Walking Tall

Amita continues to make great progress on her walking and she is getting more and more bold every day.  She is starting to understand that she can get from point A to point B while staying upright and keeping the toys in her hands, rather than having to interrupt her activities to crawl there.  It has been really fun watching her discover her new walking skills.

Today we took Amita to her second annual Brewer's 5k.  It was strange to remember last year's race and how small she was compared to this year.  It was a little cooler this year (believe it or not!) and I was thankful for that.  It made walking much more enjoyable.  The best part of the race is the finish line where you get to hang out with all the racing sausages and enjoy a free hot dog, water, and beer!  We found a nice spot in the shade to eat while Amita explored a little and had some more walking practice.  Then it was time to head back home for her nap.  All in all, a fantastic little Saturday!!

Here's a picture of Amita walking unassisted.

It's All Good

It has been a busy couple of weeks since our last post.  We have been busy with converting our former guest bedroom into a baby's room, while Aaron puts in long hours at work and Amita continues to grow.  She is not comfortable walking completely on her own yet, but she is getting braver every day and is trying new things.  She has also added the following phrases to her vocabulary: all done, go go go (from one of her favorite books), and best of all, dada.

At her 18-month checkup, the doctor said everything looks good.  She's in a normal weight range, her walking and talking are normal, and overall, she's healthy and happy!  With the exception of the last week of teething, which has forced her to give up everything but soft foods, she is doing great!  Can you believe her hair is long enough for pigtails in the above photo?!?!?

Here's Amita chillaxin in our bed.  I hope she's as comfortable in her big girl bed when we move her out of the crib in a few months!

In the excitement of everything, Aaron and I were able to get away for a quick weekend trip to a friend's wedding (hey Schmoopy!) in Newberry a few weeks ago.  We even got to do some hiking at Tahquamenon Falls and Pictured Rocks.

Here's Amita climbing up the slide like normal.

But she normally goes down on her tummy.  This is new!

Whee!!!!!  This is tons more fun!

Independence Day

It has been an amazing few weeks.  Amita has started standing and walking unassisted... of course, she still prefers to hang on to something or someone when she can, but she's making great progress.  It was fitting that she started all of this around Independence Day... although, she's been independent since the day she was born!

The 4th of July was a real treat this year... we got to spend it with family!  Cousin Piper helped encourage Amita's walking (they both ended up taking their first steps at our house... Piper started during Amita's first birthday weekend!) and it was great to have the girls together to play again.  They were also real troopers in the heat wave.  Even though it was over 100, Piper kept asking to go outside!

Here's the girls enjoying a wagon ride on our way to a 4th of July parade.

Amita watching the parade with daddy.  She managed to score some candy!!

Trying out the toddler splash pond after the parade.  The water was super cold and Amita wasn't the biggest fan... but she did get brave enough to reach her arms in a few times.  It was a much needed cool down for all of us.

The ducks we entered into the duck races on the 4th.  We didn't win fastest or best dressed... but we have a lot of great ideas for next year.

A future golf pro!  The girls got to test out some occupations at the children's museum in Milwaukee.

Amita the banker... not surprising that she enjoyed the computer and calculator!

Taking turns on the slide on a cooler morning (not quite 80 yet!).

The whole gang downtown!

Garage Sale Season

Summer brings with it all sorts of warm weather fun... but one of my favorites is garage sale season!  I have been finding some great things for Amita at various different sales, all of which have been huge hits with her!

She continues to eat and grow, but her two favorite things are strawberries and cheese.  I guess she gets one from each of us!  She has expanded her vocabulary a little to include hi, eye, uh-oh, and hiyah (like Miss Piggy!).  Every once in a while, we get an up or an all done, so she's making great progress.  She can say mama and dada, but chooses not to most of the time.  I'm sure she will when she decides she's ready (as with everything else!!).  She is continuing her cautious exploration and has not yet gotten brave enough to let go and start walking, but her balance is great and she moves so fast when I hold her hands that it's hard to keep up.  We're looking forward to lots of summer fun this year... here's a look at some of our first activities.

Speaking of garage sale season, here's a heap of clothing that I was able to pick up for her.  We are completely set with 2T size stuff after this haul!!

