Assorted (Mis?!) Adventures in July...

With the warm July weather and an active, curious little crawler/cruiser have come many, MANY exciting adventures! These aren't in any order, and because my wee one stirs in the crib as I type, I will leave them scrambled and barely captioned. More summer pics to follow...

Eyeing dirt clumps...

All the world's a toy...and grass is no exception!

Made the mistake of putting some of the above dirt clods in my mouth...YUCKY!!!!

NEW CARSEAT!!!! In mid-July, because she has turned one and just about outgrown her infant carrier, we switched her into her new big-girl seat! We tried it out first in the living room to measure the straps before Dada installed it into Mama's Camry. Though she is still rear-facing until two, she seems to really like her comfy new ride, especially since it sits a lot higher than did her first carseat.

Big thirteen-month-old girl!!!!








Playing in my tunnel on a rainy afternoon in early July

She found toilet paper. Life will never, ever be the same!

While Rylie eats, Susannah either hugs and kisses her mercilessly...or experiments with floating and sinking objects in her water bowl. Good thing Rylie is TRULY "The Wonder Dog"! She does, however, look at us as if to say, "First you bring home the Pet Baby and keep it. Then you take the Pet Baby everywhere, even places you don't take me. Recently, the Pet Baby moves a lot...and now THIS???"

Our little Strawberry LOVES the swings at Gypsy Hill Park! She signs SWING, which she always accompanies with a high-pitched, "Weeeee!"

Horses are a huge source of fascination for Susannah, so I brought some toy horses and brushes out of my "toy stash" in the basement (helps that I did preschool and early intervention all those years...). Susannah spends much time brushing and feeding her horses now, and has even been out to "Aunt Jackie's" to ride Hank with Sara (pictures to come!).

Our little Fourth of July "wiggle-jiggling" Firecracker!

She had SUCH a wonderful time dancing and clapping to the live music in the Gypsy Hill Park America's Birthday Celebration. We like to joke that Susannah is really "black" inside, cuz this baby can MOVE!!!! Everyone around us gets such a kick out of her rhythmic bopping in response to whatever music she hears!

Dancing with Mama in the park on the Fourth of July

Grammy and Grandpa always love coming to Staunton for the Fourth. We spent much time in the park, which is just a block away from our home, came in for a yummy barbecued spare rib dinner, then watched fireworks from our backyard (we have the best view in town!) after having rhubarb pie on the sunporch. Susannah slept right through the fireworks, probably because she'd had such a full day of dancing!

SKINNY DIPPIN'!!!!

Oh, the joys of having a canopy and a wading pool right in our own backyard!

Susannah has sampled and loved a variety of summer fruits, including cherries, strawberries, blueberries, and peaches. Here, she is savoring a Rainier cherry, Mama's favorite.

Oh, those lazy days of summer...

We are thankful that Dada was able to spend the whole summer home with us!!! We have spent our days enjoying much family time, including hanging out in the backyard wading pool, going to the Gypsy Hill Park Community Pool, visiting Sherando Lake, taking long walks in the park, and frolicking at the Tot Lot. When Harry returned to work at VSDB in mid-August, Susannah had some serious withdrawal. She wasn't the only one...