Wheat {220}

Dear Miss Dinah,

This morning Gampa took you out on the riding mower for a few seconds.
Unfortunately you weren't too keen on the whole experience. I don't blame you though, that sucker is loud.

 

Daddy got home pretty early today and you two spent a while outside together. 

...you showed him your new trike moves :)

 

Daddy's also been bringing home a few different varieties of wheat and put together a little device so we can grind it into flour and bake with it. 

 

There's something empowering about being about to know the farmers whose fields the wheat is grown in.

 

You guys ready to come in and bake yet? 

I love you, 

Mamma <3

Walking About {219}

Dear Miss Dinah,

A year ago this was you.
Just starting to lift up. Not rolling, and definitely not crawling.

And today, you are getting around with ease.
Ginni came over to spend time with you this morning. When I peeked out, I saw that you were having a most productive time. You were raking and picking weeds in our little rock "garden."

Next it was off to the trike.
Being a gorgeous, mild, mid-60's temperature, it almost felt like fall was in the air. My absolute favorite season. You "rode," a little ways, then preferred to get off the bike and push, mostly in circles, resulting in a fair share of tumbles. It didn't phase you much, you hardly seemed to notice, and Ginni said your Daddy was much the same way :)

This afternoon we went to the post office and grocery store. Instead of strolling, we took the car, and then proceeded to walk in and out of both places. I felt like we were just two little ladies slowly walking about our business :)

You may be hitting another growth spurt. You have been eating and nursing a lot, and have been very tired.

I love you,

Mamma <3

More Growth {218}

Dear Miss Dinah,

Garden Update Pt. II - we have tomatoes!!!

They are as big as grapes right now, but I finally found some today as we were putting up the tomato cages.

 

Our bamboo is growing new little stalks. I'm not sure how or why, but it's awesome. If you look closely you can see the first stalk to the right of the main trees reaching the top of this photo.

 

It's hard to believe how much you've changed in the past couple of weeks. I realized you had hit toddler status, and now when I look at these pictures you just look like a little girl. 

 

Especially these where you are walking around. I imagine this is what you will look like at 4 or 5 years of age, only bigger. I got a tug in my heart today when I saw you this way. Time can feel like it moves too fast when you think ahead like that though. It's a good thing we have every day in between now and then.

Number block book that you have taken to recently.

 We went for a long adventure outside today. We walked all the way around the side of the house to the back, across Miss Joanne's patio. You got a bit distracted by little steps. You liked to go down them, and then back up. And down. And up. And down...

Across the patio to the alley. Pizwit left us here to explore the shed. We walked a little ways down the alley to visit Charly's puppies and then made the trek back.

The past couple of days you've taken an afternoon "rest" instead of a nap. Maybe transitioning to one nap a day? We'll see. Here you are watching Signing time with Pandy-poo before you go rest. 

I love you, 

Mamma <3

Baby Brussels {217}

Dear Miss Dinah,

This is me, peeking at you, through the hole in your door. It's morning nap time, Pigglet, Hedi-betty, and Pandy-poo are tucked in, and you are reading Bubbles Bubbles to them.

 

Garden Update:

We water the garden each and every day, but a few days of rain, and it seems to grow at triple rate. 

This is one, singular pumpkin plant. I could hardly get the whole thing in the photo. It won't be putting on any fruit this year, due to not being fertilized. But, wow, is it gorgeous. 

 

Beautiful little baby squash / zucchinis are starting to appear. 

 

And BRUSSELS SPROUTS!!!!!! My favorite =D

They are so teeny-tiny right now and they take a looooooooong time to grow (when did we plant? April? May?) But we're excited to see if anything comes of it in the end. 

You had a bit of a rough day. Was it teething? Were you ready to drop a nap time? This evening I finally realized that your new sippy cup was not working! You hadn't been able to get any water out of it all day and were VERY thirsty! We got you a functioning cup filled to the brim with water, and then some juice as an extra treat. You were MUCH better after that and went to bed quickly and easily.

Time with Ginni this afternoon.

I love you,

Mamma <3

Big as a Minute {216}

Dear Miss Dinah,

I need to mention something again. I've mentioned it before, numerous times. But it's just . . . true. You are fun to be around. People derive joy from watching you and from hanging out with you.

