Ready or not...here comes #2!!!! Yes, the bun is in the oven. What happened to one and done? Who knows?! We must be crazy! Due date will be May 9, 2006. The siblings will be just a hair over 2 years apart. Pray for us!

Well, this summer was almost all work and no play. :) In between weather where it was too hot to do anything and spending days off working on the basement, we did get to make a few day trips.

First was the Warren County Balloon Festival at the Farmers' Fairgrounds not even 5 minutes from the house. We went on 2 nights it was so much fun. There were tons of hot air balloons, rides, and lots of animals to pet. Elizabeth couldn't stop pointing. She didn't know which way to look and loved it all.

Next was The Land Of Make Believe. Just about 20 miles away, it was a good start for Elizabeth. The day we went was a little too hot to spend much time in the regular ride area, but we did go on the merry-go-round and the train. Elizabeth didn't hate it, but didn't love it, either. What she did love was the water park. Perfect for her, there was a huge wading pool section she had a great time in.

We also managed to get in her first trip to the beach. Fascinated by the water and birds and all, she was fine as long as you held her. Couldn't get her near the sand!! Luckily, Grandma took her home by lunchtime so Mommy and Daddy could relax and enjoy the rest of their day at the shore. I'm sure she'll warm up to it eventually!

In general, thanks to our great neighbors and our itty bitty blow up pools, Elizabeth did do a lot of water-time this summer. It is evident since she knows how to say "Pool" very well. The first couple of times near the big pool, she was screaming and clinging, but once we got her in and used to it, there was no getting her out. She loved to kick around, ride on rafts, and 'jump' in. Although I would dunk her every now and again, she didn't catch on to blowing out under water.

We've crossed the 17-months marker.

It was the cutest of times, it was the most trying of times...it was the age of giggling, it was the age of frustration. What we still see is our fiery, smart, adorable little girl going through yet more stages of delighting and testing mommy and daddy. Such is life! All in all, we are tipping the scales towards fun, but we do see her tantrums evolving. Here's what's happening with her development now:

Physical

She navigates well. Maybe out of tiredness, maybe because her sandals are difficult to walk in, maybe because she tends to 'run', or maybe she is just clumsy...she falls at least once a week, keeping both her knees fresh with boo-boos. Stairs are good and she is yearning to walk down them. Of course, she doesn't want to start out the proper way by crawling backwards, but prefers to hold your hand and step straight down.

Teething has remained a challenge. Her nose gets runny (constantly). She'll get fevers. Diaper rash will crop up...due to diarrhea. And her sleeping patterns will go a little off. But, we're up to 8 or 9 teeth now. That all depends on how many back ones are coming in. There are ridges through the gums, but I can't tell if it is to 1 tooth or 2. I don't feel like there is an end in sight...

Elizabeth is still a good sleeper. She takes 1 2 1/2-3 hour nap most of the time like clockwork. Sometimes she gives us quite a hard time or flat out refuses on the weekend, but we try to enforce it for our peace of mind.

Also...she likes to ride her bike (wait till her feet reach the pedals!), walk along instead of sit in the stroller, walk the puppy, blow bubbles (every now and then she even gets a few!), do leg lifts lying on the floor, play on the steps in general (no! no!), go down the slide and climb around on the swing set next door, and kick the ball around the yard (a natural!!)

Emotional/Cognitive

At any given moment, Elizabeth will go from smiling and happy, to screaming and extremely ticked off. This is the period of easy frustration. Her little mad spells are actually kind of cute and funny with her stomping feet and flailing arms, but the screeching and downright screaming that can accompany it for a few minutes is a little frightening. Luckily, they are brief, and we are doing what we can to teach her a little patience, to keep on trying, and when the answer is 'no', that that behavior is unacceptable. Hopefully, someday, she gets it.

She does very well with comprehension and knows so many objects that she can follow instructions. She is working on her shapes, and to a degree knows what holes they go in. She can point to all named objects in her books, knows all of her body parts, and knows lots of animal sounds. We will continue to work on her knowledge of shapes and colors, and somehow start the early process of potty training.

Verbal

She loves to talk and communicate. Often shy around other people, it might take her 15 - 20 minutes to start jabbering away. Her language is still her own, but now it is usually clear what she is trying to say. Words will all bear the correct starting sound, but that means a lot of them might sound the same. She will use different inflections and have a slight difference in vowel sounds to differentiate words. Her vocabulary consists of words like puppy, baby, more, milk, ball, balloon, treat, bag, chair, cracker, please, cup, bowl, plane, sky, blanket, bed, nite nite, book, banana, car, tree, color, monkey, bear, kitty, hi, bye, hello, coming, me, music, no, kiss, mine, play, bike, bib, hair, and more. She knows the names of Harley, Molly, Barry, Mary, Mark, and Madison. Every day, her pronunciations get a little better. Practice, practice!

Grandma (Great-Grandma) Turns 100

What a woman! She even played along with the trick candles!

The Basement Project

We swear...the last big project!! :) It's coming along nicely!

Marlin Farm Madness 4

OK. So I don't have a single picture. :) But, it was a great party! Although it was our lightest attendance, there was plenty of chaos, kids, and debauchery! And, I must say it was the best weather we've had in the history of Marlin Farm Madness. Plenty of food was eaten and plenty of beer was drunk. If we had a few of our regulars who couldn't attend, I think we'd have been wiped out! Thanks to all for coming and helping and making it a spectacular day! This was the last year with any big announcements!!