Leah and I made some chocolate chip cookies for Daddy. She loved it when I let her loose with the dough and the cookie sheets. Leah did a great job scooping the dough and placing them though I did have to do some rearranging so we didn’t end up with one huge L shaped cookie.
One future baker coming right up.
Up in Oroville, we found some great water toys left from my brother and his friends. We picked out a dingy and an air mattress type floatie to blow up. Then off to the lake with Leah wearing her life jacket. Her excitement waned quickly as we approached the water and turned into fear. I talked her into getting into the dingy with me when she was standing in about half a foot of water. We rowed about the swimming area with Leah shaking because she was so scared as I was desperately trying to distract her from her fear by pointing out boats on the water and the landscape.
Every day we went in the water, she made great strides. Leah was only happy in the dingy the first day but then moved on to the other floatie where she was closer to the water. Then she would put her feet in the water and kick while holding on. On the last day, Grandma was able to hold her in the water. Doesn’t seem like much but it was a long way from where we had started and I was so proud.
After the lake experience, I decided to really try to get Leah more comfortable in the water. I would need Morgan’s help and indoor pools didn’t seem appealing in the summer. I heard of an outdoor pool near our house that was free but heard it was packed like sardines in the summer. We decided to try it out. I made some pizza, called up some friends, had a lovely picnic at the park where the pool was and went swimming. There was hardly anyone there and Leah did great.
We have gone twice now and Leah is doing awesome. I’m not sure if she will be as comfortable in the lake as in the pool but it shouldn’t take her long. I want to bring her a life jacket down from Oroville so she can try ‘swimming’ on her own.
I’m loving these summer Saturday evenings, spent with friends outdoors, enjoying each other’s company while having fun with our kids.
Leah Quotes
“I’m done swimming now so we can drain the lake”
“Can you turn on the toasters?” (air vents in the car)
“How do birds stop?”
Joel’s turn first to hang out with Grandpa in the dune buggy.
Leah got to go for an actual ride around the property.
At first she was hesitant and sat on my lap but after a couple minutes, she was okay on her own.
My dad took me into town in the buggy and let me drive home and we both got to relive some of my first driving experiences.
We’ve been up to Oroville a few times this year already and have enjoyed the change of pace. Leah loves to play with the water in the kiddie pool for hours each day. She enjoyed the addition of a few water bottles to her few water toys.
Here’s Joel hanging out in the stroller. He loves to be able to sit up now so her can see what is going on around him. Morgan had to go home early to work but it was great to still talk and see him through the computer.
At the cabin there is always lots of Grandma (and Grandpa) time.
Leah got her nails painted for the first time and loved it. She picked bright blue for her toe nails.
A few pictures from home as well. Leah loves to be in pictures with Joel.
There is lots of time to try get a few nice pictures.
A little Joel update:
He weighed 15lbs3oz and was 25″ long at his four month dr’s appointment. His hand-eye coordination has really progressed. He is getting really good at seeing a toy held in front of him, grabbing it, and holding onto it for a good time while stuffing at far into his mouth as it will go. Joel loves to stand up with underarm support. He lifts his head up and looks around during tummy time. He likes to sleep on his side and kicks his blankets off. Joel is now in 9 month sleepers. My kids outgrow sleepers because of their feet. I’ve never thought my kids had big feet but maybe they do.
Her spunk. Her humor. Her smile.
His giggles. His smile. His snuggles.
I can’t express how much I love these kids. I feel so incredibly blessed. So inadequate.
Thanks to Aunt Andrea for the pictures.
I think it’s a given that if you have more than one child, there will be some amount of sibling rivalry in your house. However, I didn’t realize how early it could start. I expected some jealousy in the beginning but not a lot and in good form, Leah handled the addition of Joel into our family pretty well.
What shocked me (as well as made Morgan and I laugh) was when we heard the phrase, “I had it first” followed by grabbing the other day. It is only a matter of time until these words and other similar phrases are common place. I was giving Joel a bath with Leah’s help in the bathroom. Leah likes to have her own cloth when bathing Joel so she can help too. She let go of her cloth and it happened to make its way into Joel’s hand and he held on tight. Leah went from enjoying the experience to panic in half a second and in an agitated, desperate tone declared, “I had it first” while prying the cloth from his hands.
