Busch Gardens

This Saturday we went to Busch Gardens with our friends Carrie and Corey. We bought and annual pass and I'm super excited b/c it was a great park. We only had time for a few roller coasters before it started raining like crazy but they were some of the best I've been on. We are going to have a great time getting our money's worth. And for those of you moving out here, and our numbers are growing, we have the pass until next August and military gets in free! So Jen, Michelle, Sara, Natalie and Teresa, put it in your iPhones for next summer.



*Unrelated parenting discoveries of the week: Raffi = magic. Raffi is a Canadian singer for kids. I grew up on his music and literally can't remember listening to anything else before age 7 except the rare Oakridge Boys track. So I checked out a couple of his CD's (Corner Grocery Store, Rise and Shine) from the library and it's awesome. We used to drive with a blood curdling scream from the back seat every 30 seconds or so. Now, nothing. Yes it is annoying to listen to the same music over and over but I really don't care b/c it keeps the kid quiet and I can drive in peace.

Next, you have to check out the Duggars' book. Yes, the ginormous family from TLC. I won't go into all the reasons I love it, you should just grab it from the library and give it a go. But I will give you two reasons to get you motivated. 1. Tatter-tot casserole. 2. Blanket Time. I've started training with Eva and it is really working. Basically, you can train your baby to sit quietly on a blanket and play with a toy. The author uses this when she needs her toddlers to stay in one place and not get into everything. (When she's nursing, cleaning, home-schooling, in public places like church and parties.) Eva gets so excited when I pull out the blanket and put her on it. She'll even stay on it for quite a while and I've only started working with her on it.

Baby Trick #457: Climbing Into the Dryer

Lots of Pictures, Not Much to Say

1. Look who learned how to point! 2. After staring at that sleeping face for about 15 min I finally took a picture. I still love how she'll curl up in my arms like a rollie pollie and sleep like an angel... then she wakes up and you get... 3. This. 3.5 seconds and she has completely emptied the roll. 4. Eva with her friend Bea from out of town. They are 4 days apart but Eva dwarfs the poor little dear. I really have a giant for a child. She's already too big for her 18-month onesies. 5. Cousin Zacky and Eva waiting for us at the DC temple. We're close enough to Devin's sister's family that we can meet in the middle and do the babysitting switch. 6. Someone change that girl's diaper! 7. Devin at a park we found over-looking the city and James River valley. 8. Under the railroad tracks at our new favorite pizza joint. 9. I think I'll... 10. work on my French. Notice the Tupperware container used for baby-proofing. She can now climb on top of it. That bookshelf is always a disaster.

First Steps

*So thank you all for your Costco product ideas. I almost don't want to post anew b/c I love hearing all your comments. Feel free to add below to the conversation. On with the show.*

Yesterday Devin was home from work and we were sitting on the couch, Eva was walking around holding on the furniture. The all of a sudden she let go of the couch, turned and walked about 6 steps to the ottoman! We were so excited. We cheered and clapped for her. I don't even think she knew what was going on. It was so sweet for both of us to see her first steps. The only bad thing is that I missed the very first one b/c my eyes were glued to some lame movie on the Disney channel about a chicken mascot. But I teared up nonetheless. Are we cheesy first-time-parents or what? Eva also started climbing on the dishwasher. I think they must design them to hold the weight of a baby, even babies that weigh a ton of bricks like ours.

And as promised, Teresa's baby bump. Keep in mind that she still has 2 and a half months until her due date. And her belly was about half this size when I saw her ten days ago. All I can say is "poor little dear". I don't know where those babies are going to go! I can't imagine having twins but I'm happy that we are going to have a set in our family. Eva is going to just love her two little cousins. (p.s. Teresa's blog is private but just let me know if you want an invite. Blog Lurkers welcome. Shandi, you're already on the list.)


And let's not forget the birthday of the second most important person in the family. (Babies come first, of course.) My very own Devin dear. He is the big 29 today and not very excited to be so old, uh, I mean young. But it is better than next year's birthday, right? Today I made him his favorite dessert (cherry dance bars, lovingly known as CDB's) for breakfast and the day is just beginning. I won't post the rest of my surprises b/c I don't want to ruin it for him. And he deserves the best surprises and loves b/c he is the sweetest husband and dad ever and I just love him to pieces. I made the perfect choice for the most important choice. Happy Birthday, Honey Pooh Bear! (just kidding, that's not what I call him. But feel free to tease him relentlessly about it.)

I have no idea what to post but I just feel like blogging.

So what's on my mind? Not much really. My family is in Canada without me and it is just about killing me. I call them every day at the cabin to hear about the day. I can't believe I missed out on my mom's annual trek to the hutterite colony to buy fresh farm food. I'll just have to wait one more year. But other than that, I'm just enjoying the summer, enjoying Devin and Eva. We're taking it easy and getting to know the area and people in our ward. Last weekend we went down to Raleigh to help my sister Teresa move in. She and her husband Cameron are moving there for an ortho residency and we are so happy to have them a mere 2 and a half hours away. I'm kicking myself for not getting a picture of her twin girl baby bump. But they are coming up this weekend to go to a water park with us so I guess I'll get a second chance. As my thoughts meander a bit more, man, Eva is taking a long nap... I've fallen in love with Trader Joe's and Triscuits. I'm sure you all wanted to know that. I'm about to make a Costco run and I would like to know what your favorite Costco products are. My Costco faves are the Healthy Choice fudge bars, tzatziki sauce, individually wrapped and frozen chicken and salmon, kid Dino vitamins (yes, I take them), spring salad mix, sweet potato fries and pitas.






Starting to show the sass, what I do all day, where I go all day, the face I see every time the camera comes out, mom and baby, baby and doggy in Raleigh, breakfast on the patio.