Enjoying the Last Week of Summer

For a lot of families, this week is it.  The last week of summer.  Better cram in all the last minute summer fun you can muster!  For some families, school's already started and the coming weekend is the last hurrah.

Fortunately, having a 10 month old means that as long as the weather's nice, I'll call it summer for as many more weeks as Mother Nature allows.

MiniM.E. and I have been spending as much time outside as possible.  Not so much because I want to be outside all the time.... though the slathering on of sunscreen, fighting to put on shoes, washing the dirt out of clothes and the little creases on tiny sticky hands, and sitting in the ant-ridden grass are all things I greatly enjoy... but mostly because MiniM.E. can point to things she wants.  And she almost always wants "out".  Who's brilliant idea was it to teach the kid to point, anyway?

It's actually gotten a lot better in the past week or so because she LOVES to walk (holding on to our hands of course).  So it's been less sitting in the grass and playing with dirt, acorns, bugs and garbage, and more walking from here to there.  It's a darn good thing MiniM.E. is on the upper end of the height spectrum and I'm not a very tall person or I'd probably be developing a permanent stoop.

But, enough with the commentary, here are some photos of MiniM.E. enjoying the weather.

Seemingly safe place to leave a baby for a photo op.

Until she started climbing it.

And I had to move to a place where I could grab her if necessary.

So happy!

Thinking about how happy she just was.

Yay! Wagon ride!

While we are enjoying the nice weather, it has been especially nice that for the past few days its been a bit cooler.  I might have a hankering for a little fall.  The other day on our morning walk we had to wear pants AND long sleeves!

Here's a flower for you!

Looks like we'll have a few more hot days, but I'm looking forward to the cooler ones.... and apple picking... and pumpkins... and apple cider... and Halloween... and Thanksgiving...

A Bike Ride and Polos

Yesterday we had a fantastic day of outdoor activities.

We took MiniM.E. on her first bike ride.  Well, bike trailer ride for her.

A while back some of our friends were trying to convince us to get MiniM.E. a trailer, but we held off since they're expensive and I didn't think she was quite ready.

We were lucky to find a Burley bike trailer on Craigslist in GREAT condition for a reasonable price and decided it was time to test it out.

If you are ever in the market for a bike trailer, dish out the extra dough and get a Burley.  Of all the ones I've seen, it seems to have the nicest kid-cabin and seat (if your child wants, they can sit upright).  Most we looked at seemed kind of cheap and had "hammock-like" seats that forced the child to recline. This one also has space for helmet (which we will be purchasing if we decide to take MiniM.E. on real roads).

Are you SERIOUS?

...I guess this is alright...

At first, MiniM.E. didn't seem so sure about it.  We tested it in the neighborhood to see if she could even make it around the block without throwing a fit.  After 4 loops around, she actually seemed to be enjoying herself, so we packed her, the trailer and our bikes in (and on) the car, along with half our house (food, drinks, toys, extra clothes, sunscreen, bug spray, hats, etc.) and drove to the Zim Trail to check it out.

It was awesome.  MiniM.E. lasted about 20 minutes out.  We turned around, took a lunch break, and headed back to the park where we started.

Walking with Daddy

Swinging at the park

That evening we went to a polo game (match?).  I though MiniM.E. was most appropriately dressed in her polo shirt.  Unfortunately, it was ridiculously hot and we were sitting on the grass with no shade.  At all.  To be honest, the first four Chukkers (seriously, where they come up with these things I can't even imagine) I couldn't see the horses because the sun was in my eyes and I was trying desperately to keep my baby in the shade because she was fussy from being hot but didn't know it.  Fortunately, I brought distractions.

Distraction 1: washcloth.

Distraction 2: chip clip.

After the third Chukker all the spectators were invited to go out on the field and stomp the divots.  MiniM.E. seemed to really enjoy that part.

That's a lot of people stomping!

 AND, we got to pet a horse.  Which was awesome.  Until the horse turned its head and ran right into MiniM.E.  I hope she's not scarred for life...

By the fifth Chukker we could actually watch the play.  Turns out it was pretty cool.  And we didn't even get hit by a ball or trampled by a horse.  I'd call it a success.

Our Second Home

Last week we were in NH again.  Who could pass up an opportunity to have a live-in babysitter (thanks Mom!) free food, laundry and unlimited swimming in an in-ground pool and hot tub?  Certainly not me.

Bob drove with us and stayed for the weekend, and MiniM.E and I stayed until the end of the week.

We didn't do anything particularly exciting, but I think that's part of what made it awesome.  A nice relaxing week...

To keep your reading time to a reasonable 5 or so minutes, I will avoid a photo bomb and instead try to recap some of the cuter highlights from our trip.  Note the word try.

Swimming with Daddy

Toss the baby

We had a toss-off.  Daddy won.

Playing with pool toys

Finding MORE pool toys

In the baby-friendly hot tub

Going for a walk

Playing with a broken pair of glasses.  Looks even more fun than the pool toys.

In the hot tub with Gram

Finger up the nose

Testing a smoothie

 C & H came over for a play date and we broke out the long-lasting bubbles.

Bubbles with H

Come back here!

Love this photo.  Might have to replace the engagement photo from this post.

Walking with Auntie Jen

Standing alone!

Just woke up

and wasn't too happy about all the pictures!

Double Digits

I don't even know how this happened, but my little girl is *gulp* TEN months old (what will I do when its years?!?).  They grow up so fast... everyone was right.

I can't believe what an incredible little person she's becoming.

A Week Ago... (A Recap)

MiniM.E.'s grandparents visited for the day.  In my last post I mentioned that Bob may have lost the camera, but as a typical guy might, he just did a bad job looking for it.  Turns out, it was in his backpack.  Here are the photos...

Thanks for the mini chair!

Snacking at the track breakfast

Practicing standing

Pointing at the horses

Guess the tour of the backstretch wasn't very interesting for MiniM.E.

Swinging with MeeMaw