July = Busy Month

In July, Amelia learned to clap, babble, eat Cheerios, drink from her sippy cup, go down playground slides, sleep on her belly, get from her belly to a sitting position, nap on the beach, measure a lobster, sweat through 100 degree heat, live in a house of 9 people, and survive without Mommy for two days. Here are a few highlights in pictures and videos.

Morning nap on the beach while the cousins played.

At LL Bean 7/23/11

Just for comparison...this was almost exactly 8 months ago 11/24/10.

Getting a hold of her first lobster.

With Tristan on the beach in MA. This is her new face.

Eating a cucumber on Grampy's birthday.

Swimming at Walden Pond in MA.

Clapping on cue.

Drinking from her Sippy.

This is how she now plays with her play mat. A bit different than here.

8 Months!

Well, it's the hottest, most humid day of the year. We went to church, hosted a baby shower, cleaned up, and got the house ready for Rob's family to arrive. Needless to say, I didn't manage to get the 8 month picture. It will have to be a day late (if I remember tomorrow). I did take some pictures today though.

This one is for Beannie. When I was about Amelia's age, there was a Cheerios contest for the cutest baby to be on the box. Beannie and my mom took 4 rolls of film (yes, pictures were different then) of me with a Cheerios box. Here is Amelia's version. If there was a contest now, she would certainly win. (No, I didn't win either)

This is how I found her this morning (at 8:45 when she finally woke up...she usually gets up at 5). She had ALL of the things in her crib piled on top of her in the corner, including a Wally from her mobile.

Lily(almost 7 months) and Amelia(8 months) compared to here.

The girls again. Compare to here.

Fourth of July!

Once again, Rob and I thought it would be appropriate to celebrate our country's independence by punishing ourselves and running the LLBean 4th of July 10K. We've run many 10Ks (and always question our sanity when the alarm goes off at 5AM) but this is no ordinary race. It is approximately 1.5 miles downhill (at the beginning) and 4.7 miles uphill. In other words, it's a torture race. This is why they have to bribe us with free running shoes and a tech T-shirt and we are suckers and always sign up. In my maybe 30 runs since birthing Amelia 7 months ago, I've only gone farther than 2 miles once, and that was only 4. Plus, everywhere I run is completely flat. So getting up early and running 6.2 on a hilly crazy course was, well, crazy. However, the weather cooperated (foggy and only warm, not hot) and I had a great race.

Paul Munro watched Amelia during the race so neither of us had to push the stroller. Thanks, Paul! Pushing a stroller on that race would have been nuts, although plenty of people did (and they all beat me). I learned however, that the slow crowd that I run with is quite fun. Everyone is cracking jokes and chatting while we run to help pass the time (and pain). Maybe that's why we are all so slow. Amelia also napped in her stroller which was great since she had been up since 4:45 and we wanted to still get breakfast and go to the parade. The Parrot trick (draping a blanket over the stroller so she can't see) is key and has served us well for months.

After the race...Amelia just woke up in her stroller.

Diaper changing in the back of the Subaru. And Amelia is eating her toe of course.

Off to the Parade.

It looks like Amelia has really long legs...:o)

Later that evening, a bunch of our friends gathered at the deserted University of New England in Biddeford where one friend works as a residence hall director. We grilled some yummy meat and hung out in the dorm. Amelia even slept in her first dorm room...collage bound already.

Lily and Amelia at our 4th party...it's cranky time, hence the binkys.

Such a pretty dress! Thanks Gramma and Pa!

One of our few family shots. Couldn't get one with all 3 of us smiling.