Just Laugh {98}

Dear Miss Dinah,

There are some days when you just have to laugh.

You make not think there is any reason to laugh...
You may have a really hard time finding something that makes you laugh...

But just...laugh!

This seems ridiculous to tell you now, as the simplest things make you smile, and you laugh at the drop of a hat. And I hope this will always be the case!

Laughter is good for the heart, and a happy heart is more effective (and cheaper) than medicine.

At Hy-Vee in Manhattan a few days ago. These little balloons with feet always make me laugh.

I love you.

Mamma <3

Visiting Granny and Grandad {97}

Dear Miss Dinah,

Here's a little peek at our visit to the Long Term Care Home to visit Granny and Grandad yesterday afternoon.
When we arrived, they were in an afternoon church service so we walked around the courtyard and then to the park.

Quality time with Daddy

...and with your Guinney

Walking back to the LTCH

Grandad!!

Sliding at the park



Greeting Granny and Grandad. I have to say, I am impressed with your Granny. She is almost 90 years old and still scoops babies up off the floor with ease!! We had a truly delightful visit.

I love you.

Mamma <3

Coming Home and Updates {96}

Dear Miss Dinah,

Home we are and glad to be here!!!
This morning we finished packing up, you took a little nap, and Daddy fixed the mower so Adam could start coming over to mow. Then...we were off.

Ready to go...put us in gear! (Don't worry the car is off -- gears won't work!)

You napped more as we drove down the road. We stopped at the Russel Stover's store today, because, well, we never have before, and we weren't in any big hurry today. The store is only about twenty minutes outside of town, and filled with all sorts of goodies. From chocolates, to ice cream, and fudge there is something to satisfy any sweet tooth. We picked up a few boxes of "bloopers." These are candies that aren't shaped quite right, or are broken, so they are being sold at a majorly discounted price. A very sweet deal.

This is why I love our doctor. We have needed our tetanus shots for a while and just hadn't got them. Jack and Sheila happened to be coming our direction as we were heading home, so we met in the Braum's parking lot and she gave us our shots through the window of the car! No baby tetanus shot today, just Mamma and Daddy!

This gives a whole new meaning to "drive by shooting."

We arrived home a little before 7 this evening. You visited all your little animals and books, had some food, laughed and played, and smiled and talked yourself to sleep.

Updates: (forgive me if I've already mentioned any of these)
You are 10 months and one week old.
You smile and laugh a lot!
You are getting so fond of kisses. My favorite is when I kiss you repeatedly, and you will bop your head forward repeatedly, to receive all the kisses!
You love to dance to music or singing. We can start singing the Fraggle Rock theme song to you, and you will start to groove.
You love to read.
You love to point at things and tell us about them.
If I point up to the sky to tell you about the clouds, you will too.
Piglet is your little traveling buddy and you sleep with him too. Sometimes you will hold him close and talk to him very sweetly. 
You love animals and don't seem to be afraid of any.
You love children big and small. You talk to all you see in the grocery store, park, etc.
You try to repeat things we say. "Kisses." "Yeah." "Grampa." At least it sounds like you really make a valiant effort. Regardless, you love to talk talk talk! And we love to hear you!
You have 6 wonderful little teeth. I think you will get more soon because you are drooling a whole lot.
You love to eat. You are a great eater. You eat almost everything you try, there are very few things you seem to to like. You really like fruits: banana, plum, strawberries, apples, oranges...
You are getting heavy! Excited to find out your stats at a check-up soon!
You love to be in Mamma's arms. (Daddy too) You let other people hold and play with you, and you also play contentedly by yourself for a while, but then it comes time when you just need your Mamma to hold you. I don't mind one single bit.
You usually take two naps a day (sometimes more) and sleep about 11 hours at night.
You still nurse 3-4 times a day.
You are moving around quickly and with ease. When I put you down for diaper changes or to change clothes, you flip with lightning speed and giggle as you crawl off. So I drag you back again, again, again.
You are standing, climbing stairs, walking the perimeters with couches or chairs. 

I love you.

Mamma <3

Living with the Amish {95}

Dear Miss Dinah,

This morning we prepare to go home!!!
We've had a great trip, very productive. Lots of progress on the Topeka house, just a little more work before it's all ready to rent.

I've wanted to get you a baby bonnet since you were very little.

We saw a British program called, 'Living with the Amish,' a while back. British teenagers choose to spend a number of weeks in different Amish communities in America. The teenagers were amazed at what simple lives their Amish host families chose to live. Many of the teens had come from broken homes or had experienced other broken relationships. They were deeply affected by the Amish strong work ethic, family values, and deep faith -- and how those were all such a normal part of every day life. Many of the teens experienced personal healing from some of their hurts as God ministered through the lives of their hosts. Many of the teens had grown tired of their lives filled with partying, dating, makeup, clothes, competitive school environment, and pressure to find a powerful position in school or business. They saw that a life could be filled with joyfully serving others, rich relationships, and connection/communication that could not be replicated with any sort of technology. Most of the teenagers left their time in America very much changed and wanting to live a different, more fulfilling life back in their own country.

