! And today when I went in to get her after her nap she had almost pulled herself up to standing in her crib. I guess it's time to lower the mattress.

Her words include "Ma-Ma" (when she wants something), "Da-Da" and "Etta". "Etta" is the word that gets used the most frequently. But that is a-okay with me.

We are having a lot of fun and it should be an exciting summer!

Over three squares - but still doesn't want to straighten those legs out.



Can I be in the picture? But of course!



It's interesting to compare the two girls as they develop. I just read back here and saw that Etta could crawl at nine months but couldn't get in to sitting position. Mae isn't really crawling, but can get into a sitting position. (I think that is part of how she gets places...) And we have been working on using an open glass, but it's not as easy when there is a certain someone else who wants attention too.

True prayer

Etta asked me at bedtime if she could say a little prayer:

"Dear Jesus, thank you for mommy and daddy and Mae and I. Thank you for Kai and a beautiful rainbow. Thank you for please make daddy feel better. In Jesus' name, amen. And for baseball."

New Bonnet - and teeth!

The week before we left for Montana we received Mae's new bonnet in the mail. It was made in the good ol' U. S. of A. We love it! Well, I love it, Mae gets used to it each time...but is getting better about it and no longer throws a crying fit when I am putting it on.

Full frontal. You can see 4 out of 5 teeth.



It's reversible!



Makes for a happy baby.

Farm Fun

In addition to the great poses, Etta got to ride on a few older farm implements.

Many Faces

We spent Saturday evening in Deer Lodge at a birthday/retirement party for one of mom's friends. The next morning before heading back to Idaho we strolled around a bit and hammed it up for the camera.

This is how it was most of the week we were home!



And how it will be for many years to come.



Nice locks Uncle Erik!



A real couple of hams.



What a good lookin' pair.



Getting distracted.



Etta wants to take Bob back to Deer Lodge to visit the old prison, or "capital" as Etta was calling it.

Truck Town

We've been in MT for a week (I know, I know, I should have done more posts along the way...) and Etta is absolutely in love with her best-friend Uncle Erik. This morning she got up for a minute and then went back into her room. After awhile I went in to check on her and discovered her just lounging in her bed.


Me: Etta, what are you doing?

Etta: Waiting for Uncle Erik to come and get me.

Unfortunately Erik had already left for his job with the city crew, much to her disappointment.

And how could he not be her favorite when he has access to: