Imitation

So I know that imitating is a normal toddler thing to do, but seriously whose kid imitates a flag flapping in the breeze? Yup mine does. He can imitate a persons posture by picking out the smallest detail and he gets a kick out of waiting to see if you notice him mimicking you. Every weird sound in the store that can be heard is mimicked by Dane including the sounds of other whining kids to the whir of an air conditioner.

But the other day as we were chasing our shadows on our walk around the block he was distracted by the flag shadow and started trying to imitate how it was moving. I guess when your vocabulary is limited you do what you can. Maybe I should sign him up for interpretive dance.

This picture has nothing to do with the interpretive flag dance but he is helping me cook dinner.

A sad day here

Everyone else is sending there kids back to school or to school for the first time. Well here at our house we took Aunt Mo Mo to college. She has been living with us since January and it has been a lot of fun to have her around the past 8 months.

On one hand I am super excited to have the baby's room empty and ready to start decorating and getting things put away. But today I am just sad my little sister isn't staying with us any more. We are sure going to miss seeing her everyday. She always has a way of making Dane belly laugh so hard it's contagious. Come visit often Aunt Mo Mo!

We took Aunt Mo Mo to the 'dowm'. One of our other favorite visitors just got back into town yesterday and will be rooming with my sister. My cousin Tessha is back! We missed her last year while she was in Peru. She used to come over over every sunday and do her laundry and bake us cookies. Maybe she will resume that practice? This is her last year of college before she goes off and gets married to the man of her dreams!

Here is Aunt Mo Mo's new bedroom. Dane did a really good job skipping his nap and 'helping' unpack. At least he didn't freak out and melt down in a fit.

Iowa State Fair

We made it to the fair this year. We don't go every year but we thought Dane would especially enjoy it. We actually went the past 2 evenings after Andy got home from work. Tuesday was way better because it was rainy and cool. The heat just about did me in last night, I was starting to look for the booth where you can rent a motorized scooter, and was seriously considering what the weight limit might be on the stroller. So here are a few pictures of all the fun we had.


Dane was mesmerized by the band Vocal Trash that was preforming. Though we think the lady in the group was on crack, they did a good job.

Here Dane is trying his hand at 'farming'. It was for ages 2-12 and he seemed a little confused as he was being rushed through, but I think overall he got a kick out if it.

Seriously is he already old enough to be doing this stuff? :o( Before I know it he will be going to starting school like all the other kids did this week.

Just got down the giant slide with Daddy. We actually did this both nights, he loved it both times! A little thrill junkie already.

He thought it was so funny when he would let the goats nibble on his jacket. He wanted to let each and every one of the 50 goats present take a little nibble. He talked about the 'goats' getting his 'jacket' quite a bit the next day.

Nothing screams state fair like a pregnant lady and ...... wait a minute is that a beer?

(j/k it 's a delicious apple slush)

Conversations

It seems that everyday Dane is saying more and more words, and the words are becoming a litle more clear. He makes it easy to learn his language as he will repeat and repeat until you understand what he is saying and that 'word' will forever be the word he uses to describe the said object. So today during his snack starts talking and I have no point of reference to start guessing.

Dane: "Be pa, Be pa, Be ba" (not quite sure on the pronuciation)

Me: "Big ball?"

Dane: blank stare, "Be pa"

Me: long pause "People?"

Dane: Blank stare, " Be ba"

Me: Long pause trying to think of what could possibly sound like Be pa, I try it again "big ball?"

Dane: very clearly and firmly " No mommy"

"ding batta batta"

Me: "Oh, Baseball!"

Dane: big smile and head nod "yeah" , "Mommy pleey"

Cravings.

Today I worked on finishing Dane's room. I opened up a can of delicious chocolate brown paint, not kidding it was the consistency and color of chocolate pudding. I had an immediate craving for a cool, satisfying, chocolaty bite of pudding. I stopped prepping to paint and went rummaging through my cupboards and came up with a packet of chocolate fudge pudding. I haven't had pudding in ages, on top of the fact that I seem to be lactose intolerant now. After avoiding dairy for a year, I feel awful if I eat yogurt or ice cream or milk. Yeah, no ice cream for this girl, I have been eating popsicles as my summer treat this year. Anyway Andy whipped me up some chocolate fudge pudding while I was painting, though he was trying to get me to just eat the paint. And let me tell you it was satisfying, the pudding, not the paint.

Summertime firsts in pictures

This summer has been fun for us, as it's Dane's first summer that he is really able to try a lot of new things. I love seeing the joy and wonder on his face as he experiences something new.

First taste of Iowa sweet corn right off the cob. My neat eater even got messy for this tasty bite.

First popsicle. Well ok this was more like his 2nd or 3rd. He wasn't a fan the first few times since it was so cold. I waited until a miserably hot day and gave it too him. Then he thought it was great stuff!

First baseball game. He loved it! I loved his face as we sat down in the stadium and he looked all over the place eyes wide trying to figure it all out. By the end he was clapping and cheering when the players got hits and he says "swing batta batta" it is so stinkin cute. Did I mention we, as in my sister Melissa and I, caught that ball he is holding? I stuck my hand up in the air and it hit my hand to my surprise and landed in Melissa's lap.

First taste of cotton candy. He carried it back to the seat so proudly. A little hesitant but the first bite was pure delight. And he had quite the sugar buzz, at least he focused most of that energy into cheering very loudly to the amusement of those around us. He woke up the next morning still wound up from all the fun he had at the baseball game.

Getting closer

This pregnancy is going way too fast. Can it be that I am already 8 months pregnant? 32 weeks? Only 8 weeks away from my due date? (but hoping for less than 8 weeks). Wowzers I still have a lot to do. I would love to finish Danes big boy room up, and paint the half bath downstairs and a whole host of other projects. The rest of the painting can wait until later. Have I even mentioned that I have already painted the family room, kitchen and both kid's bedrooms? Maybe that is why I am having a hard time getting started on these other painting projects.

I find it interesting that my body has been taken back all those first trimester woes. Such as feeling gross and gaggy in the evenings, itchy pits and calves in the evenings. Yeah that's right itchy pits-- so weird--and only in the evening. It's not a deodorant or shaving thing either. I went with out both in the winter to see if that was the issue. Nope not the case so I resumed both, for the sake of everyone around me. I am tired all over again, and no food sounds good but I am always starving. The second trimester really is the "honeymoon" trimester. I hardly felt pregnant at all for those 3 blissful months and then literally the day the third trimester rounded the corner the slight nausea was back and food started sounding gross. I know I don't have much to complain about, most people have it far worse like actually puking, and a whole host of other things. Overall I would say I feel better this time around then I did the first. It's either because Dane keeps me in shape by chasing him all day or because he keeps me distracted from my woes by me chasing him around all day.