Wild Child

Elsa is a very careful, observant baby. During our ECFE classes, she takes her time looking around before she starts to play. Around the house, she'll hold both of my fingers in a death grip and walk around fast. If I try to take it to the next level and let go of one hand, she stops in her tracks, sits down, and looks at me like i'm crazy.
So today, we reached somewhat of a milestone. I took Elsa on a long walk in the stroller. We stopped at the park and went on the swings. I set her on the grass under a tree and we talked. As usual, she sat politely and listened. She never tries to crawl in the grass, she just looks around.
Then, the unexpected happened. She started fussing and pointing everywhere. She no longer seemed content to sit and look at things from afar. She leaned over onto her knees and very slowly touched her hands to the grass. She looked at me, the grass, her hands, and back at the grass. Then... she took off and didn't look back! She crawled so fast I thought she was going to wipe out. The look on her face was pure freedom. She laughed all the way over to the playground - a good 20 feet away - where she leaned over the wooden rail and started digging furiously in the sand.


Oooooh, sand.

Feel the sand...

Check out her awesome drool blowing in the wind.

Then she started in on the grass. Rip rip rip! Then look. Oooooh, grass. Rip rip rip!

She crawled onto the pavement, laughing more. Smack! smack! went her little hands, but she didn't even care.

I kept calling her name, but she was in her own world. I sat by the playground and watched while she crawled away, FAR away. Bye bye, Elsa! Hilarious.

It was like I was with a different kid. She definitely found some independence today at the park. These are the little moments you hear about that make parenting so awesome.

Stuff you do in the country

Take the kid for a ride on the lawn mower.


Take her for a ride on the pontoon.


Here's mom 'n friends on our party pontoon cruise.


Eat bubbles.


Watch deer out your window every night. Although it's become so common, when we see them it goes something like this:
"Hey, the deer are back."
"Huh, neat. Pass me the remote will you? The Office is on."
I guess that means it's time to visit the city.


In other Elsa news, we started taking ECFE classes each Monday. They last about an hour and a half. I really like it, and she seems to like it, too. It'll be good for her to hang out with other kids and get used to a classroom. Last weekend she started saying "cracker", except it sounds more like "cack-uhhh". It's pretty much the cutest thing i've ever heard.

Little Elsa on the Prairie

It's getting cold here in Wyoming, MN. Yesterday was downright blustery, but Elsa really enjoyed getting outside and feeling the wind on her face. Here she is in our backyard.


Last week was still really hot, so we put her in this adorable dress she got for her birthday from her great-aunt Connie and uncle Tim.



We also thought it would be a good idea to bring her to the mall to see some sights and ride the carousel. It must've been the wrong time of day and too much stimulation, because she was kind of fussy. She even cried on the carousel. You can see how red and tired her eyes are in the photo. She also insisted on us buying her some Elmo pajamas - really, she begged! She held onto them the whole time we were at the mall and she even had to have them on the carousel. She's developed a definite fondness for all things Elmo.


Last night she had a fever but doesn't act sick, so we're pretty sure she's getting her molars. Plus she's been drooling, has a runny nose, and cries easily. When it all happens at once, she's definitely a sight! I haven't been mean enough (yet) to take a picture of her in this disheveled state.

To all ze girls i've loved before...

Hey, who wants to know what 'ol Mom's been up to? Anyone?
Here's the scoop: I went away for the weekend Aug. 24 - 26. In my past life, this would've been small potatoes. We used to go 4 nights, 5 days. But, since all of us have had babies (all girls!) within the past year, two nights was like winning the lottery. We all missed our babies, but we had a blast as usual. This was the sixth annual girls weekend. May we party one weekend a year for the rest of our lives! Huzzah!
Tim took care of Elsa. It was his first weekend alone with her and he did a great job. I was afraid i'd get to the cabin and start to panic, but there was no need. I could tell by his voice that he was in control and everything was fine and I was able to have a fully enjoyable time as planned. Thanks, daddy-o! When I got home, Elsa looked at me like,"Oh yeah... I knew something was missing" and kept playing. Hmph! I guess i'd rather have her happy and unaware instead of bawling with separation anxiety.