Amita testing out her garage sale pool.  I'm not sure that we have the next Michael Phelps on our hands...

We recently brought a kitchen up from the basement and put it on our screen porch. It is hands down Amita's favorite new thing!  She absolutely loves playing with it.

Trying out a ball pit that I picked up from a neighbor's sale.  She has really enjoyed it... the only disadvantage is that we keep losing real estate on the porch!  Fortunately, we can still fit a few chairs out there for relaxing after she goes to bed!

Amita copying daddy.  They were leaning back and relaxing on a lazy Saturday morning.

Getting out and enjoying the sunshine with mama...

... but mama doesn't hold a candle to the fun you can have with daddy!

Just because Amita isn't walking on her own doesn't mean she can't find her fair share of trouble.  Here she is rearranging our dining room by pushing all the chairs around.

Two shovels and so far away from the sandbox!  What's a girl to do??

Enjoying a hilarious pair of glasses with daddy.

Making a mess at breakfast.  Who knew you could scatter pancakes like that??

Hungry Hungry Hippo

Amita is hitting a growth spurt and has been eating all sorts of things this past week.  She has been using her sign language for "more" a whole lot.  So we keep giving her more and more things to try and enjoy.  It's also strawberry season, and she can't get enough of those delicious red berries.  Good thing the u-pick farm is nearby!  I may need to go again this weekend!!

Here's Amita trying pizza for the first time.  She actually ended up finishing the better part of those two slices on the plate.  She really loved it!

Here's Amita enjoying a bite of her first cookie ever.  She asked for more, but that request wasn't granted.

The Greatest Spectacle in Racing

This was Amita's second Indy 500.  Last year, she had just started teething (and stopped sleeping!) and the weekend wasn't very pleasant.  This year, we had a fun girls weekend while Aaron and Jeff headed to Indianapolis.  Amita has been trying all sorts of new foods like watermelon, corn, and her hands down favorite: fresh cheese curds!  She gobbles those things up like it's going out of style.  She definitely takes after her father.

She has been learning more objects and is super proud to show off all that she knows... as long as we don't ask her to do it!  For some reason, she clams up the second we ask her to do something... she likes her independence.  And speaking of independence, she has learned that she can go down the slide on her own without help if she goes head first.  So we are no longer required to help her in any way with that.  She sure is amazing!

Here she is modeling a retro t-shirt that belonged to Aaron (many years ago!).

Showing off all her teeth and her Dan Wheldon tribute sunglasses that Daddy brought home from the 500.

Here's Amita on one of the really hot days we experienced this month.  The sun hat was very necessary.

Eating a snack and wondering why mama is bugging her with a camera!

Wearing shorts and flip flops and enjoying more summer weather.

Trying on daddy's slippers... they're just a wee bit too big!

At the top of the slide...

And at the bottom of the slide.  Imagine these two photos over and over and over again.  She really loves it!

Trying out her sandbox.  I was worried she wouldn't like being dirty, but she loved playing in it.  She was sad when play time was over!

Mother's Day

I know what you're thinking... but just because we have multiple forms of technology with which to post to the blog does not mean we have any additional time to post!!  The last few weeks have been busier than usual, so here's what's new.  For Mother's Day, we went for hike with Amita and then played in the park before enjoying a delicious ice cream treat from Dairy Queen (believe it or not, Amita turned it down!).  We had much to celebrate this year - in addition to our very active toddler, we are also expecting another child in November!

In Amita news, she has gotten 2 of her 4 molars and we are on a small break from teething now.  It's a relief after the past few weeks!  She has been learning many new things and is so proud to show them off... just usually not when mom or dad ask her to!

Here is Amita emphatically shaking her finger at me.  She really loves the "no more little monkeys jumping on the bed" finger wagging part of the song!

Using her new ukelele from Grandpa and Grandma Morehouse who were able to squeeze in a quick visit last week.  A rock star is born!  Or whatever you call a professional ukelele player...

Playing at the park.  Sticks are so much more fun than any toys we have at home!

Trying out her new outdoor chair.  Not the way I would use it, but to each their own, I guess!

Playing with her two best friends.

Bringing the hammer to Azrael.  Weird that the cats don't stay put too long when she comes to play...