last weekend of August

We had a wonderful weekend when Forrest, Melissa, Colin, & Rachel came to visit. We met at the Peoria Chiefs baseball game and made it through the 7th inning with getting scolded to stay off the stairs and fence only once by the safety police. On Saturday morning, Ben hauled us over to the Forrest Park Nature Center where we began our hike up, down, up, down, and up to Grand View Drive. While we all huffed and puffed, Lydia cruised along comfortably on Forrest's back for the first part; he said she was lighter than the air tanks he used to carry as a firefighter. Then Colin picked up the pack and serenaded Lydia with marching cadences. Oh, what good sports they are. Ben took Lydia for the way back, but in this picture, she's hiding behind Forrest.

We came back to the house to grill hamburgers, and then Lydia just about put herself to bed. That gave us girls some fun shopping time at Grand Prairie, and the guys a chance to play a few games of Scrabble.

In case you visited this site for a picture in which you can actually see Lydia... well, here's one from this morning...

another weekend report

"Hello?"

Lydia's always on the phone, either using our cells or anything that remotely resembles a phone.

Ben putting together a workbench for the garage.


Lydia got so excited whenever Dad drilled. She seems to like the drill sound like she likes the vacuum cleaner sound...a little weird?

Spending a little time with chalk and the sidewalk.

part of the weekend

Lydia peers in to see Aaliyah. When Aaliyah was somewhere else, Lydia kept looking in the playpen for her.
I got to hold her for a bit at Mary's wedding.

And Lydia took to Aunt Cindy. Uncle Tom was great with her at the table.

We stopped at Bookworm Gardens on UW-Sheboygan campus. Very impressive place!!
Here's Pooh's treehouse.

At this spot, Lydia washed the dog from Harry the Dirty Dog.

New T-Shirt

Lydia's going to be a big sister!

10 week sono-profile

head is on the right, rump is on the left, arm is in front of the face

the heart beating at 184

18 months!

Lydia's 18 months old today, and I can't believe it. Just 6 months away from 2 years! She's full of energy, love, and drama. Her words are totally incomprehensible, but she still gets her message across, ie, I'm still hungry, I need cuddling, watch me, I'm so excited that I can't contain myself, I can't reach that book and I want it.


Her favorite activities include looking at books, pretend play (telephone, kitchen, hair dryer), and running and screaming with arms in the air.


At her check up on the 15th, we'll find out her weight and length. I wonder when they switch measuring length to height...
8/15/11 Well, she's 21#4oz, 31 inches.

And here's her 18 month photo shoot pictures that we barely got because she kept running off the set to where the lego table was...oh, what a little monkey she is!

Peoria Zoo

It was a good day to visit the zoo, watch the tigers pant off the heat,

and sit on the turtles.

Lydia wasn't completely thrilled about sitting on the turtle; she mostly just wanted to hold on tightly to her new tiger ducky.

The monkeys always put on a good show, but the meerkats still were the most fun for Lydia to watch.

Her big eyes don't miss a thing.

Belly Button

Lydia finds her belly button in the tub.

And acts silly.