18 months old

Where did the time go? Our tiny baby is now 18 months old! I took Ainsley to the doctor yesterday afternoon for a check up. She was pronounced healthy and on the right track developmentally. She weighs 21 lbs 4 oz (with her clothes & shoes on) and is in the 10% for weight. The nurse doesn't use the baby scale for her anymore; instead Ainsley gets to stand on the scale by herself. She looked so big standing there yesterday! She's 32" tall now and still around the 60th % in height.

She is learning new things daily, I think. The other day while she was watching one of her Baby Einstein videos, she started doing the signs when the pictures came up. She has learned "tree", "flower", and "table" just from seeing the video.

During her bath yesterday, I took the opportunity to read & drink a cup of coffee while watching her play. I really think she was having a little conversation with an imaginary friend or something. She was talking and signed "thank you" and "hi". It was so cute!

Since she really learned how to say "hi" - for awhile she just waved and then she had a hard time getting the "h" sound to come out - she says it to everyone we see, everywhere! We go to Sprouts (our local store for really yummy fresh produce) and she makes friends with every single person in the store. Who can resist a little girl saying "hi"? It's pretty funny, though, because she is insistent that they respond to her. She'll keep saying "hi" with increasing volume and intensity until they notice & reply or I distract her.

She says "momma" and "dadda" very clearly now and loves to use her new words. Here's a sample conversation that happens many times throughout the day:

Ainsley: Momma?

Me: Yes?

Ainsley: Dadda?

Me: Dadda is at work.

Ainsley: Naa?

Me: Sanaa (her friend from church) is with her momma.

(and repeat)



All day yesterday I just couldn't help watching Ainsley and being so grateful to the Lord for her. She's such a precious gift! We love her dearly!!

Peek-A-Boo!

Thumper's Nose

Happy Independence Day!!

We want to wish everyone a happy Independence Day! In memory of the treasonable actions of 233 years ago, we will be swimming and eating with friends in 100+ degree heat. I'm sure that's what America's founders would have wanted.

Saturday's Events

After allowing everyone to sleep in a little bit (and by everyone, I mean Ainsley - apparently Drew was up and at 'em early), we all met for a day around the town before it got too hot. First we had to go down through the west end so our guests could see Dealey Plaza - the site of JFK's assassination. Then we drove up around the block that makes up DTS for a brief guided tour before making a needed stop for lunch.

Then we got to the main attraction for the kids: the Museum of Nature and Science in Fair Park. This is one of the most kid friendly museum's I've ever visited, with interactive displays alongside the plethora of written information in front of items-behind-glass that are the norm. When we got to the "children't museum" portion it got even better. First was the firefighter exhibit:

Getting ready to go.

"Now you drive careful, mister!"

After the firefighters, came the construction worker:

They had these cool pads built into the walls that changed color when heat was applied. The hands are from left to right - Mitch, Drew, Ainsley. And somehow Drew is 13 days younger?

The museum also has a farm area. Now, I know it's probably not terribly interesting to those of you who live surrounded by farms all the time, but Ainsley had a good time with it.

Drew on his John Deere Tricycle.

"Hmmm...what should we get?"

Ainsley loved the chickens! They clucked when she poked them.

Making sure not to lose that bag of fresh goodies.

Ainsley's first experience milking a cow (it's a statue, but there was water in the udders!).

Our last stop at the museum was a simple play area with foam padding. I'm pretty sure that Drew could have spent all day there! He just loved jumping and falling around all over.

Look out below!

Finally, the day wound to an end back at our apartment (after stopping for ice cream, of course). There was some playing together:

A little reading together:
I think Drew ran around our coffee table 100 times, but I didn't get much for pictures from it. Ainsley would just watch him run, getting a wider and wider open mouth smile until finally she had to get in on the action - by stepping up and standing in his way. He just stopped and looked at her, I think trying to decide what in the world she was smiling about (a moment I think many guys can relate to), before turning around and running around the other direction.

We had to be sure to get a group picture before our guests left. Unfortunately, the kids were pretty much at the ends of their ropes because we'd kept them up extra long so we could spend time together.
This fact is even more evidenced when we forced them to stand back to back so we could compare their heights. They cooperated, but their displeasure is evident.

It was a great visit! It was great for all of us to connect again and for Drew and Ainsley to really play together. We look forward to getting to see them grow together more!