A "Quick Takes" sort of post just to catch you up on the goings-on around here. I am never going to hold anyone's attention if I maintain 2 weeks between posts.
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Father's Day was SO much fun! After a lazy breakfast at home, Daddy's choice, we went to the National Zoo in D.C.! (also Daddy's brilliant idea!) Bella loved it, which we knew she would, which is why Patrick chose it. She was thrilled to see all the different animals, especially her zebras, elephants, tigers, and iguanas. Who would have guessed she'd love the reptile house so much? It was not beastly hot, so the animals were all pretty active which is a perfect time to watch them all. Well, except for the lions of course because they lie around all day except for eating and mating. We didn't stick around to watch either of those activities.
Later in the week Bella was pushing babydoll around in the stroller telling her she was going to the zoo and she had to sit in the stroller so she could go really fast. Hhhmmm, she may have heard that line during our own excursion.
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Jen @ Conversion Diary linked to
a guest post she wrote about building reader traffic to your blog. The suggestions were wonderful and helpful, and I plan to go back there sometime and read the other insights from an actual writer/editor. Of course, not mentioned was the obvious "write more than once a month, and keep it interesting not just stories about your kids." HA! Stories about MY kids ARE interesting, thank you very much. Or maybe that's just all I can muster these days.
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At 16lbs 4oz with thunder thighs, Anastasia is the picture of a perfectly kissable baby. She sits up well on her own, or at least until Bella comes around to make her laugh so hard she falls over. I consider this to be one of the perfect stages (of course, I say that about each one so far.) She sits up, reaches for toys, and remains upright happily chewing on whatever she managed to grasp. If we could just get her to stop screaming in the car then I would know for sure she was the most perfect baby ever. I mean, of course she is! It's just that if I roll down my windows people would think there's a fire truck around. Bella tries to sing to her, and gets louder as Anastasia gets louder. When I arrive somewhere looking a little disheveled now you know why.
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Yes, I made these. And yes, Bella recognized
who they are. We really enjoyed having friends over to my parents' pool, and had cupcakes for Bella's birthday; she was so happy. If you ask her how old she is, answers "I'll be 2" while trying desperately to hold up just 2 fingers. The fine control eludes her thus far, but she keeps trying! I'll be 2 "after my birfday!"
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The girls both LOVE the swimming pool! Bella asks almost every day "please we go Mimi's house, I go swimming?" Anastasia kicks her feet and babbles the entire time we're in the water, and Bella loves everything about playing games, squirting water, splashing, jumping in, kicking her feet, everything!
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Summer here also brings
lightening bugs/fireflies. Due largely in part to delay tactics she spent a while the other night outside watching them, repeatedly exclaiming "wow! d'you see that Mommy?" They are a fun part of my childhood summer memories and it is fun sharing that time with my daughter, recapturing the childhood wonderment at the little joys of God's creation.
Ok, now I've at least caught up a few highlights of summer thus far. Hopefully I'll regain some creative energy and time management simultaneously sometime soon.