Poor Joel had no clue but didn’t seem to mind that his object was been pulled aggressively from his hands. I know one day this scenario will more than likely result in two hysterical, crying children but for now, I’ll treasure the humor and attempt to teach Leah how to calmly use her words. Hopefully she will grasp the concept before Joel realizes what his big sister attempts to get away with.
On Canada Day, we spent the morning at my mom’s work, Krause Berry Farms. Morgan and my dad flipped and served around a thousand pancakes for their annual pancake brunch to raise funds for breast cancer research. I helped set up and a little bit once it got going but Leah and Joel kept me busy. Leah had over five pancakes which were her breakfast and lunch. Here she is enjoying one.
She also enjoyed their brand new playground but the highlight of her day was when one of her best friends stopped by with her family. Her buddy was the first child I looked after in my daycare and Leah and her became quite close and though I no longer provide childcare for her, they still carry that special bond.
Leah is getting more confident to go off on her own in public places. Thankfully she asks before she leaves my side for the most part. She no longer requests I stay right by her side on a new playground with kids she hasn’t met before.
Leah is generally quite responsible. She comes to me if someone is disturbing her play and asks what to do. Today I was picking out paint in the paint store and it was taking a long time so she was getting antsy. She looked around and then asked if she could run in the store.
Here is the first card we have received from Leah without our help and with her own words. She made it in Sunday School with help from her teachers. It melted my heart. How sweet.
I am a big list maker. Almost daily I have a list of things to do and it gives me such a sense of accomplishment to cross things off as I get them done. Leah has picked up on this and made herself a list. Her list items, in case you can’t decipher them, include feeding Joel milk from a bottle, going to bed and eating dinner. She repeated these over and over again. Love it.
This past weekend was very busy with multiple outings everyday. On Saturday, I took the kids to the aquarium with a few friends. Leah enjoyed seeing all the fish, dolphins, whales and even a huge sea turtle as well as hanging out with her buddies. She looks so grown up with her backpack on though she did remind me a few times of her age while we were out (happy to crazy upset in 1.2 seconds over seemingly trivial matters). We did well all things considered and Daddy got a lot of work done while we were out.
Then it was off to a BBQ at Grandma and Granddad’s. On Sunday, we got a few errands done as a family before church. After church we hung out a home for a little bit before we were off to another BBQ that including catching part of our dinner. We loaded everyone up and went to the beach before dinner and caught quite a few crabs. A lot of the crabs were thrown back because they were too small but we had enough big ones for dinner.
There was so much to see at the beach including people jumping off the pier, boats driving by, crabs moving about in the traps and kids playing. Joel slept through it all in the stroller.
We were given some baby toys and clothes for Joel and found this toy to be great as it is very easy to hold onto. He enjoys holding on with both hands and shoving it into his mouth.
His hands also fascinate him. Joel is so smiley and has a great laugh. We think he is pretty cute as well.
It was a rainy morning today so I met up with a friend and her kids at the rec centre. Leah had blast playing with the wide variety of toys. Here she is on a large foam block telling me she can’t open her eyes for the picture because she is sleeping on her bed. Leah also had fun playing hockey.
Leah is growing up in so many ways and it seems to take me by surprise a lot. We were in the elevator at church and I asked her to push the button and she turns to me and says, “that is a “m”. There are two “m’s”. M is for mommy.” I do not remember teaching her that so it must have been Morgan.
Her conversations with her friends are quite adorable (except when there is yelling or crying involved) and now involve questions and negotiating, Here is a sample:
Let’s go play on the slide.
What if we go play in the sand?
Okay. Follow me.
Where is the sand?
Over there.
Okay.
And then we will play on the slide.
Leah has started to enjoy walking. I still take the double stroller in case she changes her mind when we walk to our friend’s house as it is a good distance for little legs. When we walk through one of the parks, she would take about five steps before intentionally falling down because that is what she saw one of her friends do.
She looks so grown up with braids in her hair. I love it. It is nice to see her whole face as well.
Joel chilling with his cool hat while Leah helps me with the laundry. I’m sure these cloths won’t blow away though I may have to buy some more clothespins.
Joel spends time in his stroller staring at random toys while Leah explores the landscape.