Anyway, one of the families had a baby who wore a bonnet, and I thought it was the sweetest thing! Finally I found this one at the Kansas Museum. It's a little big, and you don't seem to love it yet :) as it blocks much of your peripheral vision. Maybe it will grow on you!

Last night we went to dinner at Dough Boys' Pizza -- Mamma's favorite! 

And last night, The girls were having a wedding shower for Hollie upstairs. She's getting married in June and moving to Texas to start an internship. Then she and her husband will prepare to be missionaries in Greece. We wish her the very best!

It sounded like the girls had lots of fun, laughing, games, and loud music...so...you slept soundly in the very insulated bathroom!

And Piglet-Wiggle-It, too :)

I love you.

Mamma <3

KS Museum of History {94}

Dear Miss Dinah,

This morning Daddy left to go back to Topeka. We were planning on staying one more night in KC until he called us saying there was an event going on at the Kansas Museum of History. Your sweet Daddy didn't want you to miss out on a minute of fun with children and animals. So we packed up, headed out, and were able to enjoy the last part of the event.

We met two, newly shaved Alpaca...check out those teeth!!

Two baby calves.

5 day old baby goats!

And a horse named Rose. 

You are not afraid of animals at all. In fact, you mostly insist on chasing them: "Deh deh deh," is dog, "kit, kit, kit (or a hissing noise)," is cat.

Nothing for Alpaca yet. I suppose it will be a while till we see another one ;)

Spring flowers a blooming in the yard tonight back in Manhattan.

You are doing so many things these days. Are you really just 10 months? You are becoming a great imitator. My favorite was when I made a purring sound. You tried to imitate it, but it came out like a little spitty sound.

You are FULL of life.

I love you.

Mamma <3

Apple of My Eye {93}

Dear Miss Dinah,

You are the apple of my eye 

You are the pudding of my pie

You are my little pumpkin, dear

I'm glad you are so very near

There's something almost heavenly about my Daddy's backyard. Especially on a gorgeous morning. 

Oh what a beautiful morning

Oh what a beautiful day

I've got a beautiful feeling

Everything's going my way

You w/ Auntie Kay

Saying bye to Auntie Steph and her doggies. She's moving to California in a few days. Daddy drove the truck into town from Topeka to help her make some trips to the dump. The verdict is in. You love animals! Here you are with Phyllo and Brutus. 

You, me and Daddy had dinner with a good friend of Mamma's from college. You and her baby, Cora (18 mo) had a lot of fun, way past bedtime ;)

Cora climbed the stairs...so you did too!!

I love you. 

Mamma <3

Dinah and Anna {92}

Dear Miss Dinah,

This morning we were up at, ahem, 6.
We went for a stroll to the park, exercised, ate breakfast, all long before Ms. Amanda came over!

You loved Amanda and that made me happy because Amanda and Mamma are old friends. We've been friends about 17 years, since we competed gymnastics together. We try to get together whenever possible. While you took your morning nap, us girls chatted about everything like girls like to do. It's so precious spending time with an old friend...

Speaking of old friends...you and your new friend Anna Claire got along like 2 old pals. After your nap, Anna and her sister and brother came over. You were very talkative and outgoing, you seemed just thrilled ever since she came over.

It's hard to believe that less than ONE YEAR AGO:
These were your Mammas!
Anna was born a few days later. You were a month and a half away. 

And today:

We picnicked in the back yard. 

You shared lunches...and tried to share sippy cups! Like I said, you girls were very friendly :)

I love you.

Mamma <3

Quick Visit {91}

Dear Miss Dinah,

We woke up early, and decided we would drive to see the guys!

We had a quick breakfast...

...and then headed out.
It was about an hour and a half drive but well worth it. We were so happy to see Daddy!

The guys were working so hard, they hope to be done by tomorrow. We went to Home Depot with Daddy but really didn't get to see him that much besides that, because he was out gathering supplies when we got there.

I'm glad I'm not up there!

The shed roof's all done.

We cleaned out the lower apartment some. It doesn't look that bad in this picture, but it was gross and smelly. Maybe that's why you cried :(

This man is out in the alley behind the house every day. Every day he goes through the trash collecting aluminum cans. He's probably well over 70 years old.

Grampa went with us!

We took the long way home...you and your grandpa napped.

For dinner we made our 3 bean salad. You recognized it while I was making it and snacked on some beans.

5 beans pictured here. We added wax beans and didn't use the garbanzos.

Dad grilled chicken for dinner. 

 Oops. I noticed I called him Dad. But, that happens a lot. My dad :) Your grandpa :)

Spicy BBQ and regular. Deeeelicious.

It's supposed to be in the 80's tomorrow...hopefully we can try out the new yard equipment ;)

I love you.

Mamma <3