I'm the very first.
Well, me and Daddy to be fair. But, I get the privilege of spending the majority of the day with you.

Daddy decided he wanted to sit out in the foyer with you this morning at the church meeting so you could run around . . . 
and run around you did.
The whole time.
He said you did not stop moving the whole hour.

You have your cranky times, fusiness, and share of tantrum attempts, but for the most part you remain level, witty, thoughtful, and observant. I'd like to say that your demeanor has to do with what I feed you and my strict adherence to the ritual of napping. I'm sure that's some of it, but there is also a pure, childish light inside you that you can't help but shine. I wish I could put it better.

Before we had dinner with Great-Granny and Great-Grandad, we went to a reception to welcome a new doctor in town, Alois, and his family. It was also being held at the long term care facility, in a newly remodeled wing. They are originally from Brazil, but of German descent. They've lived the past few years in Michigan and now they are here! Alois and Barbara have 2 sons (ages 1 1/2 and 2 1/2) and a baby boy on the way!

When people see you walking about, doing your thing, they often comment about how tiny you are, and ask how old you are. I think the fact that you have a good head of hair for your age and have the walking down quite well both help in making you look like a 'big' little girl, or a 'little' big girl. One older gentleman was having the best time watching you trot around. He looked at me with a tickled expression and said, "She's as big as a minute!"

Where's Daddy?

Dinah-sized balloon.

Snacks and visiting.

Pre-dinner cookie, lucky girl.

You were so friendly with the two boys. You even walked right up and gave this one a little kiss.

Welcome to Alois, Barbara, and family.

I love you, 

Mamma <3

Little Sweet Tooth {215}

Dear Miss Dinah,

This morning we drove to town because I've been wanting to go to the Farmers' Market for so long. We went to the market and got a bunch of veggies for dinner, some famous Palisade peaches, and some baked goods: bear claws (my daddy's favorite!) monster cookies, and a cherry pie to freeze for later.

 

We got home and you took a long nap. You must have awoke with a sweet tooth. I was working in the kitchen and noticed that you were munching on something. Upon closer investigation I discerned a definite chocolate smell. "What's in your mouth?" I demanded trying to pry it opened. It must have been a monster cookie, but how did you ? . . . the trash can! There was a small piece in the trash can and you found it. Now normally you are good about not touching the trash can, but the cookie must have been too much to resist.

I moved you to the other side of the kitchen to play and "organize" the snack container.

You found all sorts of things like Caramels, skittles . . . so much to look forward to in the future.

 

We cooked up our potatoes, onions, and carrots (look at those carrots!) and some meat. 

Seared and ready for the oven.

You ate early and watched Arial the mermaid sing, sort of. It was actually a video of someone singing the song and holding a puppet, but you were mesmerized. 

A little walk to visit Miss Anita and Miss Laura.

New words:
"Dinah" - Di dah
"Bubbles" - bu bu bu
"Hi"  - hi
"All done" - Ay dun

I love you,

Mamma <3

Pizwit Explores {214}

Dear Miss Dinah,

This morning we went for a jog and then over to visit Ginni and Gampa. While we were gone, we decided to give Pizwit a trial run of playing outside for a while, since she's been begging to go. Well, time got away, and we came back an hour and a half later. One quick whistle and the kitty came running, ready to come inside. I gave her tuna as a special treat.

Playing outside again later in the day

Today I wore my "Trucker Girl" hat. I explain all about it on my old blog, here,  that I don't tend to update too much anymore. Some people have asked to see pictures. With my three second camera delay I couldn't catch you looking, and it's all I can do to get us in the picture, and not have everything crooked. I guess I could have just taken the hat off and taken a picture of it, but I didn't think of that till after.

We got another pumpkin from Gampa's garden today. We baked them and we'll puree them tomorrow to make pies or cookies or something. We toasted the seeds which is something we did when I was a little girl in October when we carved out our pumpkins.

Tonight Ginni came over to play with you while I went to go play cards with Daddy and the guys. I didn't expect to stay long, but started playing really well. In fact, I almost won the whole game, but forgot a small rule at the very end (that Aces were low!) I thought I had a slightly better hand than I actually did, leaving me with second place (I think... I left before the final points were tallied)

Came home to a sweetly sleeping baby and a softly pouring rain. 

I love you, 

Mamma <3