Mini Summer Vacation

We lived at Andy's parents house for a few days this week while Andy was finishing up all of the painting in our loft.  We had a great time...they were very wonderful hosts!  It was rainy most of the time, but Winnie had fun climbing up and down the stairs and giving her toys rides in the wagon.  We are glad to be home now, but it was a nice little mini-vacation (ha! to Webster Groves) for us!  The highlight of the trip was Winnie being able to swim for the first time this summer.  As you can tell from the photos, it's all about the clothes right now.  The floatie--well, we need to work on that.  She did enjoy being held by Grandpa in the pool and splashing around with Aunt Becky.  And she just looks so cute in a suit!

Don't Tread on Me

Well, there is plenty of room left to improve, but Winnie has started walking! If you set her up on her feet, and back away, she'll come strolling on over. It is really exciting, and we can't wait until she starts doing it without as much prompting and a little less wobble.

Summer Day!

Winnie and I went to the zoo today with a couple of my friends and several of Winnie's friends--Baby Claire, Luke, and Noah.  She had fun visiting with the goats in the children's zoo.

Then and Now

Our good friends Patrick and Katie have a baby named Finn (and another on the way, too). We love Finn...Winnie and I get to share time every morning praying for him.  Katie and Finn came over for lunch the other day and enjoyed a little wagon ride. I had to post photos of how much these guys have grown and changed over the past year!  Some visible differences:  Winnie's hair has been electrified, and Finn has slimmed down a bit.  Ha! They are so cute!

Branson Visit

Andy was working on our loft improvements last weekend, so Puddy, Winnie, and I had to get lost.  We went to Branson for the weekend to visit my brother and sister-in-law and their family.  It was probably the best time we've had at their (new and improved) house!  We even got an extra day because Andy needed more time to work, so we didn't come home until Monday afternoon.  A lot of our time was spent outside on bikes, in wagons, on walks, with sidewalk chalk..the weather was beautiful!

Winnie is getting old enough to "know" her cousins, and she had a great time playing with them.  They even took a bath together--all 5 of them!  (I wish I could've posted a photo of that...I didn't get one that at least one of the kids wasn't exposed. It was super-cute, though) They are so great with her!  Pierson kept trying to keep up with her, and Clara was good at sharing her toys.  I wish Grace lived with me--she's the best helper. Winnie's favorite thing was following Owen around and attacking him with kisses every time she got him.  I kept telling her that only flies in Arkansas:)  On Friday, Jenny and the kids were there for a little while, so that was an extra bonus!  We got to visit my Grandpa and Grandma Winnie on Sunday, and had a little picnic in their yard for lunch.  

She had fun sliding down his outdoor cellar door with Clara.  It was so great for me (and a little emotional) to see Winifred playing in the yard that I grew up playing in.

Winnie got a silver dollar from Grandpa for her belated birthday gift. He gives those out for his great-grandchildren's birthdays. (Sidenote: My grandpa is getting inducted into the Darby's Rangers Hall of Fame this summer. I'm so proud of him!) The whole weekend was so much fun...Winnie fell in love with one of Clara's push toys, so I had to order something similar online.  

Thanks, Deans, for a great visit!

Just Some Randoms

Winifred has been cracking us up lately.  She is growing into her personality, which we are just falling in love with.  The best is her new laugh, but we haven't captured that on video yet...soon. Here are some random photos of some silly stuff she's been up to lately with a little commentary under each.

Winnie loves shoes (maybe got this from cousin Remi?) and insists that I put them on her when she sees one of her pairs lying around.  She'll hold up her foot and go, "uh, uh, uh," until I put it on.  It makes for some random outfits, as you can see.  But she loves all of her shoes!

She also loves the remote control. We don't watch much TV around her, and never put on kids stuff for her. She does, however, know what the remote control and TV go together. I caught her the other day turning the tv on, relaxing back, and switching the channels.

Climbing up onto things is Winifred's new thing. I blame Gymboree class. If not monitored 100% of the time, (which clearly she was not here) she will end up in the most unusual of places. The coffee table is her new favorite, especially if Puddy's underneath, and she can kiss at him through the glass!

Please excuse my bare, pregnant belly. I know, it's big (I'm now 33 weeks along). Winnie has discovered it and likes to give it kisses and zerberts, much to our delight. I wish she could understand that there was a baby in there, but that's a little too advanced for her. She also likes playing with what remains of my belly button.

Winnie's Log: Day 399.2.35

I went to the zoo today with my Dad and encountered many strange animals.  Some of them were wearing t-shirts and ignoring their parents.  I was very excited to see a big cow-cousin, an anteater, and the fish at the children's zoo.  My Dad loved when the hippos would swim right by the glass, but it sort of freaked me out.  We got our portrait taken by someone who seemed afraid of our camera.  He was kind enough to take a second shot after I botched the first one.

I hope this will be the start of many adventures together with my Dad.  However, I am beginning to grow nervous that mother may never return.  I miss her very much, and Dad doesn't really seem to be able to take care of me as well as she can.